Advice on applying to graduate programs from scholar alumni

Julia Lesnick, Human Development 2018

Gaby Kubi, Human Development 2020

This fall, PRYDE Scholars, Jessica Feldman HD '22 and Marisa Radulescu HD '23, interviewed two alumni regarding their graduate school experiences and advice they have for Scholars who are in the process of applying to programs. Julia Lesnick is currently a MSW-PhD student at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her research and scholarship focus on partnering with youth and community leaders affected by the carceral and foster care systems to expand accessibility to support networks, resources, and opportunities for youth to thrive. Our other alumni interviewee, Gaby Kubi, is a PhD student at the University of Michigan's Combined Program in Education and Psychology. She is interested in the development of critical consciousness and conceptions of race among young Black people as they navigate educational institutions; and how educational institutions can be reimagined to better support this development. Both Julia and Gaby worked with Dr. Jane Mendle from the department of Psychology in the Adolescent Transitions Lab during their time as PRYDE Scholars. In this excerpt, we share their insights on the impact of PRYDE on their careers and educational trajectories as well as some of their tips for submitting a successful graduate school application.

How did you select your graduate school program?

Julia: “When I was stuck making decisions between a couple of options, some great advice I got was to try to reflect on what my fundamental drive and intention for going to graduate school was- if I could boil it down, why did I really want to do this. It was also helpful for me to observe what the other students interviewing for the program described in terms of their interests and goals during the visit weekend. This gave me some insight into what my peer community and support system at that school might look like. Finally, I would really consider the location, and where you think you will find the most fulfilling life outside of your academics.”

Gaby: “I applied to a mix of different programs because I wasn’t sure what would be the best path to achieving my goals. When I received acceptance letters, I made a pros and cons list to compare the programs. Look for places that have full funding where they will have opportunities for you to teach and receive financial support, such as applying to scholarships or getting stipends. Funding availability varies based on the school, so make sure to look into that.”

How did you incorporate PRYDE into your application?

Julia: “I framed the PRYDE Scholars Program as a turning point in my understanding of my role as a researcher and the possibilities of the research process. For me, PRYDE exposed me to doing research in a way that prioritized the relevance of findings for people’s lives, and how I could channel my skills and interests in the research process towards making the kind of impact that was important to me.”

Gaby: “No matter what you’re passionate about, there’s a way to connect the skills you learn from PRYDE to what you’re interested in. The applied knowledge, real world community engagement, and the skills we develop translate across a variety of settings, especially in knowing how to interact with community partners. PRYDE gave me the language and the experience to back up my interests and pursue my research interests in graduate school.”

What advice do you have for scholars who are going through the process of applying?

Julia: “Leverage your resources and network! I reached out to current graduate students to ask for help, as well as faculty advisors, and mentors from previous jobs to try to have a range of different perspectives. As for the personal statement, I think this is where you really want your passion to come through. It can be tempting to provide all your experiences and accomplishments, but I would encourage seeing this as the opportunity to really emphasize why what you want to study is meaningful for you and how it reflects your sense of purpose, and let your CV/resume and transcript speak to your full list of qualifications. It can be helpful also to try to have a theme to tie the different parts of your statement together so that it reads more like a story about who you are, why you are pursuing this work, and what you will bring to it.”

Gaby: “Connect with people. It’s so good to talk to people who are in grad school right now or who are doing things that are similar to what you want to do. Even if someone can’t be helpful in the moment, they can connect you with someone else or think of resources that may be helpful. Be genuine in your applications. Don’t try to portray yourself as something you’re not just to get into programs, because it will hurt you in the long run.”

How did you decide who to ask for recommendation letters?

Julia: “I was looking at programs that really emphasized the application of research in practice, so I wanted to try to reflect this range of experiences in academic and applied settings. I requested two faculty letters: one from Dr. Mendle, my mentor in developing my foundational research skills and interests, and the other from Dr. Agans, who taught the PRYDE classes and really exposed me to the translational research approach. The other letter I asked for was a supervisor from my professional experience, who I felt could really speak to the ways that I worked with data in a service setting.”

Gaby: “I prioritized letters from faculty who knew me well in research settings. Be direct with what you want people to write about. Provide as much information as possible for the letter by including the personal statement you are submitting and listing the schools you’re applying to and what the researchers' interests are. The best person to ask for a recommendation from is the one who knows you as a person as well. You have a life outside of research, and you have to find a way to integrate your life experiences and your life stories to paint a holistic picture through the letter.”

What is it like to be a grad school student?

Gaby: “My days consist of reading articles, teaching, prepping for classes, checking emails, attending meetings, etc. The further along you get in your graduate education, there are less classes and more focus on your research or seeing clients (fieldwork). You will be spending more time thinking about literature on your own and creating knowledge. There’s a lot of different ways to tackle the day to day of being a graduate student, but it’s just important to do it in a way that makes sense to you.”