On Friday, September 13th, the Graduate College hosted a “Roads to Research Grad Coffee Chat” for a casual conversation with outstanding graduate students. The two panelists were Brandon Elliot of the Master of Public Administration program and Connor Nielsen of the Master of Fine Art’s program. Brandon went to Texas State as as an undergrad majoring in public administration and received his MPA here in the spring of 2019. He noted he, “hopes to change San Marcos for the better.” He discussed how his focus in graduate studies was on urban design regarding transportation, mainly bicycle infrastructure. He talked about the mentoring he received from our MPA faculty, especially from Dr. Rangarajan who helped guide him through his Applied Research Paper. Brandon highlighted the flexibility of the MPA program for those who work and the support he received as a full-time student. He spoke about how he was able to balance both work and school because of his work in the department as an instructional assistant. Being an IA gave him the opportunity to grow and get to know faculty on campus. Brandon explained that he felt professors like Dr. Hanks, helped prepare him for the real world after graduating whom he also had the opportunity to have as both an undergraduate and graduate student.
Students were able to ask questions to the panelists regarding their experience as a master’s student at Texas State. Brandon discussed the challenges of transitioning into the graduate program after graduating with his bachelor’s degree from Texas State. He emphasized how imperative it was to stay organized and do all the required reading for classes. He also noted the scholarships available to students not only through the Graduate College but also through the Department of Political Science, and how helpful they can be with supporting a second degree.
Both panelists also elaborated on the methodology they chose and explained why it most benefited them most according to their program. Additionally, they discussed the advantages of Texas State compared with other graduate programs, particularly because of the many guest speakers brought in to share their experience and expertise with the students. Attendees were able to mingle and connect with the panelists at the conclusion of the event.
