Diversity in Graduate Education

Reflecting on my experience at California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education✨

This past weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education at UC Merced. This was an all-day event dedicated to helping students from underrepresented backgrounds explore pathways to graduate school.

From workshops on how to fund grad school, GRE prep, and the transition from a master’s to a PhD, to networking with 100+ recruiters from universities across the nation, the day was incredibly rewarding.

I had the chance to hear the opening speech from Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, an inspiring immigrant, American, and the first Black woman to lead the DOE's Office of Science! I also connected with representatives from Columbia University, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Davis, San José State University, and many more. One program that really stood out was the University of Washington's Master of Science in Technology Innovation program. This emphasizes hands on, community impact capstone projects where students collaborate directly with companies or lead their own initiatives. Such a refreshing and meaningful approach to graduate education.

Beyond the professional development, I met amazing peers with diverse majors and perspectives (and even made a new friend on the bus ride there!). Plus, there were plenty of campus goodies, QR codes for application fee discounts, and insider tips from recruiters.

I’m so grateful to California State University, Monterey Bay and UROC for making this opportunity possible. After attending this forum, I feel more confident and prepared to craft a strong master’s application and continue advancing toward my educational goals!