Matt Slifko - Indiana University of Pennsylvania

NAME: Matthew D. Slifko

Pitt-Johnstown GRAD: 2004

MAJOR: Actuarial Mathematics

JOB TILTLE: Full-Time Graduate Assistant at IUP

Currently I am working in a computer lab and helping out a professor. The professor wrote a paper approximately 15 years ago, and my job is to read through it and follow the mathematics of the paper. I have helped to verify his calculations and am now trying to get his paper in Microsoft Word. Next semester, I will be working in IUP's Applied Research Lab. Basically, that will encompass working with statistics software.

The best part about grad school is that I only have to deal with Math classes. Also, I have found the course material (at least in two of my three classes this semester) to be very interesting.

If you are thinking about going to grad school, make sure you find a program that interests you. Grad School is quite a bit more work than undergrad. If you are not enjoying the material you are studying, you are not going to enjoy grad school. When selecting a school, take a look at a variety of schools and try to find one that has classes geared toward your interests and that has people you will feel comfortable around. (Amazingly, this is exactly what Dr. Thompson and Dr. Ferencak told me, and they were absolutely correct.)