In the Loop

[0:44] An overview of the application process, including the Statement of Purpose, with Professor Angela Demke Brown, Associate Chair of Graduate Operations.[11:20] What does it take to get in? Professor Gennady Pekhimenko shares some insights on how applications are reviewed during the admissions process.[15:38] What makes a reference letter a strong recommendation? We continue our discussion with Professor Pekhimenko, who offers suggestions on how to secure strong letters of reference.[19:12] How should you approach faculty for reference letters? Professors Nandita Vijaykumar, Carolina Nobre, Chris Maddison share their advice.[24:59] Where should you apply? Our guests discuss strategy and propose an upper bound on the number of programs you should apply to.[29:25] Mario and Diane wrap up.Opportunities at the University of TorontoAre you a second year CS student? Check out our department's Preparation for Research through Immersion, Skills, and Mentorship (PRISM)Are you going into second or third year? Check out the Faculty of Arts and Science's Research Opportunities Program and get course credit for research.Check out our department's Undergraduate Summer Research ProgramConsider pursuing a CSC494H1 project with a faculty member.More resourcesCheck out our department's guide for Applying to graduate schoolCheck out our department's guide for Asking for reference lettersCheck out our student ambassadors' guide for Research in CS

[1:34] What is graduate school? Professor Angela Demke Brown, Associate Chair of Graduate Operations, talks about different grad programs.[5:21]  What's it like to be a graduate student? What grad students do and how the experience is different from undergrad.[9:18] What is the role of your graduate school advisor? Professors Nandita Vijaykumar, Carolina Nobre, Chris Maddison, and Ninging Xie, reflect on their experience with their own advisor when they were grad students.[14:00] What's wonderful about the grad school experience? Our faculty panel share what they enjoyed most as grad students.[18:08] What makes graduate school challenging? The panel talk about what they struggled with in graduate school.[21:53] How can you make sure you have a good graduate school experience? Our faculty panel share their insights.[26:20] What does it take to get in to graduate school? Professor Demke Brown and Professor Gennady Pekhimenko talk about grades, letters of reference, and the importance of undergraduate research experience.[30:15] Mario and Diane wrap up.Opportunities at the University of TorontoAre you a second year CS student? Check out our department's Preparation for Research through Immersion, Skills, and Mentorship (PRISM)Are you going into second or third year? Check out the Faculty of Arts and Science's Research Opportunities Program and get course credit for research.Check out our department's Undergraduate Summer Research ProgramConsider pursuing a CSC494H1 project with a faculty member.More resourcesCheck out our department's guide for Applying to graduate schoolCheck out our department's guide for Asking for reference lettersCheck out our student ambassadors' guide for Research in CS

[01:04] Number 1: be intentional about your learning[04:23] Number 2: take advantage of resources[07:27] Number 3: try to find a good work-life balance.[09:29] Number 4: your friends can make all the difference.[13:14] Number 5: it's a tough job market, but you will get a job if you persist.[15:29] Number 6: nurture your network[19:16] Calls to action with Kimberly Huynh. Learn more about our career workshops and Alumni-Student Mentorship Program.

[1:40] How did the field of data science come to be? Professor Nathan Taback shares its origin story. [6:50] How are the fields of data science and computer science related? Professor Carolina Nobre, leader of the Human Interaction Visualization Lab, breaks down the components of data science. [10:40] Studying data science at the University of Toronto. Learn more about the Data Science Specialist Program and the Data Science Institute. Carolina shares an example of a 4th year undergraduate research project in data visualization.[13:30] Where can you go with a data science degree? We discuss opportunities in industry and academia. [17:35] Diane and Mario summarise the key take-aways of the episode. 

[1:53] What is the relationship between traditional Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning? Professor Rahul G. Krishnan explains.[4:24]  Rahul discusses his research at the intersection of Machine Learning and Healthcare.[9:40] How to do you get started in machine learning as an undergraduate student? Rahul discusses relevant course knowledge and gives examples of undergraduate research projects he has supervised.[14:30] Rahul talks about grades, how they may impact graduate school applications, and contrasts work done in research with work done for an undergraduate course.[18:00] Mario, Diane, and Rahul give some parting advice.

[1:29] Professor Alex Mariakakis shares examples of undergraduate research projects he has supervised.[2:46] Check out the Department of Computer Science's Undergraduate Summer Research Program.[3:08] Anatoly shares his experience with the Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Astronomy and Astrophysics.[7:38] Sarah shares her experience doing undergraduate research in Natural Language Processing (NLP) with Professor Suzanne Stevenson.[12:58] Arkaprava shares his experience pursuing undergraduate research in Quantum Computing.[15:43] Check out the Centre for Quantum Information and Quantum Control.[16:44] Check out the Research Opportunities Program.[19:32] Professor Alex Mariakakis shares some advice on how to communicate with faculty about their research and pursue opportunities to work with them.

[2:13] When do first-year students start applying for internships? [3:52] What should you expect when applying for an internship? [8:35] What should you expect during an interview? [11:59] What should you expect during the internship?

[0:00] Podcast introduction. [0:44] Sound bites from Season 1 episodes. [1:26] Conclusion. [1:59] Diane singing.