Sierra Abram

Current and Former Grad Students’ Experiences:

Sierra Abram (MA Class of 2018)

What is the most challenging and rewarding part of the program?

One of the more challenging aspects of this program is translating and molding your skill between disciplines and expectation levels of professors. Taking a social science and a rhetorical criticism class simultaneously challenges you to perform very different tasks, critical thinking skills, and writing styles. However, this challenge has enabled me to hone in on their unique differences, and allowed me to improve my abilities in both. It functions as an obstacle course, while it might not be fun at the time, the work out does improve your endurance and skill. The most rewarding part of this program thus far is seeing the vast improvements I have made in my writing ability since the beginning of the semester. It is difficult to see what you are learning and how you are improving because of the pace of the semester, however, those improvements really manifested in the work I turned in later in the semester.

What kind of student should be interested in this program?

This is a difficult question to answer. The simplest, albeit oversimplified, answer is students who want to garner more from this experience than a piece of paper. Those that I have seen struggle the most in this program are ones that do not have an objective in mind. In my opinion, students should attend CSULB if they are goal oriented, if they hold more than a fleeting interest in communication studies, and if they possess drive and passion for their studies. That being said, I do think there are particular students this program should appeal to and others that should hesitate. For those who want to pursue a PHD, CSULB is the ideal program. The faculty here is not only passionate, dedicated, and experts within their field; they are just as passionate and dedicated to the success of their graduate students. They are approachable and truly want to put you in the best position to succeed, through solidifying a successful thesis idea, assisting you in becoming published and attending conferences, or providing stellar letters of recommendation that have taken many on to competitive R1 PhD programs. That being said if your interest is lies in teaching community college, this program is challenging but rewarding. CSULB has an excellent TA/RA program that provides guidance and instruction to prepare you to be the most effective teacher you can be once you graduate. CSULB will prepare you to be an excellent teacher and will provide you training which allows you to keep your options open should you ever decide to pursue a PhD.

What do you think your training here prepare you to do after you graduate?

Above all else, CSULB’s training will prepare me to get into and succeed at a rigorous PhD program. Whether it is writing a conference-ready manuscript, witnessing other students co-author papers for publication, or engaging a challenging reading load, CSULB’s curriculum appears built to ensure the success of their PhD-bound graduates.

What advice would you give to a student coming to this program?

Be prepared to be challenged—regardless of your level of training during your undergraduate, this program will push you past the brink of what you think you can handle and will prove you wrong. Embrace the change—to succeed in graduate school you must be willing to change and adapt to your environment. Do not be silent—you will not always agree with your professors and that is ok. Be willing to challenge their prospective, provide reasoning for your challenge; the professor might change their mind or you might understand their original position more clearly. Graduate school is not about being an obedient student, it is the time when you must begin to shape your own academic identity and perspective.

What were your reasons for coming to Long Beach?

I came to Long Beach primarily for the PhD preparatory training and the environment. While I had the ability to attend several masters programs with great reputations, I chose Long Beach because it prioritized the success of their students. Because Long Beach is not a R1, their faculty have marginally better flexibility when it comes to providing attention and assistance to their graduate students. This means that Long Beach provides a rigorous program that is ideal for PhD bound students with a very successful and academically robust faculty, while still maintaining a report with students.

What other benefits not related to academia does CSULB provide?

CSULB provides a safe and diverse environment that is ideal for learning. Long Beach prides itself on its diversity and inclusivity and I did not fully grasp the significance of this until I attended. Graduate school, while immensely rewarding, is enormously taxing. It can be easy to get caught up in the pace that you forget why you are there. However, a simple walk across campus can provide you the boost and reminder you need. As I was walking across campus to grab some coffee, I saw a group of students painting in the courtyard, the LGBTQ+ student alliance dancing, and a demonstration of approximately thirty students stressing the importance of voting. The week following the election, the campus was full of peaceful protesters, the sidewalks full of uplifting sentiments, and there were stations set up to lament or celebrate the outcome of the election. CSULB’s community is politically active, culturally diverse, and you have the opportunity to not only be a part of this community but also impact their lives in some meaningful way through your scholarship and through your teaching. The campus is the ideal motivator, it reminds me every day why I’m here and the importance of communication studies.