Your goal the first year should be to take the core courses, to prepare to pass the comps, or to get to know the faculty and their research so you can focus on fulfilling your concentration and start working on a project for your thesis. Below are some possible plans for meeting this goal. Your situation may well justify another choice; there are many alternatives. To help get through this intense period, we recommend you find a study group. Also, if you are interested in research, you should attend one of the weekly group meetings sponsored by many of the research groups.

Full-Time Example (3 Courses/Qtr)

• 1 core class
• 1 elective
• CSE 292
• 1 concentration course
• If thesis, 1 research group meeting

• 1 core class
• 1 concentration course
• 1 elective
• If thesis, 1 research group meeting

• 1 core class
• 1 concentration course
• 1 elective
• If thesis, 1 research group meeting

• CSE 298 or CSE 293
• If comps, take comps
• If comps, 2 electives
• If thesis, attend a research group meeting

• If thesis, write thesis

Part-Time Example (1 Course/Qtr)

• Core class
• CSE 292

• Core class
• If thesis, take 1 unit research meeting

• Core class
• If thesis, take 1 unit research meeting

• If comps, take comps
• 1 concentration class
• If thesis, take 2 units CSE 298

• 1 concentration class
• If thesis, take 2 units CSE 298
• If comps, take 2 units CSE 293

• 1 concentration class
• If thesis, take 2 units CSE 298
• If comps, take 2 units CSE 293

• 1. Do not overload yourself with commitments your first quarter. Graduate school is different from and harder than pursuing a bachelors degree. Give yourself at least one quarter to adjust to and learn these differences.
• 2. Make an effort to meet other students and faculty.
• 3. As soon as you encounter trouble, whether it be academic or personal, you should seek assistance. Form a study group, discuss your difficulty in a class with your professor, visit your academic advisor, or contact counseling and psychological services.