Starting your graduate school can be both exhilarating and challenging. Graduate coursework is designed to challenge you to excel in your future academic and professional endeavors. With these extra challenges it becomes even more important to find a supportive community of professional colleagues and more casual friends to help enrich your graduate experience. However, for many of us moving to graduate school means moving someplace further away and uprooting yourself from previous social contacts. In this guide, we’ll go over some tips on how to build a social network that will help support you and enhance your graduate school career.

1. Engage with your department

Often times, your academic department is the first place to go when looking for new connections. This is where you’ll find people with the same interests, and who are here for the same reasons as you. Many departments will have orientations where you can meet fellow incoming students, as well as the students and faculty in the department. Make sure to utilize these, as well as departmental seminars and social events to meet the people around you! Not only does this give you an easy way to bond with people of similar interests, it also opens professional connections to people who are familiar with the field you’re joining.

2. Take advantage of classes

Another great way to expand your social circle is through your academics. Similarly to in undergrad, classes can be a great way to meet people with similar interests. In classes, you can meet people both in your department and outside of it, as students from related departments often take the same classes. Try to find ways to engage with people in your classes, whether discussing after class or creating study groups to go over material.

3. Utilize University groups and resources

Many universities have a variety of graduate-specific clubs, programming and events designed to create a more cohesive graduate student body. These could include anything from interest-based groups, networking events, and even formal research symposiums that can put you in contact with other students from a wide variety of departments. Participating in these groups is a great way to expand your social circle outside your department to people you wouldn’t normally interact with. Additionally, many universities will offer resources like writing centers and recreational facilities to help students pursue their interests. Utilizing these is another great way to put yourself in contact with people with similar interests and goals.

4. Engage with your community

While it can be easy to focus solely on the environment of the university, it can be extremely rewarding to expand your circle to the surrounding community. Through volunteering, athletic groups, or local farmers markets, it can be easy to engage with the people who work and live around you. Many areas have local newsletters, blogs or special interest facebook groups where residents share information about the events happening in your neighborhood, where you can find ways to engage with the surrounding community.

In conclusion, embarking on the journey of graduate school can be daunting. Therefore, finding a supportive community is essential for navigating the challenges and enriching your experience. By actively engaging with your department, taking advantage of academic opportunities, leveraging university-wide resources, and connecting with the surrounding community, you can cultivate a diverse and robust social network. These connections not only provide valuable support but also foster personal and professional growth, enhancing your graduate school career and beyond. Building a community takes effort and initiative, but the relationships you forge along the way can profoundly impact your academic journey and contribute to a fulfilling graduate experience.

Graduate Ambassador Blog Posts