The document discusses customizing your education in graduate school. It recommends gaining information, practice, and exposure in multiple areas of interest through coursework, research, internships, and professional experiences. This will help you identify specific career paths and opportunities. It also addresses common questions about funding graduate school and provides examples of funding assistance available, such as research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and fellowships.

1. Success in Graduate Study:
Customize Your Education
1Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.
(Part II)

2. Why go?
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
How does it work?
Graduate School
2Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.
• Gain professional education
• Master of …
• Science
• Arts
• Business Administration
• Public Health
• Doctor of Philosophy

3. Information
Practice
Exposure
Success Gain clarity on where
you want to start your
career.Be creative.
Know what you need
to start .
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
3Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

4. Information
Practice
Exposure
Think Tank
Be creative.
1. Research
2. Policy
3. Economics
EXAMPLE
Success
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
4Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

5. Information
Practice
Exposure
International
Transportation
Be creative.
1. Language
2. Intn’l development
3. Research abroad
EXAMPLE
Success
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
5Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

6. Information
Practice
Exposure
Professor
Be creative.
1. Journal articles
2. Teaching experience
3. Research experience
4. Mentoring experience
EXAMPLE
Success
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
6Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

7. Information
Practice
Exposure
Metropolitan
Planning
AuthorityBe creative.
1. Federal grants
2. Land use
EXAMPLE
Success
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
7Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

8. Information
Practice
Exposure
Consultant
Be creative.
1. Technical software
2. Project management
EXAMPLE
Success
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
8Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

9. Information
Practice
Exposure
DOT
Be creative.
1. Research management
2. Program evaluation
EXAMPLE
Success
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
9Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

10. Information
Practice
Exposure
Why is it important to repeat this process?
1. Current opportunities may change.
2. New opportunities arise.
Success
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
10Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

11. Information
Practice
Exposure
Sem1 Sem4Sem3Sem2 SummerSummer
Minority Program
Public Policy 8-week course
President Nat’l Org
Conference
Modeling Tool
Writer News/Blog
Success
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
1
1
Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

12. Information
Practice
Exposure
Success Gain clarity on where
you want to start your
career.Be creative.
Know what you need
to start .
Remember.
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
12Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

13. Information
Practice
Exposure
Customized
Portfolio
Evidence
1. Awards
2. Course Projects
3. Leadership
4. Research Publications
5. Volunteer Work
6. Intern write-ups
7. Co-op write-ups
Success
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
13Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

14. Start now.
1. Find professional examples.
2. Identify opportunities for you to gain information, practice,
and exposure.
3. Share your findings with an advisor, trusted mentor, favorite
professor, department head and discuss next steps based on
where you are in the program.
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
14Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

15. Where to find examples.
1. Alumni profiles
2. Conference booklets
3. Company/Organization staff pages
4. Current graduate student profiles
5. Job descriptions
6. LinkedIn
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
15Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

16. Tips for challenges.
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
16Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

17. Turn every negative into a positive.
You control your narrative.
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
17Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

18. Own everything.
Own your strengths. Articulate how you achieved them.
Own your weaknesses. Create and implement your plan to grow.
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
18Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

19. Build relationships.
Build relationships with peers/faculty that consistently talk
about exciting plans for the future and execute those plans.
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
19Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

20. Questionnaire Feedback
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
20Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

21. Q: Graduate school offers research and more courses, that’s it?
Future Work/
Research Need
Question
LiteratureApproach/
Method
Results
Course Work
Research
The relationship
between research and
coursework.
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
21Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

22. Q: Graduate school offers research and more classes, that’s it? (continued)
Examples of skills
acquired during
courses and research.
1. Grant writing
2. Presenting/public speaking
3. Problem solving
4. Producing new ideas
5. Project management
6. Research methods
7. Reviewing literature
8. Writing/synthesizing information
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
22Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

23. STEP 1: Take a personal inventory.
1. Courses
2. Course Projects
3. Co-ops
4. Internships
5. Organization Activities
6. Research
7. Volunteer Work
Q: Where do I start? How do I prepare for graduate school and balance
undergraduate life?
STEP 2: Set an appointment with an advisor to discuss next steps.
Inventory
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
23Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

24. Q: Funding is my biggest concern? How will I pay for this?
Examples of funding
opportunities.
1. Research Assistantship
2. Teaching Assistantship
3. Professional Assistantship
4. Summer Program Assistantships
5. Current student fellowships
6. Current student
awards/competitions
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
24Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.

25. Thank you and good luck!
- Dr. Fitzpatrick
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education (Part II)
25Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2017Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.M.P.