NAVIGATING THE ACADEMY

  1. What is your favorite and least favorite part of your academic life?
  2. What is the most challenging part of your program?
    1. How do you overcome those challenges?
  3. What are you most proud of accomplishing this year?
  4. Do you have a mentor or mentee?
    1. If so, how did you connect with this person?  If not, do you have any ideas for identifying and connecting with a mentor?
  5. What is an example of a time you failed in your role as a grad student?
    1. What did you learn from it?
  6. What are some of your favorite things to do / watch / read for inspiration? 
  7. How do you stay organized?
  8. Do you have any routines that help you manage your workload?
  9. How do you ask for help?
  10. What is the most intimidating thing about grad school?
  11. What is your favorite thing about your campus? (JS)
  12. What suggestions do you have for navigating interpersonal relationships and power dynamics with academic faculty/chair (the blurred grey lines)?
  13. Do you recommend enrolling in any particular classes (clinical or otherwise)?
  14. What other people do you recommend that I talk with? May I tell them that you referred me to them?
  15. What’s some advice you would give your first year self? (if you are not a first year student). Or If you are a first year, what advice would you give to your first quarter self?

FUTURE PLANNING

  1. Are you a member of any  professional associations? Are there any that you’d recommend?
  2. What recommendations do you have for me regarding a job search strategy?
  3. What would be a typical next career move for someone in your position?
  4. What other people do you recommend that I talk with? May I tell them that you referred me to them?

COMFORT & SELF CARE

  1. What are your favorite activities for self-care?
  2. What is your go-to comfort food?
  3. What color is your heart today and why?
  4. What have you learned about yourself in your time so far in grad school?
  5. What do you look forward to each week/day?
  6. What do you dread and why? How can you overcome or simply be with those things?
  7. Are you a procrastinator? How do you stay on top of things?

COVID-19

  1. What are you most proud of having started and/or accomplished during the pandemic? 
  2. What is your biggest concern/fear as we head into a new academic year? 
  3. What surprised you about your experience with the pandemic? What didn’t surprise you?
  4. Did you reconnect with anyone during this period? Did you make any new connections?
  5. Did you learn anything new about yourself during the pandemic?

CONNECTION & BELONGING

  1. How do you connect with others socially while in grad school? What are your challenges with this?
  2. What tips do you have for building a supportive social network while in grad school?
  3. What are your hobbies?
  4. Describe a fond memory. Anything! 
  5. Do you have a passion outside of academics? What is it? What about it excites you?
  6. Where would you like to travel to and why?
  7. Do you like to cook? Why or why not?
  8. What traditions do you treasure if you have any?
  9. What is your favorite color?