Pathways to Graduate School: Empowering Students with Tools for Success

Pathways to Graduate School program empowers applicants with tools for success

By Molly Sharlach

January 19, 2023

Shambhavi Suryanarayanan, Sophia Yoo and Irina Wang are graduate students at Princeton University who have participated in Pathways to Graduate School for Rising College Seniors, an initiative of the engineering school’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The program dismantle barriers and enhance success during of applying to doctoral programs.

Since its inception in 2019, more than 70 students have taken part in this annual program designed by Princeton Engineering's Office of Diversity and Inclusion to foster an inclusive culture and elevate diversity within the engineering community and broader field. Victor Zejas Lopez, a participant from the 2020 virtual Pathways program, is now pursuing his Ph.D. at California Institute of Technology Caltech after successfully applying to graduate school following the guidance provided by this initiative.

I attribute my successful application to graduate school largely due to the invaluable insights and tools provided through the Pathways to Graduate School program, sd Victor Zejas Lopez, a first-generation college graduate who earned his B.S. at University of California-Berkeley after transferring from Chabot College, a public community college. The lure of computational fluid dynamics internships at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab ignited his passion for engineering research.

The Pathways to Graduate School program's initial half-day session in August sets the stage by facilitating introductions between high-achieving students across disciplines like science, engineering, and math and Princeton Engineering faculty members and graduate students. Julie Yun, Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion at Princeton Engineering, outlines the rigorous application process while current graduate students share their experiences on deciding where to apply.

In subsequent sessions held throughout the fall, participants delve deeper into crafting a compelling application with guidance from seasoned professionals. Yun offers one-on-one mentoring and advice for each participant, providing personalized feedback that boosts confidence in their applications.

I think many people are discouraged from applying to graduate school, sd Victor Zejas Lopez, who has shared his experience in overcoming obstacles through this program. The program made the daunting process more manageable by breaking it down into simpler steps.

Irina Wang is a second-year Ph.D. student in Operations Research and Financial Engineering ORFE at Princeton University. She credits Pathways to Graduate School for offering her an international perspective as she joined from Chenn, India, where she studied mathematics and statistics at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research.

The virtual format of this program has enabled a broader reach, allowing participants like Shambhavi Suryanarayanan, now a Ph.D. student in ORFE who joined from Chenn, to participate without physical travel barriers. The initiative's Diversity and Inclusion Graduate Fellow, Jenna Ott, also provided additional resources through short video series on considering and applying to engineering graduate school.

Our goal is to identify and nurture talent wherever it exists, sd Julie Yun, reflecting on the program's impact. By fostering an inclusive culture and supporting students throughout their journey, we m to bring forward the most innovative minds.

Through comprehensive guidance, mentorship, and a supportive community, Pathways to Graduate School empowers rising college seniors with the tools they need to successfully navigate the complex landscape of applying for doctoral programs in engineering.
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