Issue No. 84 • September 2026
Do I Actually Need Grad School? Beyond the Bachelor’s: Insight from a Current Graduate Student
Networking Before You Need It
Preparing for Life After Graduation
GRAD school GUIDE
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Letter From the Editor Hi Coogs! I am so happy to share with you our second issue of the school year, “Grad School Guide." Within these pages you'll find insight from a current graduate student, if grad school is the next step for you, tips on life after graduation, and much more. l hope you enjoy each page, put together by myself and the talented artists, writers, and photographers of Cooglife magazine. If you are interested in becoming a member of Cooglife magazine, please see the link in our Instagram bio. Until the next read, Ryan E. Ross | Executive Editor
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COVER Gauraangi Gupta Cooglife Contributor
EDITORIAL Ryan E. Ross
WRITERS
Cooglife Executive Editor cooglife@thedailycougar.com
Mahdiya Bhiwandiwala Megan Biasiolli Gauraangi Gupta Ryan Ross Emily Traweek
ARTISTS Gauraangi Gupta Anastasia Rivera Gillian Wisniewski
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
04 Table of Contents | Contributor Credits 05 Networking Before You Need It 06 Beyond the Bachelor’s: Insight From a Current Graduate Student 13 Do I Actually Need Grad School? 22 Preparing for Life After Graduation: Beyond the Workload
Networking Before You Need It Written by Ryan Ross
Whether your next step is graduate school or the job market, networking is an essential element to furthering your career. You may not know your post-graduation plans right now, but building professional connections today will benefit you no matter which direction you choose.
Find mentorship in your professors A simple way to begin networking is building a positive relationship with your current professors, or strengthening relationships with your past professors. You can do this by participating in class, getting involved in department life or attending their office hours. It’s a professor's job to help you grow academically, don't let this opportunity pass you by!
Digital networking If you haven’t already, make sure you are keeping up with your Linkedin profile. Post all the work and volunteer experience you’ve accumulated over the years, this way potential employers or mentors can see your areas of interest. You can also connect with organizations and employers through direct message and foster relationships online.
Make a genuine connection It is essential that you have these conversations, whether online or in person, with the intention of learning through someone else's experience. To ensure the connection feels genuine on both ends, make sure you do your research on the subject or organization, are actively listening when they speak and always follow up with the intention of learning more. If you follow these steps and continue developing these relationships throughout the school year, you won’t be worried when it is time to request letters of recommendation, or referrals for a potential job. COOGLIFE // August 2025 COOGLIFE // August 2025
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Beyond the Bachelor’s:
Insight From a Current Graduate Student Written by Gauraangi Gupta Photo by Gillian Wisniewski
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Gauraangi Gupta Photo by Writing this article when I have a case study due, two assignments to finish and two mid-terms waiting for me is the perfect way to introduce how life feels as a graduate student. It is just like undergraduate, but a lot faster and with an expectation that you already know everything. However, there are always some tips and tricks you can follow that can help you navigate through this journey!
Be prepared While it is true that grad school is just like undergrad but a lot faster, it is also important to understand how different these two levels of degrees are. You will feel a greater sense of independence in terms of academics and will be held responsible for your own progress. This will also lead to higher responsibilities and academic expectations. So pace yourself and give
yourself some time to adjust. It is important to be aware about this transition while thinking of grad school.
Plan your class schedule This one comes from a personal experience. I would easily manage four to five classes in my undergraduate course. Naturally, while building my academic calendar for this year, I added five classes again. That is when I got a major reality check from my advisor when she let me know that anything more than three classes is just too much. Therefore, it is highly recommended to plan your schedule and not overburden yourself. Have a timely meeting with your advisor to ensure your schedule fits you. You also have to consider your schedule especially with full time or part time jobs, commutes and other personal commitments.
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Become an
Inspirational Voice and apply now
go.uth.edu/SPHUH
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The most important part of being a grad student is knowing how to manage your time. Like I said before, there are higher academic expectations now. Oftentimes you will find yourself involved in overlapping assignments, presentations, exams, group projects and other commitments. Therefore, it is important to keep your calendar as organized as possible. Use a planner to track deadlines and have an idea what’s due in the next two weeks.
Beat imposter syndrome
Courtesy of
For younger grads like me who went to grad school straight out of college, it is very normal to feel imposter syndrome. Sitting in a class where the majority of your peers
Enjoy Most important advice: Enjoy your life! Just because you’re a grad student doesn’t mean you have to drown yourself in academics. Technically, you’re still a “college student.” So enjoy it to the fullest! Make some new friends and build some strong connections. Attend the football games, basketball games, events on campus and stay involved. It’s truly the best stress buster.
Gauraangi Gupta
Time management
are either in their late 20s-early 30s and have a lot more industry experience than you can feel daunting. However, don’t forget that in the classroom, they are learning the same things as you. In the classroom, everyone is there to gain knowledge. Don’t be afraid and try interacting with them. They can be great contacts in the industry or even serve as your mentors!
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Do it with passion, or not at all.
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Photo by Gauraangi Gupta 11
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Photo by Gauraangi Gupta
There’s little growth and progression, without learning and reflection. Art by Anastasia Rivera
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Do I Actually Need Grad School? Article & photos by Gauraangi Gupta
There comes a time when undergraduate students complete their bachelor’s degree and walk across the stage in their cap and gown, looking forward to what is next. Oftentimes, what comes next is usually the question, “Do I go to grad school now?” Although grad school may feel like the right move, a lot of deeper thinking and factors need to be considered before a decision is made. Whether you actually need grad school or not depends on your career path. Certain professions can only be pursued after you obtain a specialized degree through graduate school. For example, physicians need to go to medical school and earn a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (OD) degree, lawyers need to have a Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) degree to professionally practice law and pharmacists need a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree to be recognized as a licensed pharmacist in the country. If you are currently pursuing or plan on pursuing any of these professions as a career option, then grad school is a requirement, not a choice. Did you know? University of Houston offers all three of the aforementioned graduate programs! For many other professions, a bachelor’s degree is enough. However, there are mixed feelings regarding whether a graduate degree puts employees at a competitive advantage. The general expectation is that someone with a master’s degree would
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be paid more than with a bachelor’s degree. But, it may surprise you that this may not always be the case if a bachelor’s degree is backed up by years of professional experience. According to the Radford Career Ladder System, a master’s degree is the equivalent to a bachelor’s degree plus two years of professional experience. If an employee can gain more professional experience in the time that it takes someone else to complete their master’s degree, they would be seen as a more favorable candidate.
Therefore, higher education may not always result in higher income. On the contrary, reports from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) inform us that there is a salary advantage for college majors completing their master’s degree in the following areas: computer sciences, engineering, business, engineering technologies, healthcare, math and statistics. But, the report also describes how the difference in salaries kept declining between 2016 and 2025, especially for math and statistics. Conversely, the only degree that has seen an increase in salary between these years is business.
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Although a bachelor’s degree can be sufficient for many jobs and careers, a job not requiring a master’s degree doesn’t mean it won’t be useful in the future. Graduate school could make sense for you in the future if you believe it would help you gain opportunities for advancement you would not be able to access otherwise. In fact, many companies invest in their employee’s higher education and will often reimburse their master’s degree, especially if they want to retain top talent or want to further support their professional development. For many people, seeking a master’s degree is also a personal goal because they want to be more educated, or simply because they are passionate about their field of study.
However, going after a master’s degree would not be the best idea if you are unsure of what career you want to pursue. Higher education requires a significant investment of both time and money, and committing to a specific and specialized program may be impractical if you have a degree in a field you do not even end up working in. Additionally, if you assume that a master’s degree will automatically guarantee you a higher salary and put you ahead of your peers, you may want to consider your decision. Instead, focusing on developing your skills and gaining work experience may
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be more beneficial than simply staying in college longer without backing your degree with any relevant real-world experiences. Ultimately, there is no universal answer to the question “Do I actually need grad school?” Maybe this question requires a change in mindset. Instead of perceiving a master’s degree as the default next step after a bachelor’s degree, ask yourself if it would be a strategic move for your career or not. Is it something that you would need to get done right away, or could it wait after you have gained some professional experience first? Consider the costs and the benefits, and question whether the potential secondary degree will be worth the investment. Staying updated on the latest market trends and current demands of the workforce can also help you make a more informed decision. Whether you decide to pursue a new degree or a new job, make sure you do it because it aligns with your goals and aspirations, not because it feels like the next thing you are supposed to do! COOGLIFE // August 2025 1616 COOGLIFE // August 2025
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Betty Ann Ong
9/11: 25 years later Written by Megan Biasiolli
Sept. 11, 2026 marks 25 years since 19 hijackers seized control of four American aircrafts and flew them into the Twin Towers in New York City, and the Pentagon in Virginia. The last plane, Flight 93, was believed to be on its way to the White House or the U.S. Capitol before the passengers fought back and gained control of the airplane before it crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The terror attack fundamentally changed the United States and civilian daily life. In 2026, schools and institutions discuss the events of that day, but some of the younger generations do not learn about the heroic acts done by ordinary people in order to help strangers. This article will highlight a few of the many heroes that gave their lives that day to protect not just those immediately around them, but the entire country.
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Betty Ann Ong was a flight attendant on Flight 11, the first plane hijacked on 9/11 and later flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. She was the first person to inform the authorities about what was happening. Ong was in the back of the plane where she courageously called American Airlines operations on the ground to alert them that they had been hijacked. She stayed on the phone for around 23 minutes and gave them information about the attackers. Her call helped authorities understand that this was not simply an aircraft going off course. She also gave the seat numbers of where the hijackers were sitting, leading law enforcement to quickly identify them after the attack. Because of her bravery, the authorities were able to transition from confusion to clarity and respond to a coordinated attack against the United States.
Welles Crowther After the Sept. 11 attacks, survivors recounted a man with a red bandana who directed them to a nearby staircase and led them to safety. His name was Welles Crowther. He was an equities trader who worked on the 104th floor of the South Tower and a volunteer firefighter. Since his childhood, Crowther always had a red bandana with him and on 9/11 he used it to protect himself from smoke inhalation. He made multiple trips up and down the staircase to guide people to safety and carried an injured woman down 15 flights of stairs, saving at least 18 lives that day. Boston College, Crowther’s alma mater, honors him every year in the Boston College Red Bandana Game. The football team wears special red bandana-themed jerseys with the name Welles on the back. Every year, fans and students fill the stadium waving red bandanas in honor of his heroism.
First responders On Sept. 11, police, firefighters and EMTs worked tirelessly to save as many people as possible. They found themselves in a situation they were not trained for, yet despite their fears, they had the courage to run towards the danger while others ran away. One of the firefighters who gave his life was Keithroy Maynard. He was the twin brother of Houston firefighter Kevin Maynard. He recently talked to KHOU about how the loss of his brother still affects him today. Countless first responders put their life on the line to rush into the Twin Towers and rescue as many people as possible. EMTs worked to administer aid to survivors, people on the ground and injured first responders. More than 400 first responders died the day of the attacks, with thousands more dying in the following years from 9/11-related illnesses.
Flight 93 Flight 93 was the last plane to be hijacked and was believed to be on its way to either the White House or the U.S. Capitol. Captain Jason Dahl, the pilot on Flight 93, radioed a mayday call to the Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center. This call is the reason the authorities knew right away that Flight 93 was in danger. After some passengers were able to call their loved ones, they made the decision to not sit idly by, but to fight for their lives and protect the United States. They teamed up and took down one of the hijackers who was outside of the cockpit, and then courageously stormed the cockpit. It is because of the passengers and crew members’ incredible courage that many lives were saved, and America was spared from that last attack that would have caused incomprehensible lasting damage to the country.
William Rodriguez World Trade Center custodian William Rodriguez used his master key to rescue people who were trapped and to lead first responders up the North Tower stairwells. Rodriguez helped save hundreds of lives including a severely burned colleague, a man in a wheelchair and people who were trapped on a basement service elevator. Since the elevators were out of order, he went back inside the North Tower with firefighters to unlock the stairwell doors and lead them up to the 39th floor. He is known as the last person to escape the building alive before it collapsed. Rodriguez received the National Hero Award from the Senate of Puerto Rico and has since raised millions of dollars for 9/11 victims and survivors.
Rick Rescorla Rick Rescorla, who was the head of security at Morgan Stanley, helped save over 2,600 employees on Sept. 11, 2001. When the North Tower was first hit, an announcement was made telling people in the South Tower to stay in their offices, but Rescorla defied orders and immediately told his employees to evacuate. After getting almost all of his employees out safely, he went back inside to search for anyone that was left behind. Him and some other members of his security team were killed as they were going floor by floor searching for anyone else who was trapped and needed to be rescued.
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Grad School Checklist Research Programs Check Prerequisites Order Transcripts Take Required Exams Write Personal Statement
// August 2025 21 Photo byCOOGLIFE Gauraangi Gupta
Preparing for Life After Graduation: Beyond the Workload Written by Emily Traweek COOGLIFE ////August August2025 2025 22COOGLIFE 22
Being a UH student isn't only about attending sporting events, late-night study sessions and Monday nights at The Den. No matter where you are in your degree path, it's never too early to start preparing to enter the job market. Whether you know your desired field or are still figuring it out, university is the time to explore and develop skills that will help you succeed inside and outside the workplace. As students, we share this goal. Therefore, we can relate to one another as peers and help each other make the process less intimidating. If you haven’t already, start by evaluating your previous work, volunteer experience and extracurriculars and compiling it into a resume. Challenge yourself to think beyond your job description by finding creative ways to highlight your accomplishments in your resume.
Emphasize why each task mattered and how you played an essential role in completing it. For example, replace “Responsible for helping with company events” with “Coordinated event logistics, vendor communication and attendee preparation for professional networking events.” You can also demonstrate the numerical scope of your work by including the number of events you coordinated or attendees you supported when relevant, but avoid embellishing the data. There are a variety of resources on campus that aim to assist students on their career journey, so be sure to utilize them as soon as possible. This will help you to stay on track and prepare you for graduation. University Career Services is available to students seeking assistance with resumes or career advice tailored to their individual needs. Make an appointment with a Career Development Specialist on campus or check their webpage for weekly drop-in hours, virtually or in person, Monday-Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Photos by Gillian Wisniewski
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