Pipeline to the PhD Bootcamp

Interested in pursuing a Ph.D, but not sure where to start — or which program is the right fit for your interest?

UC Berkeley has created a series of virtual sessions to help prospective doctoral students understand how Ph.D. programs differ from other graduate degrees, and how to find the right match for your interests and goals. We’ll walk you step-by-step through the admissions process, provide tips for developing high-caliber application materials, and demystify how graduate funding works.

This free online bootcamp series was developed specifically for underrepresented minority students considering graduate school, though it is open to all attendees.

This program has ended, however, session recordings are available by request below.

Request access to session recordings

Eligibility

This bootcamp is for U.S. residents, U.S. citizens, or graduates of/ students attending an institution of higher education in the U.S. or U.S. territories.

Bootcamp Session Descriptions

First Things First: Demystifying the Ph.D.

Session 1

Learn about how doctoral programs differ from other professional and graduate programs, and if a Ph.D. program might be right for you. We’ll demystify the funding process, discuss how admissions committees review applicants, and provide tips on how to identify and contact faculty in your program of interest.

student holding up glass structure and looking at it

Ph.D. Options for My Discipline, Starting with the End in Mind: Developing a Competitive Application

Session 2ab

Discipline-Specific Workshop: Applying to STEM Programs

Learn about what types of graduate programs are possible for students in your discipline and undergraduate major. Meet faculty, experts, current graduate students, and alumni in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields and hear their recommendations for successfully navigating the STEM application process and succeeding in graduate school.

Discipline-Specific Workshop: Applying to Social Science and Humanities Programs

Learn about what types of graduate programs are possible for students in your discipline, and undergraduate major. Meet faculty, experts, current graduate students, and alumni in the humanities and social sciences and hear their recommendations for successfully navigating the application process and succeeding in graduate school.

Woman in foreground with face and body blurred out

How to Find Your Researcher Identity

Session 3

Hear from current graduate students about how to develop your identity as a researcher, what tools and support you need to thrive in a research setting, and who to reach out to for support in identifying and pursuing your research focus.

Productivity 101: Making Use of the Summer and Organizing for the Journey Ahead

Session 4

The key to a successful graduate school application often involves making effective use of limited time. In this session hear how to organize your time to put together a competitive application, along with some hacks, tips, and tools to prepare your application.

Closer to Achieving the Dream

Session 5

In this final session, learn how to grow and strengthen your recommender relationship, organize and track admissions deadlines, write a strong diversity statement, manage rejection, and choose the right institution.

If you require accommodations in order to fully participate, please reach out to us at [email protected] with as much advance notice as possible and at least 7-10 days in advance of the event.