Grad School Panel Recap: Insights from UofT Grad Students
What drives someone to trade stable paychecks and free evenings for long nights in the lab and a mountain of research papers?
At our recent Grad School Panel, four University of Toronto scholars shared candid stories of how they found meaning, challenge, and purpose in their academic paths.
The panel featured:
- Naaz – Programming Visualization, recently completed her Master’s
- Taneea – PhD Candidate
- Rayan – Master’s student in HCI and Ethical AI
- Lee – ML Researcher at Vanguard, PhD graduate
Together, they painted a realistic picture of life beyond undergrad — filled with discovery, self-direction, and the constant search for balance.
Why Grad School?
Each panelist had a distinct reason for stepping into academia:
- Lee found his spark during his MSc, surrounded by peers who loved research. That environment helped him see a PhD not as a credential, but as a chance to ask bigger questions.
- Rayan discovered her passion through her undergrad capstone project, drawn to the autonomy and open-ended nature of research.
- Taneea worked in industry after undergrad but felt disconnected from the kind of impact she wanted to make. The pull back to academia was natural.
- Naaz realized through teaching assistantships that she loved mentoring and knowledge-sharing — a motivation that steered her toward a PhD.
Choosing the Right Program
When it came to choosing a program, the group emphasized doing homework — not just academically, but socially and personally.
- Naaz suggested reading professors’ papers and reaching out to current students to understand lab culture and expectations.
- Taneea prioritized interdisciplinary programs and topics like ethics and bias, while also weighing lifestyle and location.
- Rayan looked beyond rankings, focusing instead on supervisor alignment, funding conditions, and a university’s values around community and collaboration.
- Lee echoed that the supervisor-student dynamic is critical: “You’re not joining a school — you’re joining a lab. Make sure it’s one where you can thrive.”
The message? fit and mentorship matter more than prestige.
Skills, Challenges, and Growth
Grad school is as much about how you learn as what you learn. The panelists reflected on skills that shaped their journey:
- Lee emphasized writing and communication: “Good research that no one can understand is invisible.”
- Rayan built confidence through hackathons and student projects, which made the transition to academic research smoother.
- Taneea discussed the accountability shift from industry to academia — where the project’s direction and success depend entirely on the student.
- Naaz shared how extracurriculars and teaching roles kept her balanced and motivated, noting that taking breaks often led to better ideas.
Student Q&A Highlights
The Q&A portion brought out some practical advice and honest reflections:
- Industry vs. Academia: Lee explained that while both involve research, industry work moves faster and is more goal-driven, with less external collaboration.
- References for Grad School: Taneea advised keeping in touch with undergrad supervisors and seeking research-like experiences, even outside academia.
- Startups and Grad School: Rayan highlighted that UofT’s Computer Science department supports entrepreneurship — making it possible to explore both research and innovation.
- Course-Based vs. Research-Based Master’s: Lee noted that most R&D roles in industry favor candidates with graduate-level research experience.
Looking Ahead
As the discussion wrapped up, each panelist shared their next steps:
- Lee aims to continue mentoring and advancing applied research.
- Rayan is preparing for fieldwork and data collection in the UK.
- Taneea remains focused on completing her PhD and publishing her work.
- Naaz is finishing her doctorate and plans to continue in academia.
Final Thoughts
The Grad School Panel wasn’t just an overview of academic paths — it was a reminder that grad school is as much a personal journey as it is an academic one.
From navigating uncertainty to finding mentorship, each story reflected resilience, curiosity, and a commitment to learning beyond grades and deadlines.
For students considering graduate studies, the biggest takeaway was simple: grad school changes not only what you know — but how you think.
“Grad school isn’t just about learning more — it’s about learning differently. You stop being a consumer of knowledge and start becoming a creator of it.”
— Lee, PhD Graduate and ML Researcher at Vanguard
“The best work doesn’t come from pushing nonstop — it comes when you give yourself space to think. Taking breaks made my research stronger.”
— Naaz, PhD Candidate in Programming Visualization