Fast Action
The Grad School Prep Course
A framework to navigate the (occasionally) toxic culture of academia, mindset techniques to overcome imposter syndrome, create a weekly schedule that optimizes your productivity, and strategies to manage your time as a new grad student with a heavy workload.
+ The Fast Action Bonus
Meet the #GRADBOSS Notion Template Bundle
YOUR DIGITAL HUB FOR ALL THINGS GRAD SCHOOL PRODUCTIVITY
Tired of constantly being on the edge of a deadline? Feel like grad school is more of a juggling act than the Elle Woods experience you hoped for? Welcome to your new grad school organization and productivity system! 🤓
Planning and Reflection Templates
Last Semester Reflection Template
Before you start planning out your next semester, try thinking about what happened last semester. I’ve learned that making time to reflect on what happened in the past can be so beneficial for the future. It helps to remember what went well and what didn’t go so well. So you can repeat what works and ditch what doesn’t.
Monthly Planner Template
Start each new month by defining 2-3 goals to focus on. Keep track of all of your due dates and deadlines with the monthly calendar than is integrated throughout the Notion template suite.
Weekly Planning Template
Begin each week with a brain dump first. Then identify 3 priorities for the week. Refer back to the integrated monthly calendar and plan what you will do each day, keeping a daily focus in mind.
Productivity and Organization Templates
Readings Template
Keep track of your readings including books and articles. Use the template to organize your readings and notes based on progress as well as topic.
Advisor Meeting Template
When I was a grad student, I came up with a workflow for my advisor meetings so that it was always clear to him that I was making progress. Use this template to keep track of every meeting and discussion with your advisor.
Printable Semester Planner
I’ve created a planner designed specifically for graduate students. You’ll get a pdf version of this planner that you can use on your tablet or print to create a physical planner.
Time Management Essentials Class
Time management is the #1 skill that grad students need to support them in navigating their coursework, research, and teaching. Watch this 30-minute class to learn the essential time management skills that every grad student needs to survive grad school.
Enroll in Grad School Prep within 24 hours to receive this additional fast action bonus! ⤴
This digital course is for you if…
…you’ve heard that grad school is different from undergrad but you aren’t exactly sure how.
…you wish you knew exactly what you could start doing to prepare yourself for a successful first semester of grad school.
…you want to make a good first impression in grad school but don’t want to come across as extra, annoying, or overwhelming by asking a lot of questions on your first day.
…you are hungry for any insight into the grad school experience
…you are frustrated with the radio silence from your new department
…you want to avoid the typical pitfalls that most grad students make in their first semester
You want to start grad school as a confident #GRADBOSS!
Meet Lisa and Lonnie!
Hey there! I’m Dr. Toyin Alli! I have a PhD in Math and I help new grad students prepare for their first semester of grad school.
When I started grad school, I had a lot going for me.
I’ve always been a super organized person who plans successfully
I had done 3 undergraduate research projects and 2 grad school prep programs
My mom got her PhD when I was 12 so I saw her go through the process and she was able to share her experiences with me
And I still went into grad school not knowing exactly what to expect...but I had an idea and a good foundation.
However, I noticed that my fellow grad students did not have the same preparation and expectations as me.
They were Lisa’s
And when I started The Academic Society, I committed to teaching other grad students everything I knew about grad school and identified the exact skills and tools that made me successful.
I created an online community of grad students who desperately wanted to transition from being a Lisa and researching tips about the grad school experience on their own. To becoming gradbosses like Lonnie who know exactly how to set themselves up for grad school success.
As I helped more grad students transition from Lisa the researcher to Lonnie the gradboss, I realized that I had created a framework that any grad student could follow to prepare themselves for the grad school experience.
I named the framework The Gradboss Method.
By working through my Gradboss Method, you will learn about the culture and experience of grad school, how to transition from an undergraduate mindset to a graduate student mindset, and learn how to organize and manage all of the day-to-day tasks that come along with being a grad student.
The Grad School Prep Course Syllabus
Module 1: Uncover Grad School Secrets
Grad School Advice + Terminology
Learning the Requirements of your Specific Program
Professors at Research Institutions
Interpersonal Politics of the Department
More than a Student
Working with Others
Grad School as a Job
How to Advocate for Yourself
Housing
Taking Initiative
Module 2: Transform Your Mindset
Imposter Syndrome + 10 Ways to Overcome it
Isolation in Grad School
Graduate Advisor Relationships
Romantic Relationships
Research Advisor Relationship
Building a Social Community
Celebrating Wins + Accomplishments
Module 3: Uplevel Your Productivity
Goal Setting in Grad School
Productivity Chunks
Building a Productive Weekly Schedule
The Productivity Accelerator Method
#GRADBOSS Planner and Reflection Journal
Module 4: Master Your Time Management
Promising Principles of Time Management in Grad School
How to be a Self-Starter
3 Quick Time Management Tips for Your First Week of Grad School
Bonus Workshop: Set Yourself Up for Financial Success in Grad School
Bonus Training: Online Learning Management and Success Plan
Additional Resources: reading lists, email scripts, advisor meeting template, budget spreadsheet, self-care checklist, and more
