Presentation at LSAMP Conference at the University of Washington. February 26, 2010.

1. Graduate School? Mnemonic Devices and Generative Questions to Jostle Your Memory Dr. Juan C. Guerra Associate Vice Provost and Associate Dean The Graduate School University of Washington jguerra@uw.edu www.grad.washington.edu www.grad.washington.edu/gomap

2. Mnemonic Devices Preparation and Positioning Fit and Funding Mentoring and Networking

3. Generative Questions: Preparation DID YOU… Take undergrad courses related to your research interests? Did you do well? Enroll in an undergraduate support program on your campus similar to OMA’s McNair Scholars and Early Identification Programs at the UW? Participate in a Summer STEM Research Program similar to the ones listed on the UW handout in your packets?

4. Positioning DID YOU… Write a strong statement of purpose? Get strong letters of recommendation from faculty? Connect with faculty in the graduate programs that you’re going to apply to?

5. Fit Did the program invite you and pay for your campus visit to meet faculty and graduate students in your prospective program? Does your prospective program provide the kind of academic preparation, research opportunities, and professional development you want and need?

6. Fit Have faculty in that program demonstrated their willingness to work with you and support you during your graduate studies? Did you like the campus, the student body, the town or city, and the region in which the university is located? Do you feel at home there?

7. Funding Did the program that you’re applying to offer you a strong funding package? Does the funding package give you an opportunity to teach and to do research?

8. Funding Does the funding package compare well with other funding packages you’ve been offered? Have you carefully weighed the fit and the funding to make sure that you’re not just going for the money?

9. Mentoring Are the faculty in your prospective program committed to mentoring you over the long run? Does the program provide opportunities for you to be mentored by your peers? Are there opportunities for you to mentor others, both your peers and undergrad students?

10. Does your prospective program sponsor opportunities to engage faculty and fellow graduate students in social or informal settings? Is there a program at the university like the Graduate Opportunities and Minority Achievement Program (GO-MAP) here at UW that sponsors events where you can meet other graduate students from across campus? Does the program provide opportunities for you to travel to conferences to meet with nationally recognized faculty and graduate students in your field from universities across the country? Networking

11. Dr. Juan C. Guerra jguerra@uw.edu Download slides: Slideshare.net/gomap Contact