The Student Stage Guide
Beginning
The following are suggestions as you journey through your first few semesters at KU as a new student:
Get acquainted and involved with KU and Graduate Studies
- Attend the Jayhawk Welcome and Information Fair
- Attend any departmental/program orientation or welcome sessions
- Familiarize yourself with the requirements of your program
- Get to know the faculty, staff and students in your program
- Join your program's graduate student organization
- Follow Graduate Studies on Facebook and Twitter to get news and articles for graduate students
Think about research
- Identify the research skills you need in your field – and how you will obtain these skills
- Find a faculty mentor
- Create a Pivot account, the premier database for funding opportunities
- Attend a workshop on exploring funding, grant, and fellowship opportunities
- Begin developing speaking and writing skills
Think about teaching
- Inquire about teaching opportunities in your program
- Read the Center for Teaching Excellence's publications on teaching
- Take a course on teaching in your field
- Tutor undergraduate or pre-college students
Think about career development
- Explore career options – in academia, in government, in not-for-profit, or industry
- Begin developing your curriculum vita
- Identify and join a professional organization in your field
- Attend presentations by your fellow students
- Attend a professional conference
- Seek professional mentors
- Think about your online identity
- Think about your personal finances
Continuing
The following are suggestions as you continue through your degree program at KU as a continuing/current student:
Participate in your program
- Attend departmental/program workshops and meetings
- Serve in your graduate student organization
- Inquire about student involvement in departmental committees
- Track your progress through program requirements
- Inquire about the comprehensive or qualifying exams in your program
- Familiarize yourself with requirements related to the thesis or dissertation proposal/prospectus in your program
Think about research
- Begin building your research skill set
- Obtain training in responsible scholarship in your field
- Present at the Graduate Research Competition
- Present at a regional or national conference – consider funding through the Graduate Scholarly Presentation Travel Fund
- Find and apply for funding, grant, and fellowship opportunities through Pivot
- Attend a workshop on writing, presenting, publishing, or grants
- Work with the Writing Center to hone your skills
Think about teaching
- Build a teaching portfolio
- Attend a workshop sponsored by the Center for Teaching Excellence
- Seek teaching opportunities
Think about career development
- Continue to explore multiple career options
- Find out what skills and experiences are necessary to enter the career fields you are exploring
- Build your curriculum vita or resume
- Present at a professional conference in your field
- Attend a professional conference
- Build your professional network
Finishing
The following are suggestions as you move towards completion of your degree program at KU as a finishing/graduating student:
Participate in your program
- Complete comprehensive exams
- Complete a thesis or dissertation proposal/prospectus
- Write your thesis or dissertation – with diligence, discipline, and persistence
- Familiarize yourself with the required thesis/dissertation format and requirements in your field
- Familiarize yourself with the electronic thesis/dissertation submission process
- Familiarize yourself with requirements related to degree completion
- Build a peer support network of students in the final stages in your program
Think about research
- Obtain training in responsible scholarship in your field
- Present at a regional or national conference
- Continue to find and apply for funding, grant, and fellowship opportunities
- Publish or apply your research
Think about teaching
- Continue to build a teaching portfolio and/or statement of teaching philosophy
Think about career development
- Identify multiple options for career goals and follow the job postings in your chosen fields
- Accumulate the skills and experiences necessary for entering your chosen fields
- Build your career documents (CV/resume, online image)
- Attend professional conferences in your field
- Continue to build a professional network
- Practice your job talk and interviewing skills
