Schroeder studied for a PhD in Comparative Literature at UCLA. He specialized in Asian American Literature, Francophone Literature, and Critical Theory.
Schroeder cites Ace Frehley, Jeff Beck, Slash, Pete Townshend, Brad Laner, Lee Ranaldo, Thurston Moore, Tom Verlaine, Richard Lloyd, Carrie Brownstein, and J. Mascis as his most prominent guitar playing influences.
Since the reformation of the Smashing Pumpkins in 2007, Schroeder has appeared in the Smashing Pumpkins promotional videos for "Tarantula", "That's the Way (My Love Is)," "G.L.O.W.," "Being Beige" and "Solara.".