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

In this episode, we have a special guest, Elissa Frazier, who shares what’s it like being a graduate student in an EdD program as well as a mother to four children. She reveals how she balances her personal and professional interests unapologetically by doing things like scheduling in protected time with her children, paying attention to the love language of those she cares about, and taking time...

In this short bonus episode, Dra. Yvette talks about the basics of financial literacy. She covers topics like creating a budget, opening and tracking multiple funding accounts, learning about credit scores, credit cards, and how to build credit, doing taxes, and how your mindset impacts it all. If you're new to learning about finances or are struggling to manage your money, you'll want to listen t...

In this episode, we have a special guest, Dr. Ester Trujillo, who shares all about what faculty think and say about students. She discusses  how faculty review the grad school application process, how they view grad students once they’re enrolled, how they view students who choose to leave the program or who pursue academic and non-academic careers, and much more!  Dr. Trujillo is an Assistant Pro...

In this bonus episode, Dra. Yvette answers the question of what to do if you’re thinking about quitting grad school from considering why you want to quit, to identifying some possible solutions to your problems, and then, if quitting is the right choice for you, thinking about what’s holding you back from following through. Tune in to learn more. Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more...

In this episode, we have a special guest, Eva Meza, who shares with us her process of getting into grad school in psychology and how to make the most of a gap year. Eva Meza is an incoming first year Psychology PhD student at UC Davis and has been awarded the Distinguished Scholar Fellowship. Eva is from San Jose, CA and is a first-generation born low-income student. She is very passionate about i...

In this bonus episode, Dra. Yvette shares a few tricks that she's learned as a mother to help her maintain a healthy work/life balance and harmony. Tune in to learn more! Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school, sustainable productivity, and personal development Get my free 15-page Grad School Femtoring Resource Kit  *The Grad School Femtoring Podcast is for educationa...

In this episode, Dra. Yvette shares some major personal news. She is leaving her university position and shares several reasons behind why she made this decision as well as what is coming next for her. You have the permission to be a chismosx and tune in for more info!  Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school, sustainable productivity, and personal development Get my f...

In this bonus Q&A episode, Dra. Yvette answers the question of what to do if you have too many letter recommenders. Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school, sustainable productivity, and personal development Get my free 15-page Grad School Femtoring Resource Kit  *The Grad School Femtoring Podcast is for educational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for...

In this episode, we have another guest, Ana Barba, who discusses all about #findingmentors and building community as a #firstgenstudent. We discuss seeking multiple mentors for different types of support, finding mentors among peers, staff, and family, as well as how to build strong relationships and build your community over time. Ana Barba is currently a PhD Candidate in ChicanX Studies at UC-Sa...

In this episode, we have another guest, Dra. Ana Guerrero who shares all about academic conferences, networking, and how to put yourself out there as a first-gen student. Ana is a PhD graduate from the UC Santa Barbara Department of Education where she conducted longitudinal research on the narratives of first-gen Latinx students' college and career aspirations development and identity development...

In this episode, our guest, Emeline Beltran, speaks to us about her experience being a grad student with a disability. We discuss the differences in advocating for yourself in K-12 schooling versus in college and grad school, how non-disabled folks can offer support, if and when to disclose a disability, making the most of resources available to you, and much more! Emeline is a second-year graduat...

In this episode, Dra. Yvette gets personal and shares her insight on how to maintain a strong romantic relationship with a partner within and beyond grad school. She shares some key strategies for communicating better, recommends seeking professional help, and offers some takeaways from navigating a relationship of 14+ years with two kids and as two individuals who pursued grad school and separate...

In this episode you'll learn about some things you can do to make the most out of the summer before you start grad school. From resting, to getting your finances in order, to securing housing, and more, can you guess what Dra. Yvette's single most important advice is? Tune in to learn more.  Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school, sustainable productivity, and persona...

In this episode, Dra. Yvette shares everything she wishes she had known about student loans when she was an undergrad and graduate student, from differences in student loans (federal vs. private, subsidized versus unsubsidized) to interest rates, to payment methods, to payment plans, and how to calculate how long it'll take you to pay off your debt. She ends the episode by offering some action ite...

In this episode, our guest, Reka Barton, speaks to us about women of color in fashion and academia. She shares her experience as a former elementary school teacher, now grad student, and how she has developed her Scholarly Sewist brand and online community, all while focusing on teaching, traveling, and sewing. Reka is a Third Year Doctoral Student in Education. She is a Visual ResearcHER & Creati...

In this episode, our guest, Dr. Veronica Eyo, speaks to us about perfectionism. She describes what it is, how it shows up in others, her experience as a recovering perfectionist, and how perfectionism can come up in grad school. Dr. Veronica Eyo is a bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Los Angeles. She provides therapy for individuals and couples. She has a passion for working with mother...

In this episode, we have another special guest, Fernanda Castellon who speaks about her experience as a first-gen student studying autism and becoming a mom in grad school. Fernanda is a PhD student in Education at the University of California, Los Angeles. She completed her B.A. at the University of California, Santa Barbara in Psychology and Chicana/o Studies. Fernanda is interested in researchi...

In this episode you’ll hear some of the reasons Dra. Yvette has observed that students may not have gotten into grad school. They can include things that are in and out of your control. Sometimes the issues are related to selecting the right advisors, having a solid grad school list, writing tailored essays, securing strong recommendation letters, and other factors. No matter the reason, you can a...

In this episode, we have another special guest, Sirenia Sanchez, who is speaking on the topic of ethical chisme as it relates to the harsh realities and challenges of grad school. Sirenia is a third-year PhD Candidate in the Social Psychology doctoral program at Northwestern. She defines the phrase “ethical chisme” for us, how it differs from being a metiche (a nosy person), and shares insights on...

In this episode we have a special guest, Yanelyn Perez, who is speaking on the topic of being a woman of color grad student in a STEM field. Yanelyn is currently a first year PhD student studying wildlife disease ecology at the University of Maryland, College Park. She shares her experience studying zoology and doing lab work as an undergraduate, her struggles with imposter syndrome and lack of re...

This podcast episode was recorded for current juniors in college who will be rising seniors this summer and applying to graduate school in the fall. If you're feeling discouraged or overwhelmed at the process of applying, please listen to this episode, where Dra. Yvette addresses your concerns over not having enough time, feeling like you haven't done enough research, worried about securing letter...

In this episode, you’ll learn some strategies for how to apply for your first job out of undergrad or graduate school. The content will be especially helpful for individuals applying to non-tenure track jobs, alternative academic jobs, or higher education jobs. Some of the topics covered include scheduling informational interviews, identifying salary ranges, and how to ask for help. Sign up for my...

This episode is for anyone who accepted a grad school offer with little to no funding, and it's especially relevant for students admitted into master's programs, as they tend to offer less funding compared to doctoral programs. You'll hear about creating a budget, asking for funding after committing (if you didn't do so beforehand), applying for scholarships, fellowships, and on-campus job opportu...

Are you an undergraduate who is interested in getting started on research but are struggling to secure a faculty mentor? Listen to this episode to learn strategies for identifying and securing a faculty mentor.  Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school, sustainable productivity, and personal development Get my free 15-page Grad School Femtoring Resource Kit  *The Grad S...

In this episode we have a special guest, Mara Lopez, who is speaking on the topic of maintaining your physical fitness and physical health while in graduate school. Mara is a Mexicana from Southern California who is currently residing in Arizona. She is a mother to two beautiful babies under six. Mara is also a wife, full-time research program manager, part-time faculty associate, and doctoral can...