On Thursday, February 19, sixty undergraduate students spent the evening learning about what graduate school is, how it can work, and what you can do while an undergraduate to explore interest in graduate study and prepare to potentially apply. The annual Demystifying Graduate School Dinner, now in its fifth year, connects early-career undergraduates affiliated with high-impact practice programs in the College of Letters & Science, including L&S Honors, with exceptional graduate students representing a wide variety of UW’s master’s and PhD programs. This year, fifteen graduate students in programs ranging from neuroscience to jazz studies to a joint program in economics and finance shared insights that were helpful to undergrads from a broad range of academic interests and personal backgrounds. 80% of undergraduate attendees were in their first or second year at UW-Madison, and nearly 60% were Honors in the Liberal Arts students.
The evening included multiple ways to gain information and make connections. While enjoying dinner, undergraduates heard all the graduate students briefly introduce themselves in a panel format and share a piece of advice or reflection related to potential graduate study. After these introductions, the event transitioned to small group conversations; each attendee engaged with multiple breakout tables to ask questions about the goals of graduate study, getting involved in research, finances and timelines, work/life balance, and more. Some of the themes that emerged were the value of exploring your interests broadly and the importance of making connections with professors. When attendees were asked to share one or two things they learned throughout the evening, replies included:
- “You don’t need to have it all figured out now if you want to go to grad school and there is no need to rush to make a decision. Embrace the journey now and try new things.”
- “Research is very important. Networking is actually really simple.”
- “I learned about undergrad opportunities to build my resume and skill set, and resources for preparing for grad school.”
Many thanks to the planning committee members, graduate student panelists, College of Letters & Science Student Academic Affairs, and the William Cronon Pathways to Excellence Fund for their roles in supporting this event!
