Welcome to Graduate Student Greatness
the greatest graduate student community on the web! A home for current and aspiring graduate students, like you, to get the support needed to succeed in graduate school.
Entering and completing graduate school is an incredible feat, filled with aspirations, challenges, and a roller coaster of experiences both engaging and overwhelming. As part of a select group of students, it can feel lonely at times. Not many people understand what it’s like to earn a graduate degree. At Graduate Student Greatness, we want you to know that you are not alone in this adventure.
DID YOU KNOW
Building the Greatest Graduate Student Community
Navigating the complexities of graduate school is no small feat and the road can often feel isolating. Unfortunately, many students don’t get the support that is the cornerstone of graduate school success. Advisors are frequently too busy or unable to give their students the support they need and deserve. Family and friends can’t imagine the challenges and sacrifices involved in earning a graduate degree. That’s why we’ve created a community that extends a warm embrace to every current and aspiring graduate student.
Our Mission
We want to provide every student with the mentorship, community, and resources they need to succeed and earn their degree. With social support and mentorship being the most powerful predictors of graduate student success and with graduate students reporting more stress and isolation than ever before, our mission has never been more important.
The world needs more scientists, researchers, educators, healthcare providers, policymakers, and other professionals, like you. And that’s why we’re here, to support you in becoming one of the next generation to carry forward this essential mantle. Won’t you join us?
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In a study of over 3,000 graduate students, social support was the #1 protective factor against depression symptoms; even after adjusting for factors like mentorship quality, financial stress, department climate, and demographics.
– Charles, Karnaze & Leslie (2021).
Success is What You’ll Find Here
Members gain exclusive access to a trove of resources tailored to make your graduate school journey rewarding. From application to graduation, we have what you need to succeed.
🌐 Connect in real-time: Join our exclusive Discord server to make instant connections with like-minded peers and mentors. Make lifelong friends, find mentorship, and flourish. Exchange ideas, be inspired, seek advice, and build a network that supports you during your academic journey and beyond.
💬 Online community forum: Have rich discussions on our online forum, post questions, and get answers from students and professionals in the field. Engage with a diverse community, share experiences, and find the support you need to navigate graduate school with aplomb.
📚 Knowledge at your fingertips: Immerse yourself in our treasure trove of professionally developed guides for current and aspiring graduate students. Learn the skills graduate schools assume you have but never actually teach, like balancing competing projects, working with faculty members, and giving great presentations.
📋 Tip Sheets and Templates: From insightful tip sheets offering strategies for everything from staying abreast of the current literature, to practical templates aiding in scheduling and tracking – we’ve got you covered. Find step-by-step guidance on common graduate school activities. We’re here to provide you with a wealth of resources, empowering you to thrive in all of your endeavors.
🚀 Writing and Productivity Challenges: Overcome writing and productivity hurdles with our periodic challenges. Transform your work habits, enhance your focus, and elevate your writing skills with the support of our community.
🎓 Self-Coaching Courses on Common Challenges: Tackle the most common hurdles faced by graduate students with our specialized self-coaching courses. From time management to overcoming procrastination, these courses address key challenges and provide actionable strategies for graduate school success.
🌟 Exclusive Member-Only Events: Get invited to exclusive special events. From masterclasses to productivity power hours, we’ve got something for everyone.
🫶🏽 An Emphasis on Balance: You are a human being, not a human doing. We know that toxic productivity saturates many graduate programs. We also know that a toxic workload isn’t necessary for graduate school success. We encourage healthy productivity, including wellness reminders, strategies, and a strong “one size does not fit all” approach to success.
👩🏾🎓 🏳️🌈👨🏼🦽♾️ A Warm Welcome [to most]: We believe that we are stronger together and that diverse perspectives and experiences are vital for the wellbeing of humanity. We also know that there’s a long history and ongoing problem with racism, bigotry, sexism, homophobia, ableism, and exclusion in higher education. We strive to make this a safe and welcoming community for ALL. Anyone who’s not okay with that can leave right now because you aren’t welcome.
🆓 FREE to Join: Joining is just a click away and it won’t cost you a penny! Elevate your graduate student experience with unparalleled support, resources, and connections – all for FREE.
Don’t just survive graduate school, thrive in it! Join Graduate Student Greatness today and discover a community that believes in your potential, recognizing that support is your strongest ally on the path to success.
Joining is as easy as 1, 2, 3…
- Click the Join Us button below.
- Fill out the registration form (a name and email is all you need).
- Log in with your shiny new credentials and you’ll be taken straight to your dashboard with all the goodies!
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“Graduate students have reported that peer relationships have enabled them to access essential procedural and disciplinary knowledge, reduced academic anxiety and isolation, and furthered the development of career skills. This appears to be equally true irrespective of degree or program of study.”
– Lorenzetti, et al. (2019). A systematic review of graduate student peer mentorship in academia. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 27(5), 549-576, p. 21.
🤔 Not Sure if This Community is Right for You?
You’re busy. We get it. There’s a lot clamoring for your attention and the idea of joining this graduate school community might seem like too much. Let us assure you – we respect that.
🤝 Inclusive community: Brand new student? Underrepresented? Chronically ill? Neurodiverse? Problematic advisor? No matter your background or where you are in your academic journey, you’ll find a supportive and inclusive grad. school community waiting to welcome you. We have no problem kicking out anyone who isn’t.
💬 Self-directed: Participate in as much or as little as you want. There’s no obligation to join the conversation, your level of engagement is entirely up to you. We’ll be here when you need us.
🌟 No obnoxious marketing: Worried about being bombarded with obnoxious marketing? Fear not! We respect your time. We focus on delivering valuable resources rather than bombarding you with unwanted promotions. This community is here to enhance your graduate school experience, not overwhelm you. Besides, we’re too busy developing exclusive content to send out spam.
Don’t hold back, believe in the transformative power of a supportive community. Forge relationships that extend beyond the virtual world. Graduate Student Greatness is more than a platform; it’s a supportive community where friendships and collaborations flourish.
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OUT OF
4.1 MILLION
GRADUATE STUDENTS
DON’T BE ONE OF THEM
SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Want to know more about the role of mentorship and community in graduate student success? Here’s a recommended reading list.
Baum, S., & Steele, P. (2017). Who goes to graduate school and who succeeds?. AccessLex Institute Research Paper, (17-01).
Charles, S. T., Karnaze, M. M., & Leslie, F. M. (2022). Positive factors related to graduate student mental health. Journal of American college health, 70(6), 1858-1866.
Eleftheriades, R., Fiala, C., & Pasic, M. D. (2020). The challenges and mental health issues of academic trainees. F1000Research, 9.
Evans, T. M., Bira, L., Gastelum, J. B., Weiss, L. T., & Vanderford, N. L. (2018). Stress & Burnout in Graduate Students: The role of work‐life balance and mentoring relationships. The FASEB Journal, 32, 535-27.
Higgins, M. C., Dobrow, S. R., & Chandler, D. (2008). Never quite good enough: The paradox of sticky developmental relationships for elite university graduates. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 72(2), 207-224.
Jairam, D., & Kahl Jr, D. H. (2012). Navigating the doctoral experience: The role of social support in successful degree completion. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 7, 311.
Je, O., & Ct, T. (2019). PhD poll reveals fear and joy, contentment and anguish. Nature, 575, 403-406.
Lorenzetti, D. L., Shipton, L., Nowell, L., Jacobsen, M., Lorenzetti, L., Clancy, T., & Paolucci, E. O. (2019). A systematic review of graduate student peer mentorship in academia. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 27(5), 549-576.
Ray, M. E., Coon, J. M., Al-Jumaili, A. A., & Fullerton, M. (2019). Quantitative and qualitative factors associated with social isolation among graduate and professional health science students. American journal of pharmaceutical education, 83 (7), 6983.
Rigler Jr, K. L., Bowlin, L. K., Sweat, K., Watts, S., & Throne, R. (2017). Agency, Socialization, and Support: A critical review of doctoral student attrition. Online Submission, Paper presented at the 3rd International Conference on Doctoral Education (Orlando, FL).
Sverdlik, A., Hall, N. C., McAlpine, L., & Hubbard, K. (2018). The PhD experience: A review of the factors influencing doctoral students’ completion, achievement, and well-being. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 13, 361-388.
Tompkins, K. A., Brecht, K., Tucker, B., Neander, L. L., & Swift, J. K. (2016). Who matters most? The contribution of faculty, student-peers, and outside support in predicting graduate student satisfaction. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 10 (2), 102.
Zahneis, M., & June, A. W. (2020). How has the pandemic affected graduate students? This study has answers. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 67(2).