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

This episode is for those of you on the quarter system who have been admitted to external summer programs. What do you do when you find out your summer program conflicts with finals? This episodes provides some suggestions and options for what you can do to manage this issue.  Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school, sustainable productivity, and personal development G...

This is a bonus episode based on a listener request on what to do during your academic calendar breaks. Some of us are on the quarter system and entering our spring break. I hope this episode helps you identify ways to nourish yourself and take some much needed time off. Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school, sustainable productivity, and personal development Get my...

It can be awkward and difficult to decline a grad school offer. Dra. Martinez-Vu offers some sample language to use if you’re struggling with this very good problem to have. 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 educati...

Are you a student interested in grad school but struggling to stay afloat? Are you losing motivation? Feeling depleted? Do you need a break from school? If so, then you might already be considering taking a gap year. Before deciding, this episode will share a few things to consider to help you make an informed decision. Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school, sustaina...

This episode is all about how to redirect and reframe the rejections you may receive when applying to grad school. 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 you’ll learn some of Dra. Yvette’s organizational hacks which are helping her manage her time and stress during very busy times. They include organizing your email inbox, calendar, to-do lists, and computer folders. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and are in need of some organizing tips, then check out this episode. Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I discuss what to do if you got into grad school. I share insights on securing funding, comparing financial offers, considering cost of living, and assessing program culture. I also stress the importance of talking to current grad students and alumni to make an informed decision. Whether you’re balancing multiple offers or sorting through the d...

In this episode you’ll learn what to do to establish and maintain a good relationship with a grad school advisor or undergrad faculty mentor. Dra. Yvette also talks about how to find a good mentor and how to switch mentors. 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 ...

In this episode, you'll learn about what to expect if you are invited to a Zoom interview day for a grad program you've applied to. Dra. Yvette discusses what your schedule may look like, differences in individual versus group interviews, types of questions you may be asked, and questions you should ask faculty and grad students.  Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad schoo...

In this episode you’ll receive an update from Dra. Yvette now that she is returning to work from her maternity leave. She shares her vision board and discusses what an abundance and scarcity mindset mean to her. She also addresses why she’s chosen “abundance” as her word for 2021. Tune in! Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school, sustainable productivity, and personal...

In this episode, Dra. Yvette shares her approach on setting new year intentions and goals for 2021. Among other suggestions, she stresses the idea of reflection (what worked and didn't work in 2020),  setting specific yet attainable/flexible goals, identifying a word or theme of the year, and decluttering or organizing in preparation for letting go of 2020 and welcoming 2021.  Sign up for my free...

This episode provides some options for how to navigate grad school during the holidays. Dra. Yvette discusses why it's so hard to take time off during the holidays, how to get organized before taking a break, and how to best communicate with your advisor, family, partner, friends, and other loved ones regarding your plans and expectations during the holiday "break." While this episode is geared fo...

In this episode, Dra. Yvette shares some recent updates and changes in the Graduate Record Exam requirements for admission into graduate school.  In light of the pandemic, several graduate programs are either no longer requiring the GRE, making it optional, or requiring it but not having it play such a strong factor in their selection process. Please listen to this episode if you're applying to gr...

This episode offers a a discussion of the physical, emotional, and behavioral signs of burnout. Dra. Yvette discusses some differences between stress and burnout and offers strategies for how to cope with and/or overcome academic burnout. She also shares her own personal experience dealing with burnout while in graduate school. If you think you may be feeling burned out or would like to avoid burn...

In this episode, Dra. Yvette tackles the topic of grad school qualifying exams. She talks about what qualifying exams are, what they look like, and shares strategies to help someone survive the process of both preparing for exams and actually taking the exams. This episode is dedicated to her McNair Scholar alumni and other former mentees who are currently in grad school and will be preparing for...

In this episode, Dra. Yvette shares some strategies for how to motivate yourself to write your grad school essays. From freewriting to using timers, to seeking external forms of accountability, there are several ways to find the motivation to get started. Tune in to learn more!  Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school, sustainable productivity, and personal development...

In this episode, Dra. Yvette introduces the Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship and the National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program. She discusses why you might want to consider applying for these sources of external funding at the same time that you're applying to graduate school and offers tips for how to apply.  Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about...

If you're applying to grad school and are worried about a low GPA, a low GRE score, or having taken a leave of absence during your undergraduate studies, then please listen to this episode. Dra. Yvette shares strategies for how to address a gap in your application including sample language to include.  Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school, sustainable productivity,...

In this episode, Dra. Yvette will focus on the top three things to look for when determining if a grad program is a right fit for you. 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 educational purposes o...

In this episode, Dra. Yvette shares some activities and exercises you can try out to help calm you down when you're feeling stressed, anxious or depressed. With the fall term starting, looming flu season, a tumultuous election cycle, and the ongoing pandemic, among other stressors, there are lots of factors that are continuing to impact our mental health. To prepare for this, Dra. Yvette shares so...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I address the importance of contacting and meeting with prospective faculty for grad school applications, particularly for those applying this fall. I provide actionable advice on finalizing your grad school list, preparing your CV, writing statements of purpose and personal statements, and requesting recommendation letters. I also address the...

In this episode, Dra. Yvette shares some advice for individuals applying to graduate school this fall 2020, including some of the changes in admissions processes that we may see in light of the pandemic. If you're planning to apply to any programs this fall, you won't want to miss this episode!  Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school, sustainable productivity, and per...

In this episode, Dra. Yvette provides a brief life update on the stressors in her life that led to her taking a few weeks break from the podcast. She also goes into detail on stress-management and sleep hygiene. In particular, she covers how to identify stress in your body and what tools and strategies to implement to manage your stress. The episode ends with a discussion on how to improve your sl...

In this episode, Dra. Yvette shares her insight on what you should know and do the summer before you apply to grad school. She talks about finalizing your grad school list, what are the main components of an application, what to consider when preparing a writing sample, what a general admissions timeline looks like, and how to best prepare for the fall application cycle. Sign up for my free email...

In this episode, Dra. Yvette aims to provide you with a deeper understanding of the pros and cons of graduate school for low-income, first-generation, and/or students of color. She highlights 5 opportunities and 5 challenges -- including topics of mentoring/femtoring,  microaggressions, imposter syndrome, and family achievement guilt --  and then provides ways to prepare for said opportunities and...