Graduate school and the subsequent transition from graduate school to the job market can feel overwhelming and confusing for many students. This guide is designed to connect emerging scholars in the social sciences—particularly those already enrolled in a doctoral degree program or preparing for the job market—with existing resources that can help them both be successful in graduate school and navigate the job market after they have completed their degree.
The guide is aimed at social scientists interested in both academic and nonacademic settings. Those who are currently undergraduate students should check out our resources under “Are you considering graduate school?”
Navigating graduate school and the job market can feel especially challenging for students who are underrepresented within the social sciences due to disparities in PhD enrollment and graduation rates, an underrepresentation of academics of color in research, a scarcity of mentors who are people of color, and a lack of professional development opportunities geared toward scholars of color. Resources for Latino students are especially lacking, even though Latinos make up an increasing number of graduate students. To help fill this gap, this guide includes resources (marked with an asterisk: *) that speak to the experiences of Latinx students, as well as students from other historically underrepresented groups. These resources explore topics such as navigating academia as a first-generation student, racism in academia, and funding opportunities for scholars from underrepresented groups.
Are you currently a doctoral student?
The links below provide resources on goal-setting in graduate school, funding opportunities open to graduate students and early career scholars, and strategies for students to successfully engage with their professional field.
- Goal-setting and Time Management in Graduate School
- Funding Opportunities and Grant Writing
- Successfully Engaging with the Field While in Graduate School
Are you an advanced graduate student preparing for the job market?
The links provide information on postdocs, the academic job market (including positions in community colleges and four-year colleges and universities), and the nonacademic job market (e.g., positions in government, nonprofit research centers, advocacy organizations, and for-profit businesses). Resources range from guidance on looking for different types of positions and reviewing application requirements, to tips for successful interviews.
It’s never too early to start thinking about graduate school. Many resources exist to help you learn more about graduate school and navigate the application process. Here we include links to just a few of the resources that provide an overview of the graduate school experience and help you determine whether graduate school is right for you.
- The Professor Is In, by Karen Kelsky, is a career guide for graduate students preparing to enter the academic job market.
- A Field Guide to Grad School: Uncovering the Hidden Curriculum, by Jessica McCrory Calarco, covers the graduate school process, from choosing a program to navigating the job market and beyond.
- Hooded: A Black Girl’s Guide to the PhD, by Malika Grayson, provides a Black woman’s testimonial on the graduate school experience in a STEM field.
- Pathways to Science has a toolbox of resources on applying to graduate school. While this website focuses on STEM disciplines, many lessons are also transferable to the social sciences.
- Applying to Graduate School: Tips, Timeline, and Tools of the Trade is a resource from the Committee on Institutional Cooperation that walks through the graduate school application process.
For additional resources, consider reaching out to your undergraduate school’s career office (many will see you even if you’ve already graduated) and exploring other schools’ websites. Many colleges and universities have compiled helpful resources aimed to support folks considering applying for graduate school. For example:
- Duke University has various resources, including advice on choosing a graduate school and preparing a strong application.
- The University of Pennsylvania has an overview of considerations while planning for graduate school.
- Stanford University’s Guide on Getting Into Grad School provides questions to help students decide whether graduate school is the right choice, along with timelines to prepare their application.
Finally, students should reach out to their undergraduate advisor or work supervisor, as these figures may be able to serve as mentors throughout the process or connect students with other individuals who can provide support. Even though it can be intimidating, networking is important and helpful!
Developing the guide
The authors compiled resources in each guide that best speak to each topic area. We prioritized resources developed by universities and reputable nonacademic institutions, along with peer-reviewed resources. In some cases, we also included helpful websites, blogs, and articles representing a wide range of perspectives from students and professionals. The vast majority of the resources are publicly available (the notable exception being books), and links are active as of July 2021. Language for the resource descriptions is drawn largely, if not exclusively, from the original sources. We use the terms “Hispanic,” “Latino,” and “Latinx” interchangeably throughout this guide.