如果你正在寻找攻读研究生学位，决定选哪个并不总是容易的。有许多因素需要考虑，从大学和它的位置，涉及的成本和资金，你的研究生学位可以助你进入什么样的职业，而这只是表面上的。为了帮助您更容易地做出决定，这里有一些在您选择学位时需要考虑的 "做 "和 "不做 "的建议。

什么该做

想一想你想要什么，并想一想为什么

你想从研究生学位中得到什么？你应该在考虑你的选择时考虑你的职业目标：你是寻求职业转换，还是你需要你喜欢的职业的学位？你建议的学位是否会给你的职业前景和工资潜力带来很大的提升？它是否值得花费？

另一个方面是决定您想要哪种类型的研究生学位（研究型或授课型）--授课型学位遵循与本科学位类似的模式（您将选择每个学期学习核心模块和选修模块的组合，通过讲座、研讨会或实验室课程的形式接受授课），而研究型硕士则独立得多，很少有固定的教学时间。一旦你对自己的目标有了更清晰的认识，你就能更准确地搜寻与之相匹配的大学和课程。

确保你攻读研究生学位的原因是正确的

例如，虽然很多学生只是单纯地享受大学生活，但把读研作为避免加入职场的方式并不是最好的主意。如果你不确定你的职业道路，你可能更喜欢利用空档年的时间来研究你的选择，或者花一些时间在你喜欢的部分担任职责。在这里查看攻读硕士学位的最坏原因。

参加大学活动日

像QS世界研究生院巡回展这样的大学活动对帮助你选择研究生学位非常有用：你可以与你感兴趣的大学的官方代表会面，针对你的问题得到个性化的回答，让你了解更多关于课程的信息，包括入学要求的信息以及如何增加被录取的机会。你也应该尝试参加你未来大学的开放日，这将让你感受到校园是什么样的，包括大学提供怎样的设施。

与往届学生交谈

这将给你一个诚实的观点，学生是发现课程如何，他们现在在做什么，以及他们如何支付（学费）。或者，如果你无法找到过去的学生交谈，尝试搜索过去学生的职业成果，让你了解他们毕业后的职业发展情况。 

什么勿做

匆忙做出任何决定

取决于你在哪里学习，研究生学位可能是昂贵的，且耗费时间。所以，退一步讲，正如前面提到的，评估你对研究生学位的主观和客观需求是什么。无论你做什么，都不要在没有先彻底研究的情况下选择课程或大学。

仅仅依靠大学排名

虽然像QS世界大学排名®这样的大学排名对于了解最著名的大学的整体情况和你的学科有很大的帮助，但在选择学位时最好不要过于重视排名。理想的情况是，你要尽可能地确保课程、学生精神、地点和生活方式都与你非常匹配。

忘记考虑资金问题

在选择学位的过程中，另一个因素是你如何支付它。研究生院可以让你背负很多钱，所以你需要在投资前三思，绝对确定你的课程是适合你的。在选择学位的同时，你应该尽量考虑如何为你的未来课程提供资金。一个好的开始是你未来大学的官方网站，因为它可能会提供自己的奖学金，助学金，奖学金，助学金，奖励或助学金。此外，您还应该查看母国和东道国的政府网站、慈善机构、信托基金和其他外部奖学金来源、学生贷款和雇主赞助--在此阅读更多信息。您还应该研究一下您所在国家的典型生活费用，这样您就可以了解您应该做出多少预算（可能还需要一个最低金额来满足该国的学生签证要求）。

低估了您的研究生学位所需的努力

你可能听说过硕士和博士与本科课程相比有多大的挑战性，但许多学生对他们的课程有多紧张感到惊讶，需要他们激励自己，比以前更独立地工作（与导师的接触时间更少）。这意味着你外出社交的时间可能会比本科时少。所以，当你在选择研究生学位时，要确保它是一个你可以承诺而不会失去兴趣的学位，即使学业很难。

在这里找到离你最近的QS世界研究生院巡回活动，并在这里下载最新的QS顶级研究生院指南。

想要更多这样的内容？注册免费网站会员，以获得定期更新和您自己的个人内容订阅。

Going to college or university can be daunting enough without having to worry about being a victim of crime or violence. Fortunately, a new comprehensive ranking of the safest college campuses in the US is now available, factoring in crime statistics, including incidents of violence against women and number of arrests for illegal weapons possession, as well as liquor and drug law violations.

The ranking, released by the National Council for Home Safety and Security, uses government figures provided for total incidents in a calendar year about over 2,000 institutions. The top 20 can be seen below.

1. University of New Hampshire

With only three arrests on campus, 57 incidents of violence against women, and 417 arrests in student housing, the Durham-based University of New Hampshire was deemed the safest college campus in the US.

2. Brigham Young University-Idaho

Rexburg-based Brigham Young University-Idaho came second, with 12 incidents of violence against women (i.e. domestic violence, dating violence and stalking), despite a large population of nearly 44,000 - nearly twice that of the University of New Hampshire. A possible explanation for its high safety ranking may be the Christian honor code students are required to abide by at the university.

3. Oakland University

With only 20 crimes, (i.e. such as murder, rape, theft or arson), committed in campus housing at Oakland University, as well as 10 arrests on campus and 71 arrests in student housing, Michigan-based Oakland University has one of the safest campuses in the US.

4. The University of Massachusetts, Amherst

In fourth place this year, the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, also in New Hampshire, has seen only nine arrests on campus and in student housing. Amherst is known for its liberal politics, with 49.18% of voters registered as Democrats.

5. Washington State University

Based in Pullman, Washington State University scores highly on the safety index with only seven arrests on campus for crimes such as illegal weapons possession, drug law violations or liquor law violations. Cougars at Washington State can continue to sleep soundly at night.

6. Central Michigan University

Central Michigan University remains one of the safest college campuses in the country. With only nine arrests on campus and no crimes committed on campus, life is peachy in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

7. University of California, Irvine

In Orange County, the University of California, Irvine continues to rank among the safest campuses in the US, with only two arrests in student housing and no incidents of crime, despite a large increase in enrolment numbers at the college this year.

8. Montclair State University

Montclair State University which also featured in our list of the most LGBT-friendly US universities, is also a very safe space for all students. The New Jersey-based university has a low rate of violence against women in student housing of about 0.9%.

9.The University of Central Oklahoma

There are many reasons why the University of Central Oklahoma is generally awesome, not least because actor Ed Harris is an alumni. The fact it’s one of the American universities with the smallest number of attacks against women, with 14 alleged incidents (which is about 0.3%), is another. Go Bronchos!

10. Michigan State University

The second Michigan-based university to make its way into the top 10, Michigan State has been the scene of 1,288 alleged incidents, a fairly low number when the university’s large population of 50,538 is considered. Indeed, it has a crime rate in student housing of 1.8%.

11. Kent State University

Since the shootings of unarmed college students protesting the Vietnam War in 1970 by members of the Ohio National Guard, Kent State University has transformed its reputation to become one of the safest US universities. Only 469 incidents occurred on campus last year, with a low campus crime rate of 0.6%.

12. George Mason University

Located just outside Washington DC, George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, has seen 49 crimes on campus and 30 in campus housing, making it one of the safest universities nationwide.

13. Utah State University

Despite what you may think about the state of Utah’s permissive gun laws, Utah State University is actually quite safe, with only 18 alleged crimes on campus and in campus housing. Meanwhile, there have only been 27 incidents of violence against women on campus or in student housing.

14. Purdue University

Based in West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue University has seen 33 alleged crimes in campus housing and 60 on campus, as well as 21 incidents of violence against women on campus and 25 in student housing.

15. Appalachian State University

Tucked away among the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, has seen 11 alleged crimes in campus housing and 17 on campus and only eight alleged incidents of violence against women, a remarkably low number for such a big university.

16. CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College

Meanwhile in Manhattan, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College ranks among the safest campuses in New York City, with only one alleged incident of violence against women no alleged crimes on campus and in student housing, and just two arrests on campus for things like illegal weapons possessions, drug law violation and underage drinking.

17. CUNY Hunter College

The second safest university in New York City, CUNY Hunter College has only seen three arrests on campus, four alleged criminal incidents on campus and only 10 alleged crimes in total.

18. Iowa State University

Meanwhile in Ames, Iowa State University’s fairly big population of 35,714 staff and students has seen 558 alleged incidents in total, including 104 directed against women, 69 of a criminal nature and 356 arrests for underage drinking, illegal weapons possessions or drug violations.

19. CUNY City College

Just around the corner from Columbia University in Harlem, CUNY City College ranks among the safest colleges in the city of New York, with only 23 arrests on campus and in student housing for things like illegal weapons possession, drugs and underage drinking.

20. New York University

Finally in 20th place, there have been no arrests on campus or in student housing at New York University, while there have been just 12 alleged crimes and 14 incidents of violence against women.

First of all, congratulations! If you’re reading this, we’re assuming you’ve received an offer for a place on a PhD program in the UK. It’s not everyday you get to be rewarded for the ingenuity and feasibility of your research project, and finding a PhD supervisor to agree to mentor your project is definitely a step ahead in the right direction. If the elation you first felt when hearing the news has already given way to worry over money, hopefully we can help to ward off some of those concerns for you. If you can’t afford to pay for your fees out of your own pocket and haven’t received a university scholarship, here are some other ways to pay the fees.

Regularly search university job websites for available positions

Often universities will advertise research posts on specialist jobs websites like UniversityJobs.com or Jobs.ac.uk, so it’s a good idea to check these daily to find out about any part-time or full-time openings on campus that may contribute toward your fees, rent and living costs. Whether it’s a research post, or even just an admin job, being able to say you study and work “at the university”, especially if it’s in your research department, could open doors for you, in addition to being a convenient arrangement.

Explore your funding options both at home and abroad

You may be eligible for funding opportunities both at home and in the country of study, so if you’re coming to the UK from abroad then explore all of your options. If you’re from the US, for example, you could apply for a Fulbright grant. European Union residents could always try to apply for an ERASMUS overseas placement or get funding for a joint degree through Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). Explore other funding opportunities here. 

Shoot a promotional video and set up a campaign on Hubbub

If you’re thinking of going down the crowdfunding route, Hubbub.org is a good place to start. Set up an account either through your university if they subscribe to the site or individually. It’s much more geared toward education than other sites like Kickstarter so your campaign won’t get lost among a sea of artists and entrepreneurs. To promote your campaign, film a promotional video with your smartphone and offer symbolic gifts to donors, keeping them updated on your project. Share a link to your campaign on a dedicated Facebook and Twitter page, with your own hashtag, asking your friends and relatives to share on their accounts.

You could also try to contact your local newspaper, like Oxford University student Genevieve Richardson, who raised over £2,000 for her MPhil in Development Studies after appearing on the Yorkshire Evening Post and BBC Radio Leeds’ Breakfast Show. Depending on the newspaper’s news agenda at the time, they might want to slot you in for an interview and get your crowdfunding campaign lots of extra clicks.

Apply for charity awards

Did you know charities funded PhDs? Well, they do, and you might be able to get a charity or trust to contribute toward your living costs, fees, research expenses, conferences and/or travel. In the UK, there are thousands of organisations offering grants to projects they find interesting or even to students from certain demographics, such as the Vegetarian Charity, who give grants to vegan and vegetarian students, or the Leverhulme Trades Charities Trust, who help students whose parents are grocers, chemists, and commercial travellers.

Consider taking out a postgraduate loan

If you’re from the EU or the UK, you’re eligible to take out a PhD loan of up to £25,000 from the UK government. Repayments are 6% of your annual income when it reaches £21,000.  You would get £8,300 a year on average if your PhD takes three years, less if it takes longer. Obviously, this won’t be enough to cover all your fees and living costs, so you’ll need to consider the full cost of study and where the rest of your money will be coming from.

Apply for a QS scholarship

Top Universities offers a US$10,000 PhD scholarship to applicants who attended a QS World Grad School Tour event and completed a QS Graduate Applicant Survey by April 30 2018. To apply, you would also need to write a short essay about how the PhD will help your career ambitions. More information can be found on the QS events pages.

来源：赫尔辛基大学

网上能搜到很多所谓如何进入顶级研究生院校的“小技巧”，但收到招生官亲自建议却很难。毕竟，招生官都是眼明心亮的人，他们的工作就是从成堆的入学动机信中，寻找聪明大脑明日之星。

你有没有想过招生官员最大的烦恼是什么？他们到底要在申请人身上寻找什么特质？大多数申请人都失败在哪里？他们会给刚起步的朋友或亲戚什么建议？那么，你幸运不错。为了给你提供最好的建议，我们采访了顶级学府赫尔辛基大学的招生专家Jutta Ruuskanen，看看如何才能最大限度地提高你进入顶级研究生院校的机会。

人们在申请中最常犯什么错误？

对于必须提交的材料，赫尔辛基大学对于必须提交的材料，赫尔辛基大学有非常严格的国家要求，如果申请国际项目的人没有正确提交具体国家的文件，可能就会遇到问题。每年约有50%的硕士项目申请人都因为这个原因没有通过审查，连学术评估阶段都未进入就被拒绝了，根本没有到入学意向书和面试评估的那个环节。在办理入学申请过程中，需要遵守所有提供给你的指示说明，这点非常重要。

招生官一般会在入学动机信中寻找什么特质？

动机信应该写得非常流利，像一篇随笔文章，又能表明你熟悉自己的领域，以及在读完学位后，知道自己想要做些什么方面的研究。信中应该讲明你的学术或专业背景与硕士课程之间的关系，能提出自己心中想要通过研究找到答案的问题也很好。我们想知道你对自己未来的研究想法，还有你之前的学术背景在你初步确定硕士论文主题时、未来完成硕士学位后实现研究目标时能否提供帮助。

所以，不会推荐写任何太过有创意、与众不同的东西，比如一个少年激进分子在他的申请中写了一百遍“黑人的命也是命”后被斯坦福大学录取？

创意有时候并不能让你走得更远，当然，写点与你研究领域相关的趣闻是可以的。我们要求申请人仔细思考自己硕士论文的初步主题，比如，你可以用自己研究领域的时事来体现。这个做法很好，因为它表明你一直在关注自己所在领域的新闻，不仅仅说明你关注时事，还说明你真的喜欢做研究，努力了解你研究领域发生的各种事情。

你们在考量最低入学要求方面有多严格？个人成就极好但考试成绩或本科成绩很差的学生有机会吗？

如果是申请赫尔辛基大学的硕士项目，高中成绩并没那么重要。不过，我们当然也会看你的学士学位成绩。衡量比重一般就是我们录取标准中指定的内容，占比通常在25-50%左右，但不同的课程占比也不尽相同。你不必一定是一名优等生，但你至少应该在学业方面有着良好表现。

申请人面试时，一般会问申请人哪些典型的问题？

只有几个硕士项目将面试作为选择标准，目的是帮助我们了解申请人的动机，以及他/她是否已经熟悉了解自己想要学习的内容。我们需要通过面试找到一些信号，表明学生已经弄清楚了他们所申请项目的课程结构，通过回答问题时的表现，看申请人是否具有良好的沟通技巧。

什么样的回答算好回答？

这是个棘手的问题！[笑] 实际上我也不知道。我认为一个好的答案应该结构合理且听起来很专业。也就是说你应该了解自己的领域，并且知道要来这里学习什么东西。

什么是不好的回答？这个可能更好说点吧……

不好的回答包括不坚持事实、答非所问。或者赘述简历中已经写明的、无需重复的东西。这很像一个芬兰旅游广告，真的没有必要让芬兰听起来像是地球上最好的国家。最好重点讲下为什么想要读某个具体硕士项目的原因

对未来潜在的生源有什么其它建议吗？ 

有的，我想重点强调的是最后期限和指示说明方面的事情，因为没有进入学术评估阶段，不管动机信有多么精彩都毫无意义。

More than a week after Hurricane Maria plunged Puerto Rico in darkness, a number of South Florida colleges have announced tuition fee discounts for students affected by the hurricane.

Palm Beach State, Broward and Miami-Dade colleges pledged in-state tuition for Puerto Rican students, after Florida Gov. Rick Scott asked all public colleges and universities in Florida to make the move.

St. Thomas University promised free room and board to the first 100 college students from Puerto Rico and affected Caribbean islands, and Florida Atlantic University said it will waive tuition fees this school year for all current students with a permanent address in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico’s 258,000 enrolled undergraduates already saw their colleges close down earlier this month after Hurricane Irma wrecked havoc on the island.

Fabiola Victoria Pagán, a fourth-year chemistry student at the University of Puerto Rico, said to the Chronicle of Higher Education: "We've only had three days of class. I have no idea how they will make up for all of this lost time."

J. Miguel Santiago, a fourth-year journalism student at the University of Puerto Rico, tweeted: "Pretty much everyone is worried. The UPR has probably had its worst year in modern history."

The University of Puerto Rico will remain closed for at least several weeks, while students, volunteers and staff clean up. The island continues to struggle with a lack of power, water and food, and residents are also suffering a significant cash shortage.

San Juan resident Monica Morales spoke to NBC news about the precariousness of the situation, including hours-long waiting lines at ATMs and stories of residents robbing the few who were able to take out any cash at all.

She said: “There’s a lot of tension, it’s hard to find water and food right now and we still don’t have any supermarkets open near us.”

According to Walter Alomar, president of the University of Puerto Rico’s board of governors, it could take months to repair the damage.

He said: "They have been working, cleaning, and they have a really good attitude. In spite of the severe damages, we’re now starting to rebuild."

Donate here to vetted local organizations through the crowdfunding platform GlobalGiving to get emergency supplies on the ground and help with long-term recovery.  

By Charlotte Stevenson

Remember all those clichés in movies and YA novels about college cliques or stereotypes? Well, they’re not all completely off the mark. While university is very much about your own individual experience and shaping your own path, it’s impossible not to fall into certain tribes and become partly defined by the course you study. After all, what does a math student really know about what it’s like to read Shakespeare every week?

If you’re studying English literature for the next few years, everything below should be painfully familiar.

All that reading basically makes you an expert on everything

via GIPHY

Studying literature means you’re also studying pretty much every subject under the sun. In each text you study, there will be elements of history, sociology, art, music, natural science and even math. While this means you get to learn some really interesting things, it can leave you feeling like you’re running out of room to store information in your brain.

For example, when I studied Frankenstein I ended up having some very in depth philosophical debates which required a lot of scientific research into the ethics of cloning. And yet people will still behave as if my course is nothing more than a glorified book club…

Tracking down primary sources for your essays is impossible

via GIPHY

There’s nothing more rewarding than the feeling that, after countless hours of research online and in the library, you’ve discovered that one book or essay that will be completely perfect for your upcoming essay. Which is why it’s so frustrating when this source of information has already been checked out of the library and can’t be found anywhere else on the internet. Faced with an imminent deadline, you’re left finding creative solutions to bulking out your essay (will they notice if I make the font bigger?).

You’re only ever either writing or preparing to write

via GIPHY

Unlike many subjects, the work pace for literature studies is constant. Assignments are likely to include weekly tasks (such as the mandatory and critical reading for each module) as well as monthly graded assignments (essays and reviews), and so you’re constantly either writing an essay or planning your next one. How you’re meant to find the time to actually read books is beyond you.

Writing 1,000 words suddenly becomes the easiest thing in the world

via GIPHY

With all that writing, you soon learn that writing 1,000 words isn’t really that difficult. Having three 2,000-word essays due in the same month is completely normal so you stop being fazed by high word-counts. That is, until it’s the night before the deadline and you still have 1,500 words to write. Which is why it would be useful to acquire some successful time management skills.

You find words inherently hilarious, to the confusion of anyone not on your course

via GIPHY

Despite the stress of having lots of work, reading and writing about books is actually really fun. It’s especially hilarious when you get to learn an unfamiliar word or phrase from a medieval text or from some nonsense poetry. For this reason, the word snafu has already become a running joke among me and my friends, though to anyone not on our course it must seem like we’re telling jokes in code.

You’ll start to over-analyze everything you read

via GIPHY

Once the introductory lectures are out of the way and you’re up to speed on literary theory, you’ll soon find your own interests and original thoughts developing about literally everything you read. Your favorite novels will be re-read with a critical eye, and even messages from your friends will be searched for literary value. On the bright side, this means you’re gaining confidence as a literary writer and critic, but it’s probably best not to start telling friends about the hidden subtext in their late-night DMs.

By Laura Kabelka

From Klimt and Freud to hot-dog stands and Schnitzel, Austria’s capital city offers a very broad range of events and activities for tourists and locals alike. If you get the chance to spend some time abroad studying in Vienna as part of a study abroad program, you should seize the opportunity and pack your bags.

Here are some recommendations about where to go, what to see and what to eat when on your year abroad in Vienna:       

The sights you absolutely have to see

Vienna is one of those cities where sightseeing is a great form of getting to know your way around and beautiful, historic buildings are pretty much everywhere in the inner districts. Merely by going for a stroll in the first district you’ll see the stunning Parliament, County Hall and Votiv Church along the “Ring”, and during summer the parks flourish with flowers and open-air music events, breathing soul into the city.

The Albertina and the Leopold Museum are also highly recommendable, especially if you’re interested in Klimt, Schiele, Picasso or Monet. The Leopold Museum is located in the Museums Quartier (MQ), which is also home to the Kunsthalle Wien or the MUMOK and located right at the beginning of the popular shopping street Mariahilfer Straße. The MQ is also a great spot to just go for a meal or a drink with friends. Spritz wine is a local specialty and comes in various forms, but the most common is white wine with sparkling water, which is very light and refreshing; for the non-alcoholic option a soda zitron might be the best choice on a sunny day (or an almdudler, of course).       

When it comes to the Palace of Schönbrunn, you don’t need to be a history nerd to love Maria Theresa and Franz Joseph’s former summer residence. The palace is simply stunning, surrounded by a grand park with a beautiful view over Vienna; you can even find the zoo right on its doorstep. The little hike up to the Café Gloriette should be rewarded with a tasty apfelstrudl and a melange.

Lastly, don’t miss the Belvedere, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and a visit to the opera.

Living like a local while studying in Vienna

Eventually, moving to another city is not only about visiting all the big museums and impressive buildings. Instead, you want to get a feel for the place you’re staying, find new favorite bars, restaurants and social haunts. When studying in Vienna, you’ll find it’s a city ready to satisfy every need and desire you have during your stay. A must-try is the classic Viennese schnitzel with potato salad at a Heuriger, a traditional restaurant. Notoriously, typical Viennese waiters are described as harsh and biting, but if you challenge yourself to raise a smile you might come to adore their tartness. Fear not vegans, there are also a number of great options available to you, especially in the trendy districts like the sixth, seventh and eighth.

Even though the Naschmarkt is recommended in every tourist guide and is always pretty crowded, it’s still a place worth going to regularly. Whether it be for food or drinks in one of the international restaurants, or for a stroll along the many little stands offering falafel, hummus, antipasti or fresh fruits and vegetables. The merchants will not let you pass without trying a little appetizer or paying you a compliment. If you know what you want and where to go, you can get goods for a fantastic deal there. For those who cannot handle all the tourists, the Brunnenmarkt is a chilled version of the Naschmarkt. Wherever you go, don’t miss out on Austrian cheese.        

Whether it be summer or winter, the County Hall Square is home to many events, from food festivals and ice skating to open-air cinemas and if you like second-hand markets and vintage fashion, you should really check out the Neubaugasse flea market and the seventh district in general at some point. If you’re into theme parks, you should spend an afternoon at the popular Prater and take a ride on the big wheel with a great view over the city.

In summer, going for a barbeque at the Danube island might be a nice plan for a relaxed afternoon with friends.           

Where to eat and drink

Being a rather big city, Vienna plays host to a variety of different cuisines and, after trying other national dishes like kaiserschmarrn, spätzle and knödl, you shouldn’t be afraid to branch out and try some food from other countries too. Apart from the Naschmarkt, where you can get anything from Japanese to Mediterranean food, the Croatian restaurant Konoba has amazing fish platters and great service. Also, the Vietnamese restaurant Nguyens Pho House is highly recommendable, especially for its inexpensive lunch menu and the unbeatable soups.

Generally speaking, the Gumpendorfer Straße in the sixth district and the Donaukanal are the real deal for foodies. Watch out for further food events that frequently take place at the MQ like Veganmania or the ice cream festival at Burggarten.

When it comes to drinking, everyone from wine-lovers and beer fans to cocktail enthusiasts or coffee specialists is well looked-after. For younger people, the Zollergasse is a suitable street to go for drinks and great coffee is available at every corner in the inner districts. If you prefer sipping a hot drink in a traditional café you might want to visit Café Central, Café Landtmann or Café Sperl.

Another specialty drink to try is a sparkling fruit wine called most, while in winter you should definitely enjoy a warm mulled wine at one of the many Christmas markets all over Vienna. Wherever you go, don’t forget to tip the waiters. Ten percent is average in Austria and giving less means you didn’t like the service.

Depending on what time of the year you are studying in Vienna, you will see different faces of this beautiful city. From below-freezing temperatures in winter to hot and vivid summer nights, Vienna is full of surprises. One thing is for sure: you will not get bored here.

Laura Kabelka works in Communication and Marketing at StudentJob AT.

Ask somebody on the street what they think about CERN and more often than not you’ll be met with a blank face. At best, someone might remember hearing CERN mentioned in the same breath as the Large Hadron Collider but they’ll still probably struggle to tell you what CERN (otherwise known as the European Organization for Nuclear Research – the acronym is French) actually does. For physicists, however, it’s one of the most exciting places in the world.

Brenda Penante could barely imagine she’d one day be working at CERN when growing up in Recife, Brazil. However, after studying physics in Canada, working as a teaching assistant in South Africa, studying for her PhD at Queen Mary University of London and completing a postdoctorate in Berlin, Brenda finds herself working at CERN in a job she loves. We got in touch to learn more about her role, and to get her advice for other young women interested in studying the sciences.

What sparked your initial interest in science?

My father played an important role for sure. He loves astronomy, and could go on for hours into the night talking about constellations and the movements of the moon and planets. I remember finding it all fascinating, especially his passion for it, but it never occurred to me to study astrophysics. At school my favorite subject was math, but what made me decide to study physics at university was some old science books I found on my father’s bookshelves. I was 15 years old and started reading about quantum mechanics, relativity and string theory and got really into it. From then, my goal was to become a theoretical physicist, although I had little idea what that entailed.

What was your university experience like?

I enjoyed my time at university very much, I had very high standards for myself and put a lot of effort in to not fall short of them. In my year’s intake, there were just five women studying physics and there were only two of us left by the time we graduated. Back then, it didn’t occur to me that this female to male ratio was abnormal as I was used to it from school. Only years later did it hit me that there must be something wrong with how few women develop an interest in science, let alone pursue it.

One thing I do remember is feeling very insecure and finding the guys on my course to be more confident and assertive, even when their results weren’t as good as mine. This feeling has been with me ever since, and it’s an ongoing challenge for me to feel I’m worthy of my achievements.

Were there any differences when it came to be studying for a PhD?

It’s hard to keep your head firmly on your shoulders when doing a PhD. When you find yourself stuck on a problem, you can feel trapped, but other times the calculations work out and everything magically becomes wonderful. It was a constant struggle to keep my mind healthy, and I spent a lot of time and energy learning meditation in my spare time.

Looking back, my experience was definitely positive. I made good friends, had support from my supervisors and progressed professionally. During the first two years, I was the only woman in the string theory department, but I wasn’t surprised by this. I was able to make friends with other women working in the astrophysics and condensed matter departments and occasionally took part in events organized by the WISE (Women in Science and Technology) committee. It was good to exchange experiences with them and provide mutual reassurance; there were things I didn’t feel comfortable discussing with my male colleagues, such as my lack of self-confidence.

Now you’re working at CERN. What does a typical day look like for you?

I’ll get to work around 9am. The first thing I do is to check the arXiv webpage for today’s new papers in my research area and then get on with my tasks. I normally work on two or three projects in parallel, and every day I devote time to getting my head around a bite-size chunk of them. I do that typically by reading articles, discussing with my collaborators (either in person or via Skype), thinking and coding, with regular pauses for meals and coffee. I also attend local seminars and occasionally prepare to give one myself. My work day finishes at around 8pm usually, depending on deadlines.

What are your thoughts on the gender pay gap, particularly in the sciences?

Up to a postdoctoral level, I’ve noticed positions are advertised with a fixed salary which is fair. However, as one becomes a lecturer or professor, salary becomes negotiable and that’s where there is an imbalance, especially as women seem to be less likely to ask for a high salary and will also often have the issue of deciding to start a family. In my opinion, salaries should be regulated in a transparent way to avoid any disparities.

Until that happens, women should research the expected salary for their job and demand to be paid fairly. They could also discuss the issue with their colleagues to find out if they’re each being paid fairly and work together to demand better pay if necessary.

Why do you think there aren’t more women working or studying in STEM-related fields?

The main reasons, in my opinion, are a lack of role models and the fact it’s not a traditional path to follow. Boys are encouraged to be explorers but girls are expected to be pretty and not get dirty. This diverts attention of girls away from any initial scientific curiosity. Then, at school, students learn about science in a way which overlooks female contributions and role models, and so young people develop a stereotype of what a scientist looks like. I’ve lost count of how many times I was told I didn’t look like a physicist, which is a shame.

Some young women will overcome these obstacles despite the fact working in science means being more alone or having to spend time surrounded by guys all the time. Others will simply find something else where they feel they “fit in” better, and their talent is wasted.

What advice would you give to young women looking to study or work in STEM?

Try it out. Conditions are slowly changing, awareness of the gender imbalance is growing and it’s up to us to drive through change. If you’re really interested in something and there’s an opportunity to spend the best part of your days dedicating yourself to it in a job with fantastic prospects, then do yourself a favor and go for it!

Lead image: the Large Hadron Collider (Credit: Maximilien Brice)