Giving Prospective Graduate Students a Peek Behind the Curtain 

Choosing a graduate program in which to pursue a higher degree is one of the most important decisions a student can make. Transferring to a different school isn’t as easy as it is for an undergraduate, and PhD students especially will likely spend several more years at a school than they did for their bachelor’s.  

Besides being an important decision, it can be one of the most confusing ones, too. It doesn’t always come down to just who is ranked the highest in a specific discipline. There are community and support aspects to take into consideration as well. 

And all of that is even before getting started on the actual application materials. 

Since 2017, Duke Engineering has hosted a Graduate School Boot Camp program for prospective PhD students. From its humble beginnings seven years ago, the boot camp has blossomed to include 40 potential PhD and master’s students; twice the number as just last year’s alone. And all students’ travel and accommodations are provided to ensure that its offerings are equitable and available to all. 

The event is also sponsored by Duke Engineering’s Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Community, the NSF Engineering Research Center for Precision Microbiome Engineering (PreMiEr), and the NSF Athena AI Institute for Edge Computing Leveraging Next Generation Networks.  Over the course of three days, attendees learn about Duke’s programs, talk first-hand with current students and faculty alike about their experiences, and get direct feedback on their application portfolios. The program includes a number of social opportunities at Duke and in Durham as well as tours of Duke research facilities and discussions about Duke’s programs.

The overall goal is to equip participants with essential skills, insights and support needed to navigate the complex world of graduate school applications and thrive in their academic pursuits. And the program seems to work well. Of this year’s attendees, 20% said they felt very comfortable applying to graduate schools before the program—a number that jumped to 65% afterward.  

“While we do select students whose interests align with what our engineering departments offer, the information and feedback they receive can easily be transferred to the application process for any other school,” said Karis Boyd-Sinkler, an electrical and computer engineering research scientist in Duke’s L.I.F.T. Lab.  

Reflecting the growing interest in this inclusive initiative, Sandra Roach, an electrical and computer engineering research associate in Duke’s L.I.F.T. Lab, shared, “The increase in participants from diverse backgrounds interested in pursuing engineering graduate degrees reinforces our commitment to broadening participation and shaping the inclusive future of STEM.” 

That being said, once students come and see everything that Duke Engineering has to offer, they’re often tempted to follow through and apply to the program. According to this year’s feedback survey, the number of potential students strongly interested in Duke as their graduate school soared from 40% to 90% after their experience.

“I gained valuable insights about Duke’s program, including information on funding, budgeting and adjusting to a new city,” said Clare Mullen, a graduating senior at Villanova University who is interested in pursuing a PhD in biomedical engineering. “But perhaps most importantly, I experienced the strong sense of community among Duke’s graduate students. Connecting over dinner and learning about their experiences provided me with a genuine perspective on being a Duke graduate student.” 

Mullen said she was especially struck by an invitation from a Duke graduate student to attend a seminar where other students presented their current research in labs that were of particular interest to her. The event also allowed her to begin networking and making connections even before applying to the school. 

Another participant, Kenneth Casimiro, a graduating senior at the University of California – San Diego, came to the event thinking he was more interested in a master’s degree than a PhD. But the event changed his mind after speaking with current PhD students whose aspirations and long-term career goals resonated deeply with his own.  

“A moment that really struck home for me was a conversation with a current Duke PhD student who had just started her program that semester,” Casimiro said. “Her advice really resonated with me because, after our conversation, I looked deeply into the career and positions I wanted at certain companies. All of the skills listed and the achievements required to work on these complex projects in niche fields would require a PhD and the expertise that comes with it. I knew then that I needed to aim for a PhD rather than a master’s degree. Now, I’m working on my statements of purpose for my PhD applications and applying this cycle because of this boot camp.”