Christine Folch

Ph.D. students from non-traditional backgrounds (ethnic minorities, working class students, etc.,) face a series of distinct challenges while they're pursuing their Ph.D.s because of a simple lack of familiarity with the conventions of this very strange thing called academe. As I went through graduate school, I was the fortunate recipient of excellent advice and feedback (most of which was from good friends in other disciplines who'd already finished their own Ph.D.s). Because so much of the "how to" comes from informal connections, it's easy to miss it if one is not in the right networks. I've started a list of tips and recommendations based on what I've learned in the process, in the hopes that it might be a benefit to others.