Caught between professional ambitions and academic dreams, Meenakshi reveals how she masters the delicate art of juggling part-time work with graduate studies at UC Berkeley's competitive landscape.
Guest: Meenakshi Sriraman, Senior Solutions Engineer at SailPoint
On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/meenakshi-sriraman-737307114/
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Host: Saman Fatima
On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/saman-fatima
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Episode Description
Are you from India? Wishing to come to the USA for your studies? Is your dream university - The University of California, Berkeley? If yes, grab a pen, paper, and water; you are all good to know everything. From researching the dream university to getting selected and beating the elephant in the room (i.e. the VISA process) to settling up - you need to know EVERYTHING because it is a foreign land with a lot of newness, loneliness, and self-dependency.
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Resources
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For more podcast stories from Off The Record With Saman: https://www.itspmagazine.com/off-the-record-with-saman-student-abroad-podcast
Watch the video version on-demand on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0954PDs3hFI&list=PLnYu0psdcllS96iavkI5nQsErJ3795ow6
Balancing Act: Navigating Career and Academia - Meenakshi Sriraman's Journey of Part-Time Work and Pursuing a Master's Degree at UC Berkeley | Off the Record with Saman — Student Abroad Podcast
18:37:00 Hi, everyone. This is Saman Fatima and we're back with another episode with Off the Record with me, Salman on ITSP magazine.
18:37:10 So today we're talking about another visa. We've talked about a lot of students who come here on F1 visa.
18:37:18 We've also had a couple of chances where we talked about a different visa person being a student again.
18:37:25 This is none different than that one, but where we would be talking if you're here on H1B, you're working with an organization, and then how can you also do
18:37:35 your course as part-time or full-time and how things go on there. So we have Minakshi here
18:37:42 She did her master's from UC Berkeley. Everyone knows about that college. That's amazing.
18:37:48 I have personally heard a lot about it in American TV shows. So I would really love to hear about it. So before we drill down much into it, actually, why don't you introduce yourself?
18:37:59 To everyone here, when did you come here? What college? What course? And where are you currently right now?
18:38:06 Absolutely. Thank you, Suman, for that introduction. Hello, everybody. My name is Meenakshi Siraman. I am currently based in Chicago and I am currently working with SailPoint as a senior solutions engineer.
18:38:19 In the sales engineering organization.
18:38:21 I did my master's in cybersecurity. So it's basically master's is in information and cybersecurity from UC Berkeley School of Information.
18:38:30 I joined the cohort of 2022 and I just graduated this year in May.
18:38:35 So yeah, this was a great course and this has been basically juggling work life along with doing this course virtually. So it's been an interesting journey for sure.
18:38:47 I could hear like a lot of
18:38:49 commonalities between us that is you also came in 2022. I also came in 2022
18:38:59 Mm-hmm.
18:38:55 And SailPoint is evergreen for me because when I started my work experience after doing my undergrad back in 2017,
18:39:04 I guess it's been a it's been a good combination of me and SailPoint.
18:39:10 And we've come this far that I'm still working on SailPoint being in
18:39:15 That is awesome.
18:39:17 Yeah.
18:39:19 have had my own highs and lows with SailPoint, but I guess I'm sticking for the seventh year with SailPoint itself, with my WorkX started and still going on with the same tool.
18:39:32 So…
18:39:31 That is amazing. Yeah, it's very similar to me because so I came to the US in 2015. I started, I came here on a work visa on H-1B. And I've been, so I was not with SailPoint earlier, but I have been working on that tool, like similar to you. I think it's been like six, seven years now. So yeah, it sounds.
18:39:49 Exactly like my journey
18:39:49 That's amazing. We've actually partnered with SailPoint, but working on it and everything, obviously it's not sponsored here
18:39:58 But yeah, that is one tool I have been working with and now I get someone on the other side as well.
18:40:08 Yeah.
18:40:04 who is like working now with Sailport. So that's amazing. So before we head on to a lot of things, I know you were in the country in 2015 itself, though not with the current employer.
18:40:18 But if you can walk us through what motivated you
18:40:22 to take your master's in 2022 as compared to 2015 and what visa were you on and
18:40:28 you know just just more on that road
18:40:30 Yeah, absolutely. So I…
18:40:34 started working right after my bachelor's. I did my bachelor's in India and I joined Tata Consultancy Services
18:40:41 So they actually sent me here on an H-1B visa. I was working for a customer and basically came on site.
18:40:50 I did want to do my master's
18:40:52 right after my bachelor's, but you know, I was like, okay, let me take a break. Let me work for some time.
18:40:58 feel that and then maybe get back. But I couldn't get back because
18:41:01 You know, once you start working, it's very difficult to actually go back to student life. And you get used to certain things, right? You get used to like earning and it's difficult to like go back.
18:41:11 So I have been wanting to get on that track, but I've been like busy, didn't have much time.
18:41:17 So 2015, when I came to the US, I did consider doing a master's degree virtually. But back then, I didn't find a lot of, and I did start my career in cybersecurity and identity and access management. So that's always been a passion of mine.
18:41:32 I also studied like one of one of my subjects in my bachelor's of engineering was cybersecurity. So it's been a passion to just continue that journey.
18:41:40 But back in 2015, I didn't find a lot of universities that actually had this course.
18:41:46 I think it's a newer realm or a newer industry or maybe like I didn't have much knowledge back then. So I did try. I did try
18:41:55 reaching out to a university and then the fees were too high for me because I'd just started working. So I didn't continue that path.
18:42:02 But come 2021, end of 2021,
18:42:07 had spent some time working and I was like, you know what, it's time to refresh myself just
18:42:12 I like to keep learning. And yes, I did do some certifications, but I wanted to actually, I was considering doing either a CISSP or a master's and then I landed on the master's degree.
18:42:24 And I found three universities that intrigued me. One was, of course, UC Berkeley, because their course was ranked highest when I was looking for the courses.
18:42:33 And then I also consider NYU because they also have a cybersecurity course and Purdue University. So these three universities intrigued me and I applied to two.
18:42:44 Which is UC Berkeley and NYU. So why I chose UC Berkeley is because the course was more targeted towards working professionals. So they understood that
18:42:55 okay you know there are people walking. These might be mid-level people, not exactly like already into leadership or just starting out. Of course, it was
18:43:03 friendly towards entry-level people as well, but they were more considerate of
18:43:09 mid-level people maybe wanting to transition to leadership. And that's why the course really like stood out for me. And that's why I went ahead and applied and
18:43:19 thankfully got through.
18:43:21 I could actually feel like a lot of things are common between us. I started with TCS as well
18:43:28 Nice.
18:43:30 And other things as well, a lot of things are falling parallel to all of us and it feels like a
18:43:37 doppelganger just sitting, you know, beside me
18:43:41 But considering like it would have been really difficult to, you know, manage, you know, work alongside with the master's course as well. We'll come to that section as well but before like
18:43:53 obviously you came down on a different visa. You walked us through that and that's completely possible for a lot of us who are currently on H-1B. And if they want to do a course.
18:44:03 So wanting to understand about the curriculum that made you choose UC Berkeley.
18:44:09 like obviously it's the highest ranking. The college has good ranking obviously
18:44:21 Mm-hmm.
18:44:15 But what are the other factors that stood out for you, obviously, as compared to NYU and Purdue? What really stood out for you when you
18:44:23 looked at the curriculum if you remember obviously it's been two years with something
18:44:28 Yeah, so I think one of the things I remember is the subjects that they were offering. So they offered a range from technical, really technical subjects
18:44:38 to sort of
18:44:40 real world like risk management or something a little bit more management level. So the subjects really stood out for me. Like I think the two most intriguing subjects for me were cryptography because it's like it's
18:44:50 I love it. Like I'm not amazing at it. It's difficult. But I always found very interesting. And then risk was another factor because I, so I,
18:45:01 Because I'm an IAM. I am wanting to branch out to other domains. So risk management was something which I thought, okay, you know, this could be really interesting learning about
18:45:11 cyber risk and how it affects organizations. These are real world scenarios as well.
18:45:18 They did offer
18:45:21 a citizen clinic course as well. And of course, a capstone which
18:45:25 You can apply to the real world where you can basically develop products and stuff. So this stood out to me. Second is the faculty. When I looked into the faculty that was actually teaching there, like they really struggled because some of them have actually served at the White House.
18:45:40 They're actually serving in like
18:45:41 a lot of like organizations which are really, really important to the cybersecurity world.
18:45:47 And I also did notice a lot of
18:45:51 very strong women leaders in there who are teaching. So that is another thing that really like
18:45:56 I like when, you know, I see women because you know that there are not a lot of women in our
18:46:01 field and it's great. So that's what stood out.
18:46:05 Okay.
18:46:11 Yeah.
18:46:04 Yeah, that's really amazing and obviously when people are from diverse backgrounds, like they have worked at the government agencies or maybe other private organizations.
18:46:16 Mm-hmm.
18:46:15 with my course as well, there were a lot of professors who were
18:46:20 Yeah.
18:46:19 teaching as part-time and they were working at like other government agencies or other people
18:46:24 Mm-hmm.
18:46:24 with institutions and
18:46:26 Obviously, they come up with two things. One is a lot of experience, a lot of real time examples that they can give it out to us.
18:46:35 Yeah.
18:46:34 And the second thing is basically they have a lot of contacts as well. So, you know.
18:46:38 Yes.
18:46:40 During our time, there were a couple of projects that we actually did like
18:46:48 Mm-hmm.
18:46:45 the professor was friend with four other people so you know he assigned each person to each of the group
18:46:52 Wow, okay.
18:46:52 and you like a live project and you know take suggestions from those people who are actually CEOs of their organizations and
18:47:00 Yes, exactly, exactly.
18:47:03 Exactly.
18:47:06 Yep. Yep.
18:47:02 they readily made us do like do the cyber analysis for our organization, do the assessment and
18:47:09 That was something really great that, you know, we were doing for real organizations
18:47:14 and grilling the
18:47:13 Exactly, exactly. Because we don't, yeah, it's difficult to get that kind of exposure otherwise, right? Like, yes, we are working, but are you really going to go up to your CEO and ask them like, hey, can I do this?
18:47:23 No, it won't work like that.
18:47:25 And it was so nice that, you know, you were able to see okay
18:47:32 Mm-hmm.
18:47:30 what assessments they have in place, what they do. We also got to know that a lot of organizations did not even have like disaster management
18:47:37 Oh, wow.
18:47:37 So yeah, like nothing of you know business continuity or anything that was set up
18:47:42 So we help them set it up. Okay, yours is a private platform. So and so data can be exposed. You know, we were able to suggest that
18:47:51 I don't know if they applied it.
18:47:54 I'm sure.
18:47:53 but you know at least we could suggest that in real time environment so
18:47:56 Yeah. Yeah.
18:48:03 Right, yeah.
18:47:57 That was good and this comes handy when the faculty is really diverse. So I totally agree to that point. And with UC, I guess.
18:48:07 Of course, yeah.
18:48:10 it has to be considered that this would be the scenario so
18:48:13 Yes.
18:48:14 I know the curriculum you talk about really stands out because these are the major things that would come up in the future as well with risk or with cryptography, a lot of things.
18:48:23 Yes.
18:48:24 Yes, yes.
18:48:33 Mm-hmm.
18:48:25 With that said, obviously, you talked about that you were on H-1B. So were there any instances or are there any sort of rules or regulations where
18:48:38 one has to go on F1 or they can still continue on H1, but there has to be certain documentation done
18:48:51 Yes. Yeah.
18:48:46 or obviously you continued on H1, but you were a student plus working. Anything that one has to
18:48:53 take care of in terms of paperwork or stuff.
18:48:57 No, you don't have to because this was a part-time course and this was also virtual. So you're not really going back
18:49:04 to a university and taking classes full time. The rule of
18:49:09 your H-1B visas, you need to be employed full time by your employer.
18:49:13 which is true in the case.
18:49:15 And you're not really leaving your job and going back to college. So really, I didn't have to do anything for my visa. Like it's totally legal, totally fine to do
18:49:23 Okay.
18:49:24 this kind of course when you're an H-1B.
18:49:26 Okay.
18:49:26 As long as you're not like quitting your job and going back to college.
18:49:29 yeah obviously
18:49:29 Totally okay to study on
18:49:32 Okay, that's great. That's great. I wanted to clarify this for people who may have this thought, you know.
18:49:37 Yeah.
18:49:39 Because I've had one guest who was on h4 uh
18:49:44 Yeah.
18:49:46 F1. Yeah. Yeah.
18:49:50 Exactly.
18:49:42 she had to go back, you know, come on H1, sorry, F1 back and, you know, then travel overseas again. So I thought maybe such is a case for H1.
18:49:52 Mm-hmm. Yes.
18:49:52 But yeah, thanks for clarifying that.
18:49:55 Yes.
18:49:55 With that said, obviously.
18:50:05 Okay.
18:49:58 We want to have a clarity here. I've always heard that, you know, whenever you're doing a part-time, when you're employed with an organization, there are certain programs that your employer have that can pay 50% or 100% of your tuition fee.
18:50:19 Yeah.
18:50:12 I've never heard actually 100% actually, but you know something or was it like out of your pockets
18:50:23 Mm-hmm.
18:50:22 If yes, like we don't want to drill down much into the exact numbers, but just to understand and give a rough estimate how much
18:50:28 is to be spent for two years if one has to do the course.
18:50:32 Yeah, yeah, absolutely. So yes, there are programs. It really depends on your employer if they are willing to reimburse tuition. Like I know some employers will reimburse up to a certain amount a year, like 10,000 or some will reimburse 50%. Or if it's actually, if the course pertains to
18:50:48 the role that you're going to be playing in the organization. Some may even like take care of the entire thing over the course of the
18:50:56 a few years. So yes, definitely check with your employer.
18:51:01 UC Berkeley also has scholarships that they offer. Now it depends.
18:51:07 Because these scholarships mostly are when I was looking at least, they were mostly driven towards people who have
18:51:14 who are citizens or have green cards like permanent residents. I really didn't find anything for
18:51:21 H-1B visa holders
18:51:23 But they do have, so there are people who sponsor these scholarships
18:51:28 for certain ethnicities.
18:51:30 Again, back then I didn't find anything for Indians who are working already.
18:51:37 There are scholarships for people who are not working or, you know, if you come from a minority background or if you're a certain ethnicity.
18:51:45 So I would encourage checking the website like they have a link to all their scholarships
18:51:52 For me personally, because I didn't find anything, I paid out of my own pocket.
18:51:57 I did get a little bit of a scholarship from USA Berkeley directly because they
18:52:01 thought I was a good candidate when they interviewed me. I don't want to call out the exact approximate amount I paid, but per year you can expect to
18:52:13 pay cloth like
18:52:17 about a little bit like 20 to 30 grand um
18:52:24 Okay.
18:52:20 yeah so it's five semesters, but approximately that. Now, again, it depends on
18:52:26 like person to person. But yeah, that's all
18:52:28 Mm-hmm.
18:52:32 Yes.
18:52:35 Yes.
18:52:29 Okay, okay. That's pretty much a lot to go out of one person's pocket, like 20k per cure.
18:52:38 But that's difficult to digest. Yeah.
18:52:38 Yes, it's a lot. It's a lot. Yeah, it's a lot.
18:52:41 but you know it just gives you that amount of credibility, I guess you would agree to it now after doing it and not regret it at all.
18:52:48 Yes. No.
18:52:51 So coming back to the point where you mentioned
18:52:56 Yeah.
18:52:54 the scholarships and stuff like that. So is it like
18:52:58 Because I wanted to actually clarify if there was nothing at all for foreign nationals, like nothing for international people coming down, not just specific to an ethnicity, but
18:53:10 at all.
18:53:11 Devos, Devos. So yes, there are scholarships for international it just is
18:53:22 Mm-hmm.
18:53:16 I didn't qualify because I was earning, but it is basically for students if you're coming in from another country, they do have scholarships for international students like
18:53:25 Okay.
18:53:25 I will clarify that. It was just like for me personally, I didn't qualify. But yes, absolutely there is.
18:53:32 Yeah.
18:53:35 Yeah.
18:53:31 Fair enough. Fair enough. That's better because I've always heard like, you know, international students do have some benchmark of scholarship to begin with.
18:53:38 Yeah. Yes. Yes.
18:53:40 Yeah, absolutely.
18:53:40 Okay. And how, how did your application process look like? Obviously, you mentioned it that you had to give the interview as well, but what were the other stages that
18:53:51 made you go till the interview level.
18:53:53 Yeah, absolutely. So there is first you have to fill out a form
18:53:58 And you have to actually put in a statement, like a purpose
18:54:03 why you want to do this course? Why do you think you're a good and you really need to like work on giving a good statement because not everybody who applies gets through.
18:54:12 Even though they still like wet through the students, even though it's an online course.
18:54:17 So you have to have a very good statement.
18:54:20 you need to submit to base so you need to get to referrals sort of from somebody from your company
18:54:27 Talking about you
18:54:29 So I did manage to get that from my, I was at a different employer back then, but I
18:54:35 I managed to get it from my manager and my manager's boss.
18:54:39 Okay.
18:54:39 So I managed to get a good sort of cover letter for me. Like it's mandatory to do that.
18:54:44 Yeah.
18:54:45 At least it was back then. I don't know now, but two years back, you have to get like at least two cover letters or references, a good statement, and then
18:54:53 you have to submit your transcripts and you need to have a certain GPA or grade.
18:55:00 Thank you.
18:54:59 So I had to get my, so because I came here and I didn't have transcripts, like in India, we don't really have transcripts. We have mark sheets.
18:55:05 Yeah, I am.
18:55:07 So I had to request my college to send me transcripts and
18:55:16 Okay.
18:55:12 basically they had to like courier it to me and then I submitted it to USC Berkeley. So once they vetted all of that, then they contacted me for an interview.
18:55:22 Okay.
18:55:22 And then I had to basically, like it was like a 30 minute to one hour, I think.
18:55:27 Basically, like, why should we choose you? Why do you think, you know, what will you do for this course?
18:55:33 how will the course benefit you? That sort of thing. So I had to answer an interview and then
18:55:38 Yeah, I got through.
18:55:41 Thank you.
18:55:48 Yeah.
18:55:40 Okay, perfect, perfect. So it's basically like, obviously for everyone listening out here, you can check out the official website if something from this process has actually changed.
18:55:52 Yeah.
18:55:52 But I guess this is like a straightforward process with everything, how they vetted but yeah
18:56:03 Yes.
18:55:58 there's something stands different because it's an online course, but still the same vetting is happening as compared to any other in-person course as well. So I guess
18:56:06 Yes.
18:56:08 they actually choose like the best of the best people, maintaining everything what UC stands for. And, you know, obviously that could give you that gave you out a lot of like good
18:56:19 cream badge when you joined as well.
18:56:29 Okay.
18:56:21 Yes, yes, exactly. Because I think they also aim to keep the number at a certain, like they don't take in too many students per class.
18:56:31 Hmm.
18:56:31 So that people get the attention that they need. And it's not like, okay, 60 students sitting in on one meeting. It's difficult, right? Even for the instructor, it's difficult to actually
18:56:42 Thank you.
18:56:43 Are there so many people online? So I think it was like 15 to 18 people per
18:56:47 class um
18:56:49 Yeah. So I think that's
18:56:49 Being from an in-person badge, we also just had 20.
18:56:53 Okay, okay, good.
18:56:54 Yeah, that's, I guess. I've also seen other batches like other concentration batches of other areas
18:57:02 Mm-hmm.
18:57:03 They have a good amount of 80, 90 people and
18:57:06 Right.
18:57:07 I still fail to understand, you know, how are the professors actually managing it like you know
18:57:12 very difficult.
18:57:13 that's like a big question for me as well.
18:57:15 Yeah.
18:57:16 But getting back to your part, were there any sort of like, I've always heard like students talking about that, you know, apart from their curriculum, they also were working as a teaching assistant or a research assistant or anything
18:57:32 Mm-hmm.
18:57:32 assistantship when you go through so was
18:57:35 Yeah.
18:57:36 was such a thing possible with this online course or
18:57:40 not.
18:57:40 Yes, yes, it was. So I personally didn't do it because I didn't have time. But yes, we did have a teaching assistant who was also a student helping out with one of our courses, like in our first
18:57:52 semester or first year, we had a senior student come in as a teaching assistant, help out, grade, same thing for another course. So yes, it's absolutely possible.
18:58:07 Yeah.
18:58:03 I think, yeah, UC Berkeley does give that job out if you need it and if you're good and like qualified for it, yes, you can be, you can.
18:58:11 Okay.
18:58:10 get a teaching assistant job at least.
18:58:12 Perfect, perfect. Great. That it's possible if you want to do it uh if you want to go over 24 hours, go ahead.
18:58:20 It's not easy.
18:58:23 Yeah.
18:58:22 I know the course would have been grilling as well. I can understand that
18:58:25 Yes. Yes.
18:58:27 So before we actually come down to how you were actually managing, I just wanted to have this part that
18:58:34 Was it just a full intake course or it was a spring or summer intake course as well for this online one you did?
18:58:46 Okay.
18:58:42 Yeah, they have intake every semester. So every semester a new batch starts. So they have summer, fall, spring.
18:58:50 Mm-hmm.
18:58:50 So I started in May, so which was the summer batch
18:58:54 Okay.
18:58:59 Mm-hmm.
18:58:53 But even in fall, they have a batch coming. So basically there are batches coming every semester. But when you graduate.
18:59:01 it's two or three batches together, whichever like completed
18:59:04 Okay.
18:59:08 Hmm.
18:59:10 Love it.
18:59:06 In that timeframe, right? You'll have like two or three batches. So you can apply anytime and get them.
18:59:12 Okay, perfect. So with that being like the million dollar question, and actually how were you managing like work
18:59:21 college assessments, assignments
18:59:23 Yes, it's good.
18:59:24 and you know what was those scenarios where things were not working in the night at your work and then there was assignments
18:59:32 Due for 1159
18:59:36 Yeah.
18:59:35 Yes. Yes. Yes. I honestly, I feel like I
18:59:39 I don't know how I got through to at least I won't say the whole two years was like that
18:59:47 Some of the subjects were more
18:59:50 difficult than the others where you had to put in 20, 30 hours of
18:59:55 you know study time and
18:59:58 assignment time for it. My evenings and my weekends were dedicated to this
19:00:05 Thank you.
19:00:02 I won't lie, it was not easy uh
19:00:06 every evening like after work, I would just take a break and then sit and we used to have study groups. So it really helped
19:00:13 I had great like batch mates. So we used to create study groups, get together on meetings and then
19:00:19 We were just like, of course, we were not allowed to discuss or um
19:00:23 copy homework and stuff, but you are allowed to discuss
19:00:27 And come up with a strategy. And then basically you still have to call it out in your papers that, okay, this was my study group.
19:00:35 Yeah.
19:00:33 So that they know you're not cheating. So it helped him and that helped tremendously because it's not easy, right? Like not everybody has
19:00:46 Hmm.
19:00:43 Some people are experts in certain things, whereas like for somebody like me, I have no idea about network security. So having people out there helped.
19:00:52 it really helped like it sped things up a little bit that way where you discuss or somebody will teach and somebody will call it out but
19:00:59 Never certain subjects that were so difficult and
19:01:03 there was no, you can't even do study groups for it was a lot of like math
19:01:07 Mm-hmm.
19:01:08 So I had to sit like every, I think I barely slept
19:01:12 Yeah.
19:01:12 four or five hours a day, my weekends, thankfully we used to have a break after every semester, like for a couple of weeks or at least that helped.
19:01:21 Hmm.
19:01:21 But otherwise it was just
19:01:32 Yeah.
19:01:23 you know like walk and then get to this and then weekends are totally dedicated to your program because we had to submit everything sometimes by Sunday, you know, 1159. So your weekend, you're spending
19:01:34 And then we used to have assignments every week.
19:01:37 And we had two subjects per semester. So two classes a week.
19:01:41 Okay.
19:01:41 where you had to say. But then, of course, you have meetings with your study groups, you have your assignments. So every day at least.
19:01:47 Yeah.
19:01:47 So was it evening classes like evening on?
19:01:50 Evening classes. Yes, it was um
19:01:52 Okay.
19:01:56 Mm-hmm.
19:02:04 Mm-hmm.
19:01:53 So we could select the time when we registered for the next semester. So they used to have classes at like 4 30 Pacific, which was like my 630 or they had 6 30 Pacific, which was 8.30 for me, which was late, but at least
19:02:08 you had some time to recover after work.
19:02:11 Yeah.
19:02:11 But it would go on like till 10, 10.30 at night
19:02:15 And then you're tired at the end of the day so
19:02:18 Yeah.
19:02:17 oh my god like i can i can actually feel it because uh like not to that level, obviously, because obviously working
19:02:25 like for example right now, if I imagine doing what I did my master's
19:02:31 With my work? No, not at all. I can't do it because, you know, at that time.
19:02:37 Thank you.
19:02:38 At least I had nothing else on play. It was just you're doing your master's
19:02:43 Yeah.
19:02:43 And then you are a TA, so you have to work 20 hours a week as well. And then obviously your assignments and
19:02:49 study and yeah.
19:02:51 You know, with us, especially when because we've done our undergrad from India versus to what we do it here so
19:02:58 Yeah, completely different.
19:03:01 Yeah.
19:02:59 it's very different. It's more of you know uh you know you're just keeping aside the theory and it's more of you're practically applying things. So you mentioned about network security.
19:03:09 Okay.
19:03:10 Yeah.
19:03:10 So we were given an assignment to do like attacks in a closed environment
19:03:16 Mm-hmm.
19:03:15 Oh my God. Firstly, I was not able to understand it. But when I got hold of it.
19:03:20 Yeah.
19:03:21 I was fascinated i was like
19:03:22 Fascinated, exactly, yeah.
19:03:23 I can do all these things every day and
19:03:26 I know it was…
19:03:29 Yeah.
19:03:26 So, you know, in college, what we learn is more of, okay, what are backdoor attacks? What are
19:03:33 Hmm. Hmm.
19:03:35 Yeah, yeah.
19:03:41 Mm-hmm.
19:03:43 Yep.
19:03:33 what is security and you know stuff like that. But there are actually, you know, everything, you know, you have to share on screen, you have to walk in the entire cohort and show, okay, I did this, I did that. My first
19:03:45 Yeah.
19:03:45 password cracking. I was so happy oh my god it took it three months.
19:03:48 It's so cool.
19:03:50 to crack the password
19:03:52 Yeah.
19:03:52 It was amazing to learn all those things on your own and then obviously
19:03:57 Yes.
19:03:58 what you mentioned study groups and stuff that was
19:04:01 Mm-hmm.
19:04:04 Oh, yeah.
19:04:02 I guess that that saved all of us through our masters
19:04:06 For sure. Yeah.
19:04:07 that because you get to know okay
19:04:11 somebody's criteria is this
19:04:14 Mm-hmm.
19:04:17 Mm-hmm.
19:04:14 And then you come up with some things and that actually works with so
19:04:19 Yeah.
19:04:19 Yeah, that is fun but
19:04:22 I think so things wouldn't have been fun for the initial times when you had to manage things.
19:04:29 Yeah.
19:04:30 um sedging the study time and the work as well.
19:04:34 Yeah, yeah, for sure.
19:04:35 So with that being said, like, were there like obviously not after your graduation, but while you were doing the course
19:04:43 Mm-hmm.
19:04:43 Were there instances that you felt like what you are learning is very close to what you're actually working for your employer and
19:04:50 a lot of the things you can take back and apply and
19:04:54 stuff like that.
19:04:54 Yes, yes, yes, absolutely.
19:04:58 I won't say every subject aligned because of course like
19:05:00 book like the domain you're working in is not but
19:05:04 that was good for knowledge. But yes, I did have a few courses that really aligned or helped me understand what I'm doing better.
19:05:12 helped me understand like okay intricacies of the product, try to look into more
19:05:17 stuff on the back end and find out things that way. So yes, I would say it helped helped me out a lot with what I was doing.
19:05:25 as well.
19:05:25 Perfect, perfect. And were there any times, Minakshi, that you did go to the university? Like, I know it's an online course, but anytime you went ahead and explored.
19:05:35 Yeah. Yes.
19:05:39 Okay.
19:05:37 Yes, so actually we are required to go. So UC Berkeley's School of Information has something called an immersion where we are all required to go. It's just for two, three days.
19:05:49 Okay.
19:05:55 Okay.
19:05:57 Mm-hmm.
19:05:47 But they call us to the university. They host sessions. They host like gaming events. It was really, really fun. And you get to meet your batch or two batches, whichever batches, whoever's not done the immersion. So you get to meet a lot of people.
19:06:02 they host like dinners and talks
19:06:05 So it was really cool. I think I went in March of 2023
19:06:11 Okay.
19:06:12 to the university and the university is beautiful so
19:06:14 Really happy I got to go.
19:06:17 Of course, you have to they don't sponsor it. You have to pay for your own like hotel and flight and stuff.
19:06:22 So, but it's good to like live near the campus and just walk over and
19:06:28 Mm-hmm.
19:06:27 explore but yeah it was it was really nice
19:06:30 Nice. That's great. Yeah, I was thinking like, are we like just wrapping up the entire course just in front of Zoom meetings?
19:06:37 No, no. Yeah, it feels nice, you know, especially when you meet everybody in person. Of course.
19:06:41 yeah it feels like a student actually
19:06:43 Exactly. And you get that feeling like, okay, all right. You know, I'm actually like in college. Even our graduation was in person. So of course, if you can't attend, that's fine. But we did have an in-person. Yeah.
19:06:54 Yeah. Yeah.
19:06:52 That's for sure. At least before graduation, you get to see the college one
19:06:57 Exactly, exactly, exactly.
19:07:00 So.
19:06:59 And were there any sort of like on-campus activities like apart from, you know, any sort of extracurricular clubs or, you know.
19:07:10 Mm-hmm.
19:07:12 what we say like any other professional groups that you
19:07:16 I don't know if you had the time, but anything that was possible, I knew people could manage
19:07:23 Yeah, so yes, they do host events. They do have groups. Unfortunately, I don't live in California, so it's very difficult for me to travel.
19:07:32 Yeah.
19:07:32 But for people who live in the Bay Area or nearby and who are willing to go, there were people who used to sometimes go to campus. They had professional groups, they had meetups. They used to host events for other newcomers coming in and they would invite alumni to come socialize or even like
19:07:50 If you want to come on Zoom, you can, but they used to do it in person as well.
19:07:54 Yeah.
19:07:56 I can understand.
19:07:53 Personally, I could not because it's very difficult. It's very far yeah but but people living in Cali and that area
19:08:02 Absolutely great. Like they did make it feasible
19:08:04 like the lucky peeps.
19:08:05 Yeah. Yeah. Lucky. Exactly.
19:08:09 And were there any sort of um
19:08:12 you know opportunities that men actually you took like in terms of while doing the course, while working with the employer, any sort of conferences that you attended where you know your university played a role or any sort of sponsorship was there to attend any sort of conferences or events or CTFs or anything of that sort that could
19:08:32 Come.
19:08:37 Okay.
19:08:32 Yeah, so I did not. But they do sponsor RSA, Black Hat. They do have a women's cybersecurity cohort as well.
19:08:42 Mm-hmm.
19:08:42 and then
19:08:44 people were allowed like
19:08:46 I know that my batch was invited to go attend
19:08:50 or go to the Netflix office, get a tour of the Netflix office and get talks. Again, because of me living far away, very difficult for me to make it along with like work.
19:08:59 But there were people at least locally
19:09:02 They did this. And then, yes, you can get sponsorship to go to RSA or Black Hat.
19:09:08 If you have like good content, I did not personally though
19:09:13 Yeah.
19:09:11 I can understand like i guess out of 15, if one could also go in
19:09:19 Yeah. Yeah.
19:09:18 that would also count. But I guess with the time limitation
19:09:21 It's very difficult.
19:09:24 No. Yeah.
19:09:22 I can't imagine like it it's difficult. My uh
19:09:31 Yes.
19:09:27 college, I just could got hold of one scholarship that was women in cybersecurity.
19:09:33 Nice.
19:09:33 And for me also, I tried my level best that I want to have like some sort of money
19:09:40 Yeah.
19:09:40 involved in that scholarship so that at least I could sponsor some parts of
19:09:43 somebody to go. Exactly.
19:09:46 Yeah.
19:09:45 Yeah. So, you know, at least a bit of travel. So later I also tend to like black hat and all but you know.
19:09:51 you know for us as students to travel like to places like Vegas or to denver
19:09:57 It's expensive.
19:09:56 Oh, yeah. Be so cool. It is very expensive yeah
19:09:59 It's very cold and it's very expensive you think boys
19:10:00 Of course, it is. It is.
19:10:02 No, of course. Yeah.
19:10:03 And when I was student, I got a scholarship. Right now I'm working um
19:10:14 very difficult.
19:10:08 I couldn't like actually get time, although I'm not a student, I'm just working, but still I couldn't get time to this year go to Black Hat or anywhere.
19:10:16 Exactly.
19:10:17 They spend the time is a big one.
19:10:20 So…
19:10:19 Exactly. Exactly. Like I would have loved to attend. I love conferences, but back
19:10:24 Yeah.
19:10:24 then even when the opportunity came, they were like, apply. I'm like
19:10:27 I cannot because I'm swamped.
19:10:29 It's like we'll rest.
19:10:30 Yeah, that is just one more thing to add on right so
19:10:35 Yeah.
19:10:42 Okay.
19:10:35 Great. So I guess we like I had only these many things to actually talk to you about regarding your experience. And I know it's really an amazing experience so
19:10:45 Are you still connected with UC in any form, like in terms of being part of the Alumni group or
19:10:51 any sort of being an ambassador and you help out, you know, future incoming students as well.
19:11:06 Thank you.
19:10:58 So yeah, I am part of the alumni group. I do keep up with the Slack channels and all of that. No, I have not had an opportunity like since I think my graduation in May, I've not had an opportunity to attend meetings to meet incoming students, hopefully in the future, like maybe next year.
19:11:16 I guess you are doing it right now.
19:11:18 Yeah, right now yeah
19:11:22 you read like
19:11:27 Again, this is it.
19:11:21 Yeah. But I do have people reach out on LinkedIn and ask, you know, okay, how's the course? Like, I'm thinking of applying and then I give them, yeah, yeah, that's, that's
19:11:31 Yeah.
19:11:30 this is it like, you know, copy paste and watch my video i talked about it
19:11:33 Yeah, exactly. Just go watch
19:11:36 Yeah, but this was really amazing. I got hold of a lot of things if in the
19:11:53 Yeah. Yeah.
19:11:43 very latter future, if I plan to do something, not now, I would keep this video in mind because this is something very closely related to at least my situation right now. If I want to do it anything in the future.
19:11:56 But this was really helpful. A lot of people who are in it on H1B right now.
19:12:01 if you have the money, if you have the sponsorship from your employer, I guess this is like a great opportunity if you can manage time and go ahead and do such a diverse course.
19:12:11 Absolutely.
19:12:11 But before we call it off, anything that you have as an advice being
19:12:17 like a juggler here working and studying anything for the incoming students that you wanted to give out
19:12:24 Yes, absolutely. So I did want to mention one thing that I forgot during the application process.
19:12:30 It's basically if you're coming from a foreign country, you're working here, you still need to take a TOEFL or IELTS exam.
19:12:38 Mm-hmm.
19:12:41 Yeah.
19:12:48 Yeah.
19:12:38 Of course, when you come for your master's, you would be doing that. But we coming for work, we don't have to do that. So you still have to take that and submit that score. So that's one thing to keep in mind because you have to take it. It's mandatory for all universities.
19:12:51 Even if it's online course.
19:12:54 And then coming to juggling, I think
19:12:58 you need
19:12:59 What was your mantra maybe uh
19:13:01 I think so there would have been 10 things that you would have tried
19:13:06 three would have worked
19:13:08 Yeah.
19:13:09 We can talk about the 10 as well, but anything that you thought worked really for you and somebody else, if I give it out, that would be helped.
19:13:17 Mm-hmm.
19:13:19 So, yeah.
19:13:19 I think mainly it was my passion and interest that drove me. Like it was not easy. I will not like sugarcoat it. It's not easy when you're working.
19:13:29 Yeah.
19:13:29 You really have to think twice, like, can you take this up?
19:13:32 it was really like
19:13:34 interest and love for this field that
19:13:37 got me through it. Other than that, it was just try to keep up with your coursework very regularly like don't keep things for the last minute. We used to watch, go and watch videos before the class happened so that we would be prepared for
19:13:52 part of that class so that you don't go
19:13:53 Mm-hmm.
19:13:53 and sit and prepare like once class is done, you have to sit and watch videos and read up materials so
19:13:59 you have a week between your two subjects. Say, I mean, this is from what I did but
19:14:06 Yep.
19:14:05 basically take that week to read through all they give you, they equip you with everything in advance
19:14:10 So you have all your study material, you have your papers to read, you have your videos to watch, like do it in advance. Don't keep it for
19:14:18 the last minute. And some lecturers were really nice that they would not give us deadlines. They would be like, just submit all your assignments at the end of the course.
19:14:28 Oh.
19:14:27 Don't do that. Try to at least do like a few weekly, like as you finish that portion
19:14:34 finish it off, keeping it towards the last minute is just going to drive everybody crazy.
19:14:39 I don't know.
19:14:43 Yeah.
19:14:39 So just try to be like prepared before things happen. I think that's how I got through it. Otherwise, it would have been like horrible.
19:14:49 Sure.
19:14:52 Yeah.
19:14:48 I guess that really helps me in any scenario, I guess doing your master's, bachelor's or your doctorate degree
19:14:55 Yeah.
19:14:57 anywhere you have to
19:15:01 extra effort. Exactly.
19:15:00 put a little bit efforts every day yeah every day and then one day when you're done after 10 days, you'll be good that, okay, I did it but
19:15:09 Exactly.
19:15:10 I've done it once that I've started things just a day before
19:15:15 Mm-hmm.
19:15:15 And I pride my heart out. I'll not repeat it. I am dead like
19:15:18 it's terrible. Yeah.
19:15:20 my assignment submission was 1159. I submitted it at 11 p.m.
19:15:25 Oof.
19:15:28 Yeah.
19:15:25 And that was very close because there are also systems which you have to understand that
19:15:31 Yeah.
19:15:33 Yeah.
19:15:30 you know if you're submitting an hour before maybe it just doesn't fix it up
19:15:38 Mm-hmm.
19:15:39 Done, yeah.
19:15:37 And you're just marked as, you know, it wasn't until time or something
19:15:42 Exactly.
19:15:48 Yeah.
19:15:42 It's always there that the professor says like, you know, submit it before four or five hours, like, you know, it processes it and takes it in.
19:15:50 Yes, yes, exactly.
19:15:51 So I had such professors who were like, if it's not on the portal
19:15:56 I will not consider the evening
19:15:59 Yeah.
19:15:57 Yeah, exactly. Absolutely. They don't like it has to be submitted. It has to be like done before
19:16:03 And yeah, like, and another thing is like you have to participate like even if it's a if it's online, you can't just
19:16:10 be sipping like there are grades for participation as well so that's yeah
19:16:13 I know there were there were sections where everyone has to come up and talk about the news.
19:16:21 Yeah.
19:16:23 We have the tool.
19:16:21 And if I am talking about my news, obviously not others have the same news
19:16:26 Yeah.
19:16:29 Yeah.
19:16:26 you have to cross question me as well like if you're not cross questioning me or if you're not participating
19:16:32 Yeah.
19:16:33 You don't know, but your marks are getting deducted. You'll get it later that your marks are deducted.
19:16:35 Yeah. Yes. Yes. At the end of the semester that oh you didn't participate. Yeah.
19:16:39 I'd like to speak, just talk just pay attention so i
19:16:42 Just, yeah.
19:16:45 Yeah, on camera. Yep.
19:16:43 And we have to be on like my course was 95% in person, but the 5%, which was online
19:16:50 You have to be on video.
19:17:00 Yeah.
19:16:50 Yeah. Yeah, same here. We had to be on camera. Like you have to be on unless it's really an like of course they would understand if some people used to be traveling and all of that. But yeah, otherwise you have to
19:17:01 And it's good to participate as well, like preparing like this helps you because it's
19:17:10 Yeah.
19:17:07 Essentially, you still need to learn from the code. You're not just there to get grades and leave so
19:17:12 Yeah, I think this that
19:17:12 Yeah, I've really learned from the professor as well as from my cohort as well because
19:17:18 Yeah.
19:17:22 Mm-hmm.
19:17:19 You know, the diverse group you have considering, I've had a lot of people who are veterans who have worked in those areas, but on the computer side or, you know.
19:17:29 Yeah. Yes.
19:17:30 a lot of experience they bring on table and
19:17:34 Mm-hmm.
19:17:34 I also had people like who were more from the education background, like more of they were teachers
19:17:40 Yes.
19:17:41 And they had their own background of
19:17:44 carrying it on the table so
19:17:44 Yeah, so interesting to learn from those back because we are stuck to our background. But when you look at, okay, veterans like even
19:17:52 we had like, okay, somebody from the Air Force or somebody
19:17:55 Yeah.
19:17:54 somebody who's a VP, somebody who's like a seesaw already, but they're coming to do the course. It's very interesting to learn
19:18:01 Yeah, I agree so
19:18:01 Yeah, from them as well.
19:18:03 obviously take take this chance like you did it and I guess Menakshi
19:18:09 did it really amazingly and just a recent graduate um and
19:18:24 Yeah.
19:18:15 Yeah, it would have felt really amazing like it's been like almost like you'll head to 2025 almost done with six months of your graduation. So I think congratulations for that and
19:18:25 Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
19:18:27 obviously you did it with flying colors
19:18:29 And thank you so much for being here, sharing your experience. I guess it will help a lot of people who are on H1B and want to do a course.
19:18:39 maybe a degree or a course. So this would really help them. But thank you so much for making time and talking about it. And I guess we'll stay connected.
19:18:47 Yeah, absolutely. Thank you so much for this opportunity. Thank you, someone.
19:18:51 Thank you. And thanks, everyone.