I am about to graduate with an undergrad in Math and computer science. Initially I had hoped to go to grad school but truthfully my gpa is quite low(around 2.8).It seems like graduate school is no longer an option(at least in the sense that even if I were to accepted it would likely be a lower ranked school). this has left me quite confused. I am not sure what avenue to go down and how to start my career.As is search for jobs I see many jobs require a MS and it causes quite a bit of anxiety for me.
is there a possible way for me to eventually go to top rated grad school?. if not should I just focus on a career in the industry?
Ask HN: Advice for a Graduating College Student
1–5 of 5 posts
Re: Ask HN: Advice for a Graduating College Student
#2I strongly suspect that you're looking at this through a distorted lens. You seem to want grad school, in a top ranked school. Why?
You don't say you want to go to grad school because you want to learn something specific, or because you have some goal that you're reaching for. You sound like you think that grad school is just what one does after graduating, and that it needs to be in a top school or you're a failure. It sounds like you're after grad school more as a status marker than for an education.
Here on HN, I repeatedly see things about how rampant depression is in grad students. It's really, really bad. If you don't need grad school for what you want to do in life, then you probably shouldn't go.
And I also think you're looking at jobs in a distorted way. It sounds like you're looking at a class of jobs (many require an MS), rather than at the universe of jobs in computers (most of which do not require an MS). Why are you looking at jobs with that filter? Do you think the others are beneath you? Or is there a (rather large) blind spot in your looking for jobs?
So, advice: Think hard about whether you really want a grad degree, or just want the affirmation. If you just want the affirmation, don't go to grad school - there's easier ways to get it.
If you don't go to grad school, get a job using your CS. Any job. Don't worry about the class of job that wants an MS degree. They might accept someone without the degree, but they won't with your GPA. Instead, just get a job. Do your best at it. Learn as much as you can. Don't worry about whether that job is "beneath you". Instead, approach it as your audition for a better job.
Forgive me if I'm reading too much into what you said, or over-analyzing it.
Re: Ask HN: Advice for a Graduating College Student
#3I strongly suspect that you're looking at this through a distorted lens. You seem to want grad school, in a top ranked school. Why? You don't say you want to go to grad school because you want to learn something specific, or because you have some goal that you're reaching for. You sound like you think that grad school is just what one does after graduating, and that it needs to be in a top school or you're a failure.…
I agree with you that I might be looking at things through a distorted lens, I do not consider any jobs beneath me but rather I am filtering based on what I find interesting.
I want graduate school because the fields that mainly interest me are cryptography and number theory and jobs in these fields tend to require advanced degree's.
As far as the logic behind wanting to go to good graduate school isn't to get a status marker but to be able to learn from people at top of their respective field, I have been really fortunate at my current program with many great resources like research opportunities, clubs , great professors and other benefits that come with attending a good school.
If there is a possible path for me to take in order to improve my chances so I can get admitted in the future then that is what I would try to do.
further more I really enjoy learning and if I get job in any field then with the change in lifestyle from a student to professional I am afraid I would not be able to learn things that I find interesting as from what I have observed with people I see in the industry.
Re: Ask HN: Advice for a Graduating College Student
#4Ask yourself whether you are able to do anything useful. If the answer is yes, do it. If at this point the answer is no, more education won't help.
Re: Ask HN: Advice for a Graduating College Student
#5I strongly suspect that you're looking at this through a distorted lens. You seem to want grad school, in a top ranked school. Why? You don't say you want to go to grad school because you want to learn something specific, or because you have some goal that you're reaching for. You sound like you think that grad school is just what one does after graduating, and that it needs to be in a top school or you're a failure.…
I agree with you that I might be looking at things through a distorted lens, I do not consider any jobs beneath me but rather I am filtering based on what I find interesting. I want graduate school because the fields that mainly interest me are cryptography and number theory and jobs in these fields tend to require advanced degree's. As far as the logic behind wanting to go to good graduate school isn't to get a stat…
Ah, I see. Well, I don't have any great advice for you. But I suggest emailing HN user tptacek (https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=tptacek), and asking him, since he is really deep in crypto and security, and runs (or maybe past tense, ran) an operation that helped people find jobs in the field.