🎓 Applying to and Thriving in Graduate School Panel: Thoughts

In October, I was a guest panelist among five others (three faculty, three PhD Candidates) on the panel "Applying to and Thriving in Graduate School." The purpose of this panel was to discuss topics such as how to narrow down school choices, personal statements, test scores, writing samples, letters of recommendation, programmatic research (what questions to ask/what to “look up”), getting to know your profs, working with a cohort, getting a therapist, being social and exploring campus. Below is an excerpt from the handout created for the event:

Applying to:

• How to narrow down school choices

• Pro/con lists (what to put on there)

• Personal statements 

• Test scores

• Writing samples

• Letters of recommendation 

• Programmatic research (what questions to ask/what to “look up”)

Thriving in:

• Go to optional offerings in the department: lectures, socials, workshops, you name it. Immerse yourself in the program.

• Just like in undergrad, get to know your profs: go to office hours, write emails, inquire about their research, etc. 

• Be prepared for a different type of cohort than what you experienced in undergrad. Grad school will be filled to the brim with brilliant, hard-working, big thinkers. Don't be unsettled by it. Embrace it. Be challenged by it. 

• Perfect your elevator speech. What kind of research do you want to do? What areas of interest? These can (and will) change, but be ready to discuss your interests if someone asks about them. What do you want to be known for doing or studying? This can help guide you during moments of uncertainty. 

• Be social. Make headway with your cohort and form bonds. Expect new friends from wildly different walks of life.

• Know your resources. Look into support for health, mental wellness, relationships, etc. 

• Explore the area outside of campus. Take breaks. Get in nature every day. Books/computers/labs don't own you.