ESCANABA — Bay College’s Math Science Division presents a special colloquium “Graduate School: Why Would Anyone Ever Do That?” with Rebecca Bender and Jesse Traub.

Bender, an Escanaba native, is a recent graduate of Michigan State University with an Master of Science in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with International Sustainable Development Certification from Michigan Technological University.

Traub is a recent graduate of Michigan State University with a PhD in plant breeding, genetics, and biotechnology. He also has a bachelor of science in plant and soil science from Middle Tennessee State University.

The free presentation will be at 4 p.m. EST. on Thursday, Oct. 19 in room 125 of the Math Science Building. The talk will be simultaneously broadcast to room 107 at Bay College’s West Campus in Iron Mountain.

The talk will demystify graduate and professional school for attendees, covering topics including:

– Why would someone go to graduate or professional school?

– How do you get into graduate & professional school?

– Imposter Syndrome: you might get it at some point!

– The importance of choosing an advisor.

– Balancing work and the rest of your life.

– Researching and writing: more tedious than difficult.

– I got a graduate degree, now what? I become a professor or something? (Probably not!)

– Plus brief overviews of other graduate students’ experiences.