Grad Scholars Program (GSP)

 

The Princeton Grad Scholars Program (GSP) is an exciting experience for entering first-year graduate students and pre-doctoral students from diverse backgrounds designed to enhance and support academic, social, and community development during their initial graduate school experience.

 

Group photo of the 2021 GSP cohort.

 

THE PROGRAM HAS THREE GOALS

To empower participants to take an intentional and strategic approach to their graduate education
To educate students about how to access the myriad resources available to them at Princeton
To develop a sense of community by connecting graduate students across disciplinary boundaries   

 

Scholars meet six to eight times over the academic year for “seminar/workshop” sessions that focus on the transition to graduate education at Princeton.

 


 

POTENTIAL TOPICS INCLUDE

 

Drawing of a stopwatch in orange
 
Developing skills for time and task management to promote balance and success
money
 
Budgeting and financial planning for graduate school and beyond
Orange drawing of 3 people connected by a thought
 
Building your academic and non-academic community at Princeton

 

Drawing of a person with a heart showing love of self
 
Developing positive practices for physical, emotional, and psychological self-care
Orange drawing of the sideview of books
 
Preparing for academic and non-academic career pathways

 

Orange drawing of a writing pad and pen
 
Writing support and workshops
 
 

Each student will have access to mentorship opportunities to complement their departmental academic adviser(s) and the Director of Graduate Studies throughout the first year, including staff and peer community members. GSP students participate in pods, which consist of 5-6 first year students led by an advanced graduate student who serves as a Peer Mentor. Pods are typically multidisciplinary, and provide opportunities for students to enlarge their peer networks and engage in community-building activities throughout the academic year. In addition, GSP hosts community dinners, professional development events, and other social events to help build community within and across cohorts.

 

Please contact Assistant Dean Joseph Lewis at [email protected] with any questions regarding the Graduate Scholars Program.

 


 

 

GSP Testimonial

Image of Federico Uquillas, Neuroscience
Federico Uquillas, NEU

"Being a member of the GSP has been instrumental to my success as a first-year graduate student at Princeton. The ADI team has helped me tremendously in a number of ways. Not only did they make sure I had support during my move to New Jersey, but once here, the programs, talks, and events put on by the ADI helped me meet other first-year students and more advanced students. This provided me with various ways for integrating myself into the Princeton community and build a sense of companionship. Most recently, the ADI team also provided me with incredible and unparalleled assistance when applying to a competitive graduate fellowship."