Laure and Megan bring the group of series interviewees (Luis, Ezinne, and Blake) back together for a group discussion on the qual exam in the broader context.

Megan interviews Blake Simmons, current director of the Biological Systems and Engineering Division at Lawrence Berkeley Lab, about grad school in New Orleans. Blake talks about his time in the military prior to school and how he let the good times roll in NoLa, even during his qual.

Megan interviews former NC State grad student, Ezinne Achinivu, about her life in Nigeria and the US before her scientific career in chemistry. They discuss the ups and downs of taking the qual in exam after Ezinne's first year as a PhD student.

Laure interviews Luis Valencia, current graduate student at UC Berkeley, about his upcoming qualification exam. They discuss how Luis became interested in science and how he's feeling about taking the qual.

Laure and Megan explain why they chose the qualification exam for their first ever series and discuss their own qual experiences.