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GradX Fellowship

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About GRADx

The Graduate School Exploration (GRADx) program expands the reach of the Undergraduate and Faculty Fellows Program to Diversify the Professoriate, enabling more ACM undergraduates from underrepresented backgrounds to learn about graduate school opportunities. A year-long program, GRADx consists of two forums hosted at a partner Big Ten Academic Alliance campus – one in the fall and one in the spring. Each seminar has a primary theme: a focus on “People & Relationships” in the fall and “Money & Tools” in the spring. Over the year, students will learn about various aspects of graduate study, including:

  • What is graduate school and what does an R1 research university look like?
  • What can I do with an advanced degree? What transferable skills will I gain by pursuing one?
  • What does academic research look like in the humanities, humanistic social sciences, and arts?
  • How can I identify and build relationships with good mentors and sponsors?
  • What are the financial options to covering my graduate school education?

All qualified undergraduates from racial and ethnic groups historically underrepresented in the academy are encouraged to apply, including: Alaska Natives; African Americans; Arab Americans; Asian American and other Pacific Islanders; Latinx; Native Americans; Native Hawaiians; first-generation college students; and individuals who have followed non-traditional pathways to college due to exceptional talent and motivation in the face of adversity, such as societal, economic, or academic disadvantages.

Compare MMUF and GRADx

GRADx Fellow Responsibilities

GRADx students are expected to fully participate in the two campus forums at a Big Ten Academic Alliance university. Although the precise dates for the two forums for 2022-23 have not been set, the month and locations are:

  • September 2022, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • April 2023, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

All expenses for these events are covered by the fellowship.

Eligibility

Students must meet the following criteria to be eligible to apply for the GRADx program:

  • Have a first-year, sophomore, or junior standing.
  • Express an interest in pursuing graduate work in the humanities, humanistic social sciences, and/or the arts.
  • First-year students must have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale at their secondary institution. A letter of recommendation from a professor in one of their first-year courses is also advised.
  • Students with sophomore or junior standing must demonstrate a cumulative GPA of 2.65 or higher on a 4.0 scale in their college course work. Students who have a GPA that is near, but not at, this minimum GPA should contact their campus GSEF coordinator to discuss their candidacy.
  • Students who are selected for this opportunity may not participate in an off-campus study program that would cause them to miss either of the two GRADx forums (i.e. Study Away).

Completing and Submitting Your Application

Three Macalester GRADx fellows will be selected for the 2022-23 academic year. Students interested in applying should email Faculty Coordinator Karin Vélez ([email protected]) directly by April 1. More information about the process can be found on the GRADx Application Guide.

Questions?

Please contact Faculty Coordinator Karin Vélez ([email protected]). More information can be found on GRADx’s webiste.