GSAS Pathways to the PhD Program

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The GSAS Pathways to the PhD Program is designed to provide support to GSAS Master’s students who are both interested in doctoral study and from groups currently underrepresented in their fields.* The Pathways Program facilitates the development of a cross-disciplinary cohort and community, offering a forum wherein students can further develop the skills and experiences necessary to join and succeed in a PhD program. Our goal is to recruit highly qualified graduate students who will help build a more diverse and inclusive environment in doctoral programs across the country.

OVERVIEW

All students admitted to the competitive Pathways Program will receive financial and educational support in an intellectually stimulating and cross-disciplinary environment. Unless otherwise noted, all financial support is available to Pathways students only during their enrollment in a GSAS Master’s program.

Financial Support

  • All students admitted to the Pathways Program will receive up to $1000 to be used towards research expenses or to present their research at a conference.

  • All Pathways students who apply to a GSAS PhD program will receive application fee waivers for three years after the completion of their Master’s degrees.

  • If students apply to PhD programs outside of GSAS, the Pathways Program will reimburse application fees and GRE score distribution fees (where required) for up to three applications. If students do not have GRE scores or choose to retake the exam, the Program will reimburse for the cost of taking the exam.

Academic and Professional Support

Monthly workshops bring together all the participants, allowing students to meet peers outside their departments. Apart from fostering community, these lunches serve as a time for participants to:

  • discuss their research with a general audience.;

  • discuss concerns and challenges they have encountered;

  • develop academic and professional skills through a series of workshops and seminars intended to hone students’ public speaking skills as well as their independent and analytical thinking.

*The GSAS Pathways to the PhD Program is open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. It is not available to students studying in the following GSAS affiliate programs: Basic Medical Sciences programs, Environmental Health Sciences, Bioinformatics, and Ergonomics and Biomechanics, housed in the School of Medicine; Cinema Studies and Performance Studies, housed in the Tisch School of the Arts; and programs in Data Science, Institute of Fine Arts, and Institute for the Study of the Ancient World.