My Journey to Graduate School straight out of Undergrad
Hello, I’m Anjali! I graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in May 2019, where I majored in Computer Science and minored in Psychology. A few months after graduation, I made a big move to Atlanta, GA to start the MS in Human-Computer Interaction program at Georgia Tech to further my knowledge of user experience and receive practical and research experience in this field. With my first semester at Georgia Tech wrapping up, I can confidently say that grad school is worth it! Through my program, I work on impactful industry projects and learn alongside passionate and talented colleagues, and overall I’ve matured professionally and personally in a short time.
However, my journey to commit to graduate school was tumultuous and challenging, and many times I questioned if I was making the right decision. Graduate school is a tremendous financial, academic, and personal investment, so I did my research (and a lot of soul-searching) to make sure if going to graduate school was worth it. I spent nearly two years figuring this question out, preparing my applications, anxiously waiting for my admission results, and ultimately choosing a program (honestly the hardest part!). After successfully being admitted to multiple graduate programs, I’m writing this article not only reflecting on my process but hopefully giving some guidance on application tips and other advice that can help others decide if graduate school is for them.
Why did I pick Graduate School?
As much as I thought Computer Science was a lucrative degree, I never was super enthusiastic about the algorithms, math, and theory involved in the subject. I instead always sought classes and projects that had me applying my coding skills to other domains. Sometimes, I found myself enjoying electives like Linguistics, Psychology, and Communication Disorders more than my actual Computer Science courses because I saw merit in learning about human behavior and translating that knowledge to create accessible and universally usable experiences. When I graduated from UMass, I thought I would be a front-end engineer. Yet, I felt unsure about this choice as I did not want to be coding all day. However, when I took Intro to HCI in my junior year of college, I felt something click inside of me. Everything I was learning in that class, from studying graphic/visual design principles to learning the research methods needed to understand people’s needs, spoke to my innate desire to be an interdisciplinary problem-solver. What I love most about HCI is it draws from Computer Science, Design, Psychology, and various other academic disciplines to create impactful solutions. I fundamentally wanted to be in a field that would allow me to combine my Computer Science and Psychology background; with HCI, I could make a feasible career out of it.
However, I was entering my senior year of college with not much relevant experience in the HCI field. As much as I tried my hand at breaking into the UX field myself, I lacked a robust UX design and research portfolio and felt self-learning these concepts did not make me a competitive candidate for UX-related jobs. My friend at UMass Career services put me in touch with an alumnus who was completing his MS in HCI at Georgia Tech. Hearing about how similar his background is to mine, his journey attending Georgia Tech’s program, and his post-graduate life working as a UX Designer in Boston resonated strongly with my aspirations, and talking to him gave me the motivation and confidence to begin my application process.
My timeline:
During the summer of junior year, I started googling top HCI Master’s programs, and I committed to giving it my all to getting accepted to these programs. I read a lot of Medium articles, looked at online rankings, and connected with people in the tech and UX industry to ask their advice on programs to apply to. I spent countless sleepless nights browsing the internet for application tips and information about these schools.
Here is a really helpful link regarding the graduate school application timeline: https://www.fastweb.com/college-search/articles/timeline-for-applying-to-graduate-school
Here are some of the best articles and resources I discovered that helped me narrow down my list:
http://csrankings.org/#/index?chi (in general, a good source for CS programs)
https://medium.theuxblog.com/best-hci-graduate-programs-in-the-us-fb02387c59f9
Some very useful subreddits:
r/gradschool
r/hci
No matter what program you’re considering, I would research online and seek advice from people in a similar path to you or people who have been through the whole application/grad school process. These people were probably considering the same questions you are asking now, so it is always helpful to get insight from someone who has already been through the process. I eventually narrowed down my choices to the following schools:
My List (in no particular order):
- Georgia Tech — MS HCI
- Carnegie Mellon University — Masters in HCI
- University of Washington, Seattle — MHCI+D
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor — MS in Information, UX focus
- UC Berkeley — MIMS program, iSchool
- Cornell University — Masters in Information Science, HCI focus
- University of Maryland, College Park — MS HCI
- Pratt University — MS Information Experience Design
- Indiana University, Bloomington — MS HCI
- University of Texas, Austin — MS in Information Sciences, HCI focus
As seen above, searching for programs was challenging because no one consistent term for HCI Master’s programs existed. Half of these schools had a separate HCI program, and half of the schools incorporated HCI as part of a larger school of information.
Requirements for Applying:
Most Master’s programs require a few standard items in their application process:
- Statement of Purpose & Personal Statement — Very important
- GRE scores (some schools made this optional) — Important, but depends on the program
- Website / PDF of your portfolio — Very important (depends on program)
- Letters of Recommendation — Important
- Interview — Personally, I thought this was not as important as other factors in my case, but this still needs to be done well!
Since I was applying to ten schools, and each school required something a little different, I emphasized staying organized and on top of my application materials to ensure I did not get overwhelmed. I arranged my prospective schools’ specs in a Google Sheet to track my materials. Some schools had required other creative supplementary things to submit; for example, Carnegie Mellon’s required applicants to make a 2-minute video essay about themselves, and Cornell requested an online interview. This organization method helped me find information in one central place. It was super easy to make and having this resource already caused me to feel better about my application process!
This is also another helpful sheet to organize graduate schools: https://www.uwsuper.edu/career/students/upload/Graduate-School-Comparison-Sheet.pdf
I remember initially looking at these requirements and feeling confused and overwhelmed by the amount I needed to submit. The last time I was applying to college was 4 years earlier — it felt too long ago! I started by reading countless articles online and talking to my professors and friends on how I should prepare for each section of the application. Now that I’ve (successfully) been through the process, here are some tips that personally helped me craft each part of my application.
Statement of Purpose: The main point of the statement of purpose is to describe how your background and previous work and life experiences led you to apply specifically for each program. The main difference between the Personal Statement and Statement of Purpose is that the Personal Statement is more about your past experiences/who you are (not necessarily academic), while the SOP is about more about your academic and professional goals and why grad school, in particular, will help develop those goals.
Coming up with a compelling SOP narrative is not difficult, especially if you are clear on what you aim to accomplish. For me, I felt my background in CS/Psychology and my innate interest in problem-solving and helping people made my decision to apply to HCI programs seem like a natural next step. My main challenge in writing was incorporating feedback from as many people as possible. Having other people critique my writing helped me structure my ideas coherently. I visited the UMass Writing center numerous times and sent drafts of my essays to my faculty advisors and Career Services advisors; in total, I believe I iterated my SOP at least 5 times. Additionally, I did my research on every school I chose to find information unique to their program (this could be a specific professor you want to work with, unique networking opportunities, good location, etc.). I tied this back to why I thought that program specifically would help me achieve my goals. Although you’ll find yourself maybe talking about the same points for each school’s essay, don’t copies and paste between essays! I remember talking to an admissions director who told me they got an application with the wrong school name on it — it’s hugely unprofessional. Be sure to check your grammar and spelling, but it’s not the end of the world if you realize you accidentally spelled a word wrong after. I ended up misspelling a word in an application essay. Still, in the end, I got into the program. :)
GRE: The GRE is a 4-hour long test that has 2 sections, Quantitative and Verbal, and is scored out of 340 points. This requirement is optional for some schools, but other schools published cutoff scores or average GRE scores that you should aim to get. My goal was to receive a 320 or higher, as this was a competitive score for top schools in HCI. I used Magoosh to practice each concept tested on the GRE. I highly recommend them as they include instructional videos for every topic, free vocabulary flashcards for the Verbal section, and mock full-length practice tests that are scored immediately just as the GRE is scored. I also suggest utilizing the free PowerPrep GRE tests, because these are created by the individuals who make the GRE.
I started by doing practice tests on Magoosh and eventually transitioning to more “official” GRE practice materials when I felt more prepared. My advice is to start studying early and in small chunks because there are many different concepts tested. I spent many weekends during my first-semester senior year and time over winter break, taking multiple practice tests. I took the GRE twice to get to my target score. Although this is costly, I believed trying for a higher score would strengthen my application. Some programs do not require or prioritize the GRE, so aim to take the test more than once if you genuinely need to. Getting a slightly lower than average GRE score is not going to break your application!
Letters of Recommendation: I needed to submit 3 letters of recommendation from professional or academic sources. The actual subject they teach or what their position does not need to be relevant to your program. Grad schools want to understand how you function in a team, so as long as they can speak about your character and personality in more detail, you’re all set.
I sought out professors and supervisors who knew me personally and professionally, as I wanted my letters to be more than just someone writing that I got an A in their class. At UMass, I worked as a Student Ambassador for the College of Computer Science for 3 out of 4 years of undergrad, so I was able to get a letter from my supervisor who knew my work ethic. For my second letter, I asked a math professor whose class I was in for multiple semesters and who I spoke to a lot in his office hours. Finally, I requested my faculty sponsor on my thesis (a professor in Cognitive Psychology) to write me a letter.
Although recommendation letters are not the primary part of an application, they can reveal a side of your personality and character from an outside POV that other materials cannot showcase. If you know you want to end up in graduate school, form genuine relationships with your professors and supervisors, and do not be afraid to ask for help or be upfront of your desire to attend graduate school. Even if graduate school is not your end-goal, your professors are there to help you, and if you find a professor’s work exciting, do not be afraid to get to know them!
Interview: The interview is a two-way street: not only are you showcasing your personality and knowledge about the prospective program, but you also have a space to ask questions and determine the vibe of the program. I had two interviews — for CMU, a Skype call with a CMU alum from the MHCI program, and for Cornell, I had to respond to a few questions in a prerecorded interview. These interviews evaluated my understanding of the school and the field of UX, and exactly why I wanted to study at their program. Like the Statement of Purpose, you need to be prepared to discuss what specific aspects of that school speak to you and can help achieve your goals. This can be the school’s relationship with industry partners, the variety of classes offered, the location, etc.
Usually, the interviewer is someone associated with the school — either an alum or a faculty. Having an alum interview is a fantastic opportunity to learn insider details that are difficult to find on a program’s website. Also, you can ask them about their experiences when they were at school. At the least, you should practice your response to common behavioral questions. Sometimes, the interviewer will throw a few oddball questions that are impossible to prepare for — this is to assess how well you can think on the spot and communicate. Overall, interviews are not nerve-wracking and are more of a friendly yet professional conversation to determine the program’s fit. Just put on a smile, take a deep breath, and your genuine passion for the program will shine through!
Portfolio : This depends on which program you are applying for, but for my major, a portfolio was highly recommended to showcase your communication skills and past project work. While a few schools asked for a PDF showcase of my work, most programs look for online versions. I coded my portfolio from scratch because I have a web-development background. However, countless website builders like Squarespace and Wix exist to make building a portfolio simple. I googled for front-end engineering portfolio examples, picked some sites that I found inspiring, and emulated the best aspects I saw on my site. I chose 4–5 projects I was proud of, stated the background and process of completing the project and put lots of visual aids. I also showed my portfolio to a few friends to receive feedback and make sure my content made sense. A big struggle of building the portfolio is finding the right balance of information displayed about each project, as application reviewers will spend a maximum of 5 minutes on your sit. Therefore, looking at examples you like is another awesome way of determining this balance.
Some of my favorite portfolios/portfolio sites:
Bestfolios.com (For UX design)
https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/15-web-developer-portfolios-to-inspire-you-137fb1743cae/
https://brittanychiang.com/ (A personal favorite front end engineer portfolio of mine)
I spent most of my summer and first semester of my senior year writing and refining my essays, studying and taking my GREs, and preparing for the interviews and other supplementary material. In the months before the application deadline, I felt time was just flying! Balancing my senior year workload while juggling the application timeline was daunting, but I kept telling myself that my hard work will pay off eventually. Every time I wanted to give up, I closed my eyes and envisioned the end result — happiness from my hard work paying off and validation to study HCI by being accepted to prestigious graduate programs. This drive and innate desire to study a field that I truly loved pushed me through the final months of the application process. In January, I submitted all 10 applications. The programs said they would release decisions by mid-March, so I anxiously played the waiting game for a few months.
The results
On February 21st, I received a surprise call from UC Berkeley’s MIMS program. I picked up the phone apprehensively, thinking they were calling me to tell me they found an error on my application. To my complete shock, an admissions officer was personally calling to say to me I was accepted! My hands were shaking during the entire call, and the moment I hung up, I phoned my family in excitement because I could not process what was happening. Hearing their screams of joy and praise over the phone felt amazing — my hard work over the last year was starting to pay off! This was the first of many decision results. In the next couple of weeks or so, I got emails from the rest of the schools telling me if I was admitted or not.
My full decision results:
- Georgia Tech — Accepted, eventually enrolled
2. Carnegie Mellon — Accepted
3. UC Berkeley — Accepted
4. Pratt University — Accepted
5. University of Washington, Seattle — Waitlisted to Accepted
6. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor — Accepted
7. Indiana University Bloomington — Accepted
8. Cornell — Accepted
9. UT Austin — Accepted
10. University of Maryland — Rejected
I felt a rollercoaster of emotions at this stage — happiness, relief, disbelief, etc. Once the excitement passed, the real challenge came in — picking a school. Looking back on my journey, I thought the act of submitting applications was already hectic, but I came to realize the steps to make a decision were even more overwhelming. Other factors I did not hugely consider but now seemed more pressing were financial aid and the program’s vibe. I needed to finalize my decision by mid-April, which gave me roughly 2 months to make my choice.
These are the parts I considered to help me rank my options:
Length of Program — A lot of professional programs are either 1 year (from August to August) or 2 years with a summer internship in between. I prioritized schools with 2-year programs because I wanted more time to explore classes/research/external networking. As a beginner with no prior work in HCI, I valued the industry experience that an internship could give me.
Cost — The price tag for some of these schools can make anyone think twice about attending a master’s program. I prioritized schools that would potentially give me funding because I’d most be funding this journey entirely by myself. I filled out the FAFSA with my dad, and I reached out to professors at whose work I wanted to be involved with to see if there was a chance to get a research assistantship. Additionally, I applied for on-campus jobs, and I tried to apply for scholarships.
Location — I wanted to live in or near a big city that had a vibrant design + tech scene. I enjoy attending local meetups to learn new skills and what’s relevant in technology, but I also love the city atmosphere and casually exploring what the local scene has to offer. Additionally, living in a city means your program may have more industry connections.
Fellow Students — I ultimately narrowed down my choices to 2 schools: Georgia Tech and Carnegie Mellon, and I flew out to both schools on their admitted student days. To put it simply, I just had a much better time visiting Georgia Tech. All the second-year students that I met were extremely friendly, willing to give me advice, and genuinely fun to hang out with. I explored the local Atlanta area with some new first-year students and had the opportunity to meet with some faculty. Overall, I left with a fantastic impression of Georgia Tech and saw myself fitting in and taking advantage of all its resources.
I finally decided to attend Georgia Tech after immense consideration and research. This decision made me excited yet nervous, as I was anxious about what the future held for me.
Final thoughts
Reflecting on my journey, I’m incredibly thrilled that my hard work paid off. I was granted with a chance to study at a world-class university that is at the forefront of Human-Computer Interaction. Attending graduate school is helping me expand my knowledge of Computer Science and Psychology, gain a solid understanding of Human-Computer Interaction’s research areas and best practices, and connect with individuals at top design and tech companies. I am maturing both professionally and personally through this program and being surrounded by such driven people inspires me to continually better myself.
In general, these are a few reasons why many people pursue graduate school:
- Specializing in a certain field
- Better job prospects / higher salary
- Advancing or pivoting your career trajectory
However, attending graduate school is a personal choice. Along the way, I did a lot of soul-searching to make sure I was genuinely doing this for myself, and I was prepared to handle the financial burden and personal stress this may cause me. I received a lot of external opinions and questionable advice that made me doubt if graduate school was right for me. Additionally, the workload and responsibility in graduate school are on another level — in my first semester alone, I’m doing two intensive projects, writing 50+ page reports every 2 weeks, attending seminars, applying for jobs, volunteering in research, and TAing just to name a few things. However, I believe the hard work I put in these few semesters will be worth it for the future.
Another massive setback for me now is the amount I am taking out in loans to be at Georgia Tech. I was lucky enough to land a Teaching Assistantship in my first semester, but I may be graduating anywhere between $25-$50k in loans. Make sure you have a solid end-goal in mind after school — is there a specific role or company you want to work for? Having that focus from the start will really help you craft your application and justify your decision in such an investment.
Don’t be afraid or discouraged if you still trying to figure out what you want to do in the future. I was in your shoes 2 years ago, and to be honest, I’m still trying to figure out what I want after my program. If you’re unsure what skills you want to learn, figuring out if graduate school is right for you, or uncertain of what type of job you want, just start by reading information online and talking to people in fields you’re interested in.
Having supportive people in my network and obtaining as much information helped me identify my goals and ultimately made me successful throughout this entire application process. I cannot thank all the people who have given me advice and helped me out on this whole journey. I’ve learned a lot over these past few years. After one semester at Georgia Tech, I’m so grateful to graduate school and excited to see what the future holds for me.
If you have any more questions about the Graduate Admissions process, HCI/User Experience, or would like to connect, please feel free to reach out!
This is my very first Medium article, so please leave a 👏 or comment below if you found this helpful! Thanks to HackHer413 for giving me this super fun writing opportunity :)
