Matt Romond

It really depends on what you're trying to learn. I've found frequently zooming in and zooming out to be helpful. I first try to understand the big picture and as soon as I have even the slightest idea of how things fit together I dive into a specific technical nuance that might be vital to the whole; trying to understand and replicate (i.e., practice) something small. Once I put some pieces...

There's a fast-widening gap between top-tier programs and the rest. If you're at a top 25 school, the name recognition and network may be worth it. Otherwise, knowledge/skills are probably better gained in the field.