𝗽𝗵𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 - 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟯🎓
In this part of the recap, I’ll focus on my first year. It can be pretty overwhelming if you’re jumping into a PhD straight from an undergrad degree. Coming from Telecommunications Engineering to Computer Science meant learning a lot from scratch. Balancing coursework, becoming a Teaching Assistant, and starting research became a big challenge.
I noticed a difference between the learning systems in the US and Spain:
1. At my undergraduate university in Barcelona (UPC ETSETB), everyone got the 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁, which was 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 and challenging. The emphasis was on deep, complex material that pushed us to understand the intricate details of our field.
2. In the US, classes focus more on 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝘀 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Professors 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 and weekly homework to help students explore and evolve these concepts independently.
Both systems have their pros and cons. The Spanish system’s rigorous theoretical approach builds a solid foundational understanding, while the US system’s practical focus enhances hands-on skills and real-world application. Combining both would be ideal, combining theoretical depth with practical application. This balance can provide a well-rounded education that prepares students for academic and industry challenges.
Another key lesson from my first year is the 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲. It’s easy to get excited and end up filling up all of your day, assuming you’ll have endless energy and motivation. Initially, I often underestimated how long tasks would take and overestimated my stamina throughout the day.
After many trials and errors, I found that a more flexible approach works best. I started dividing tasks into fixed responsibilities (like meetings and classes) and variable ones (like learning and research, which depend on your energy and motivation). Fixed tasks are non-negotiable and have set times, while variable tasks can be adjusted based on how I feel that day. This method helps avoid the frustration of not finishing tasks within expected timeframes and allows for a more adaptable daily routine. It took time to get used to this flexible planning, but it taught me to be more accountable and realistic with my time and energy. This approach not only improved my productivity but also reduced stress and burnout.
I hope this insight helps some of you as you navigate your PhD journey. Finding the right balance and staying organized can make a huge difference!
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