40. Beyond the Brochure: What First-Gens Need to Know about Grad School

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How did Naomi stumble into one of the most defining experiences of her life? In this episode Rebecca gets the scoop on Naomi's (scenic) route to grad school as well as the good, the bad, and the unexpected that happened along the way. They discuss Naomi's inner struggles over combining motherhood and grad school, the impact on her children, as well as the activism she found at this intersection in her life.

Along the way, Naomi explains some of the distinguishing features of advanced degrees such as time to degree, how students are typically funded, when prestige matters (and when it doesn't), and a host of other important things to consider when deciding which program is right for you--or whether the reality of grad school will be worth the benefits.

As Naomi discovered, success in graduate school involves much more than just good grades and perfect attendance. Navigating the politics of graduate school can be as complex as the coursework itself. As for any institution, universities are minefields of gender dynamics, academic hierarchies, and unspoken rules. With personal anecdotes, she reveals the importance of networking, the ups and downs of "passing," and, ultimately, her reflection on where her seven years of grad school have ultimately brought her.

Links we mentioned in the show (or should have):
Graduate Study for the Twenty-First Century: How to Build an Academic Career in the Humanities (G. Semenza)

The Professor Is In (Karen Kelsky)
Academia is a Cult (TEDx Talk by Karen Kelsky)

Outline of Academic Disciplines (Wikipedia)

Dear Committee Members (Julie Schumacher)
The Shakespeare Requirement (Julie Schumacher)

PhD Comics 

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