Last May 7, the Ateneo SALT Institute, together with the Loyola Schools Office of Placement and Career Services and the Ateneo EDGE, organized an afternoon PassTheSALT panel on Careers in the Academe and Further Studies Abroad at the JJ Atencio Lighthouse for New Learning
Professors Cuyegkeng, Sarmiento, Veric, and Canuday share about their experiences with students
Included in the panel were Dr. Ma. Assunta Cuyegkeng of the Department of Leadership and Strategy (PhD Chemistry, Universität Regensburg), Dr. Jumela Sarmiento of the Department of Mathematics (PhD Mathematics, Kyushu University), Dr. Charlie Samuya Veric of the Department of English (PhD American Studies, Yale University), and Dr. Jose Jowel Canuday of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology (DPhil Anthropology, University of Oxford).
The panel was moderated by Jose Eos Trinidad of the SALT Institute and the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies (Comparative Human Development, University of Chicago).
Some lessons and insights from the talk include:
1. Make your grad school application stand out
The panel suggested different ways of making sure your application stands out, but primary among their suggestions was the importance of the fit between the applicant and the adviser. Canuday said that it is not just about being smart and getting in, but more about the expertise of the university and adviser being in line with the applicants’ strengths and interests.
Another way of making your application stand out is by having some publication under one’s belt even before applying. Because of the nature of the PhD as being research-intensive, admissions committees look for signs of the person’s ability to do independent work in the field.
Sarmiento mentioned that it is also important to say yes to different opportunities while still in one’s home country. These can come in the form of research projects or conferences, where one is exposed to other people and professors in the field.
Participants with the speakers
2. Prepare and learn about scholarships in advance
Most of the speakers advised students who want to do further studies abroad to actually prepare a year in advance. The preparation will include being clear about one’s research area, creating a strong statement of purpose, and asking for recommendation letters from different previous professors.
One must also know when the deadlines are for the different universities and programs, and how scholarships can be obtained.
The panel mentioned different ways of applying for scholarships: (1) through the university itself, (2) through scholarships given by the embassies, and (3) through programs and fellowships like the Erasmus Plus and the Ford Foundation Fellowship.
3. You need psychological perseverance
One thing echoed by the different speakers would be the need to be both mentally and emotionally prepared when undertaking further studies abroad. Aside from the demands of working on research, there are also difficulties with loneliness and being in a different culture.
Veric mentioned the importance of being gritty and persevering despite the difficulties of graduate school. He mentioned that even if the “life of the mind” has its perks, it will be tough on certain days.
Similar stories were also shared about winters being an especially difficult time. However, they also mentioned that springs are usually very beautiful in temperate regions.
4. Build a community and immerse in the culture
All four speakers mentioned the lasting friendships they have made while they were in studies abroad, and how important it was to build communities. Canuday talked about memories of being with Filipinos in Oxford while Cuyegkeng mentioned her German friends from her time as a chemistry student there.
She also emphasized how important it was for those studying abroad to immerse themselves in the culture and make the most of the experience of being in a different location.
The Ateneo SALT Institute, Office of Placement, and Ateneo EDGE convened the panel to help undergraduate and graduate students think about the possibility of having a career in the academe, and be guided in the process of applying. Many came out of the panel with practical lessons that they hope to use when they apply for graduate studies abroad.