Grad School Femtoring: Inclusive Grad School Stories, Personal Development, and Productivity Tips for First-Gen BIPOCs

The episode offers a a discussion of the physical, emotional, and behavioral signs of academic burnout. I discuss some differences between stress and burnout and offer strategies for how to cope with and/or overcome academic burnout. I also share my own personal experience dealing with burnout while in graduate school. If you think you may be feeling burned out or would like to avoid burnout, plea...

In today's solo episode, I share eight different strategies for building a writing routine that is effective, in other words, that will help you make more consistent progress with your writing. From habit formation, to time-management, to understanding and accepting what works best for you, there are countless strategies you can try out to help you get out of a writing rut or writer’s block. I rec...

This week our special guest is Dra. Hortencia Jimenez who shares her knowledge on the importance of wellness, nutrition, and guilt-free joy in grad school. Dra. Hortencia Jimenez, who is from huichol ancestry, was born in the Sierra Madre in the state of Nayarit, Mexico and immigrated to the United States with her paternal grandmother and aunt. She holds a BA, MA, and Ph. D in Sociology and is als...

This episode is for everyone who is considering applying to graduate school. In my work coaching applicants, I’ve noticed that reaching out to faculty in the graduate programs you’re interested in continues to be an intimidating task for many first-gen students of color. Despite this, I strongly urge you to reach out to them and in this episode I share five key reasons why you’ll benefit from cont...

This episode was originally aired on September 17, 2021 and it is an extension of my first episode on "The Grad School List" and it includes some additional things to consider when creating a graduate school list. These may be considered deal breakers or hidden aspects of graduate school to consider when making a decision. They include factors like the diversity and demographics of the area, size...

If you are in the middle of a big post-grad life transition, such as starting or ending graduate school, changing jobs, and moving away from loved ones, then you will want to listen to this episode. I share my insight about how to navigate feelings of loss, grief, and discomfort especially as it relates to changes that impact one’s identity-formation. I also offer a few coping strategies that may...

This week our special guest is Dr. Zakiya Akerele who discusses the topic of repurposing your education and controlling your career after grad school. Dr. Zakiya Akerele is a third-generation educator passionate about lifelong growth and learning. She holds degrees from Florida A&M University, Columbia University, and Fordham University in International Educational Development, Philosophy, and Rel...

If you are trying to decide whether graduate school is the right next step for you, listen to this solo episode where I cover the wrong reasons to attend graduate school. While there are many great reasons to attend graduate school— such as needing an advanced degree to pursue a career, to move up a job ladder, or to switch fields— there are also some not so great reasons. Even if you know that yo...

This week our special guest is Dra. Jasmine Escalera who discusses the topic of confidence building and defining career success on your terms. Dra. Jasmine is a certified career and life coach with proven programs that help her clients focus on gaining clarity around their careers, beating self-doubt, and building confidence. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Pace University and P...

This episode is for all graduate students and undergraduates who may be feeling stuck or losing motivation. I share a journaling exercise that will grant you permission to dream again, that is, to consider, without limits, what your ideal life looks like. The purpose of this exercise is to help you recenter yourself—your wants, needs, and desires— in your career and life trajectory. This exercise...

This week our special guest is Ana Ramirez who discusses the topic of taking a leave of absence as a survivor in grad school. Ana is a socio-cultural anthropology PhD student at UNC Chapel Hill. Her work focuses on Indigenous women, gender-based violence, trauma, community and families, and healing. Currently, she's taking a leave of absence, exploring different career paths, and hiking with frien...

For this week's solo episode, I introduce you to the ABC method of productivity. This method of productivity involves taking a look at your to-do list and marking tasks based on priority (A, B, and C) and then working on tasks accordingly. I've modified this method to include my energy levels and the time of day I work best. A time is my most focused and energetic time, B time is less focused and...

This week our special guest is Liu Miao who discusses the topic of disability and academia. Liu is a PhD student in human development and family sciences and is passionate about research on positive youth development, cross-cultural studies, immigrant youth, as well as fostering and adoption. In this episode we discuss: How she got involved with content creation as a means of making knowledge acce...

Are you currently working on a big project like a senior thesis, a dissertation, or even a book manuscript? Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or disorganized when it comes to managing the workload? Are you interested in learning about how to set up a work system to better manage your project and time? If so, then tune in to this episode where I offer project management strategies related to...

This week our special guest is Jeffrey Merino who discusses the process of pursuing a master of library science and a career as a bilingual school librarian. Jeffrey has experience as a bilingual school librarian for a Kindergarten through 5th grade elementary school. He has also taught in the classroom as a dual language educator. In this episode we discuss: How an undergrad job as a research dat...

In this solo episode, I discuss the topic of classism in academia. I begin by defining classism and institutional classism. I then share examples of institutional classism in college and grad school. I discuss the intersections of classism, pay inequities and stagnation, and the great resignation in higher education. And I end the episode by sharing specific suggestions for how to take action towa...

This week our special guest is Samantha Gonzalez who talks to us about her process of navigating imposter syndrome as a high achieving first-gen grad student. Samantha is a Program Coordinator for a First-Gen Summer Bridge Program for incoming college freshmen at a local college in Las Vegas, Nevada and has a Master’s Degree in Education from John Hopkins University. In this episode we discuss: He...

In this solo episode, I discuss the topic of the secrets of successful nontraditional paths into graduate school. If you self-identify as a nontraditional student and are planning to apply to graduate school at some point in your career, then you won’t want to miss out this episode where I cover the following: What is a nontraditional student? What are common concerns and obstacles of nontradition...

This week our special guest is Dr. Max Schneider who talks to us about the pros and cons of getting a master’s degree abroad. Dr. Max Schneider is an applied statistician who earned a master’s degree in Germany and recently got his PhD in Statistics from the University of Washington. In this episode we discuss: His childhood moving from Ukraine to California and his immigrant family experience. Ho...

In this solo episode, I discuss the topic of how to deal with academic and career disappointment in compassionate ways. It can be really challenging to experience the disappointment of working hard towards something that ultimately does not work out the way you imagined. Many of us are experiencing losses or changes in our academic and career trajectories that prompt a wide range of uncomfortable...

This week our special guest is Dr. Angela Crumdy who talks to us all about wellness and content creation in grad school. Dr. Angela is the creator of @gradgirlwellness, a platform designed to inspire and encourage women of color to prioritize their overall health and wellness while pursuing higher education. In this episode we discuss: Dr. Angela’s reasons behind focusing on wellness for women of...

In this episode, you'll get to enjoy a replay of one of my earliest episode, all about writing the statement of purpose. In this episode, you'll learn more about why I decided to bring back this episode from the Grad School Femtoring Podcast vault and my reactions to listening to it again after more than two years since I recorded it. If you're planning to apply to grad school this fall, you won't...

This week our special guest is Jamaal Muwwakkil (he/him) who discusses the topic of contextualizing higher ed models and academia’s hidden curriculum. Jamaal Muwwakkil is a sociocultural linguist and educator from Compton, California. Jamaal is currently a PhD candidate in the department of Linguistics at the University of California, Santa Barbara and his dissertation investigates language social...

In this solo episode, I share five specific budget-related tasks that you should complete before saying yes and submitting your statement of intent to register (SIR) to a graduate program. These five steps will help to ensure that you make an informed and empowered decision when it comes to the financial aspect of grad school. Follow me on your favorite social media platforms: Instagram , LinkedIn...

This week our special guest is Hazel Carías-Urbina (she/her) who discusses the topic of applying to summer research programs. Hazel is a History student with a minor in Latin American Studies at California State University, Los Angeles. She is also Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow and daughter of Guatemalan and Honduran immigrants. In this episode we discuss: How her Central American identity and...