Do I belong here?
This is the question that your grad students are asking themselves as they prepare to start your program.
So we must ask ourselves, how are we supporting our incoming graduate students? Are we providing them with the resources and tools that they need to succeed in our programs BEFORE they begin?
Most recently accepted grad students have no idea of what to expect in grad school and they are terrified of making a misstep in their first semester.
Background
As we welcome grad students from a range of geographic, educational, racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, it is imperative that we support our students as they become comfortable with the life changes that come with graduate school. Students are often able to find advice about succeeding in grad school AFTER they have started. The philosophy of The Academic Society is that there are four areas that students can work on before starting grad school to prepare themselves for the experience.
Learning Outcomes
The students will learn about the culture of grad school and how to discover the expectations of a grad student in their specific program. The students will transform their mindset from an undergraduate mindset to a grad school mindset so that are able to overcome imposter syndrome and submit masterful assignments. The students will learn tools to up-level their productivity and master time management so that they can reduce procrastination and burnout.
Goal
The students will work through The Gradboss Method to learn what to expect and create an action plan for their first semester of grad school so that they don’t feel anxious about the fear of the “unknown” of grad school. A detailed overview of The Gradboss Method is discussed in the video below.
Grad School Prep Program
The Grad School Prep Program is hosted by Dr. Toyin Alli from The Academic Society LLC and designed for incoming grad students to learn the culture of grad school as well as three essential tools to prepare for success in grad school: mindset, time management, and productivity. The program includes 4 modules: Uncover Grad School Secrets, Transform your Mindset, Up-level your Productivity, Master Time Management as well as a 90-minute Financial Success Workshop hosted by Dr. Emily Roberts from Personal Finance for PhDs.
The Grad School Prep Program for McNair Scholars includes the following:
the gradboss method
The Gradboss Method is The Academic Society’s signature method for helping students learn what to expect in their first semester of grad school so that they don’t feel anxious about “unknowns” of their new experience.
Module 1: Uncover Grad School Secrets
The students will learn about the culture of grad school and academia. This module includes a glossary of grad school terms, expectations of a grad student, interpersonal politics of a department, self-advocacy, and housing.
Module 2: Transform your Mindset
In this module, the students will learn how to transform from an undergraduate mindset to a grad school mindset. They will learn repeatable tools for overcoming imposter syndrome and learn how to build and manage relationships in grad school.
Module 3: Up-level Your Productivity
The students will learn how to set goals for their first semester of grad school including building a productive weekly schedule that includes me-time. They will also learn The Academic Society’s signature Productivity Accelerator Method to set goals and accountability measures for ultimate productivity in grad school.
Module 4: Master Time Management
The students will go through a time management masterclass where they will learn actionable tips for managing time in grad school. They will learn to prioritize tasks and to create structure for themselves on days that they don’t have classes.
Bonus: Grad School Survival Bundle
The students will also have access to the Grad School Survival Bundle which include Dr. Toyin Alli’s book called #GRADBOSS: A Grad School Survival Guide, 22 email templates that every grad student will send, and templates for a time management and organizational tool called Trello.
Bonus: Set Yourself Up for Financial Success Workshop
The students will learn how to set themselves up financially with Dr. Emily Roberts of Personal Finance for PhDs. In the workshop, she shares the steps to secure your financial success during and following graduate school. Dr. Roberts covers funding, moving expenses, budgeting, financial goals, and taxes.
Price: $5000/year
Toyin Alli is a former McNair Scholar who received her PhD in Mathematics from the University of Alabama. She is now a full time Lecturer at the University of Georgia. Toyin started The Academic Society LLC to help graduate students succeed in grad school through time management, productivity, and self-care. She reaches thousands of grad students through her digital programs, online social platforms, YouTube channel, and website.