This document provides guidance on customizing one's education in graduate school. It recommends that students: 1) Take a personal inventory of their skills, experiences, courses, and projects to gain clarity on their career interests. 2) Identify opportunities during each semester and summer for gaining information, practice, and exposure in their area of interest through activities like internships, research, and leadership roles. 3) Meet with an advisor to discuss next steps based on where they are in the program and ensure their portfolio provides evidence of the skills and experiences needed for their desired career. The goal is to customize an education that prepares students for their targeted field.

1. Success in Graduate Study:
Customize Your Education
1
Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2015
Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

2. Information
“Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education”
Practice
Exposure
Success Gain clarity on where
you want to start your
career.
Be creative.
Know what you need
to start .
Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2015
Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

3. Information
“Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education”
3
Practice
Exposure
Time
Success
Sem1 Sem4
Sem3
Sem2 Summer
Summer
Minority Program
Public Policy 8-week course
President Nat’l Org
Conference
Modeling Tool
Writer News/Blog
Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2015
Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

4. Information
“Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education”
Practice
Exposure
Success Think Tank
Be creative.
1. Research
2. Policy
3. Economics
EXAMPLE
4
Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2015
Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

5. Information
“Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education”
Practice
Exposure
Success International
Transportation
Be creative.
1. Language
2. Intn’l development
3. Research abroad
EXAMPLE
5
Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2015
Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

6. Information
“Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education”
Practice
Exposure
Success Professor
Be creative.
1. Journal articles
2. Teaching experience
3. Research experience
4. Mentoring experience
EXAMPLE
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Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2015
Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

7. Information
“Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education”
Practice
Exposure
Success Metropolitan
Planning
Authority
Be creative.
1. Federal grants
2. Land use
EXAMPLE
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Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2015
Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

8. Information
“Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education”
Practice
Exposure
Success Consultant
Be creative.
1. Technical software
2. Project management
EXAMPLE
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Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2015
Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

9. Information
“Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education”
Practice
Exposure
Success DOT
Be creative.
1. Research management
2. Program evaluation
EXAMPLE
9
Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2015
Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

10. Information
“Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education”
Practice
Exposure
Success
Why is it important to repeat this process?
1. Current opportunities may change.
2. New opportunities arise.
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Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2015
Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

11. Remember.
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education
Information
Practice
Exposure
Success Gain clarity on where
you want to start your
career.
Be creative.
Know what you need
to start .
11
Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2015
Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

12. Information
“Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education”
Practice
Exposure
Success
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
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Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2015
Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

13. 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
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Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2015
Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

14. 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
14
Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2015
Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

15. Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education
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Thank you and good luck!
- Dr. Fitzpatrick
Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2015
Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

16. Questionnaire Feedback
Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education
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Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2015
Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

17. Q: Graduate school offers research and more courses, that’s it?
“Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education”
Future Work/
Research Need
Question
Literature
Approach/
Method
Results
Course Work
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Research
The relationship
between research and
coursework.
Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2015
Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

18. Q: Graduate school offers research and more classes, that’s it?
“Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education”
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
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Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2015
Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

19. “Success in Graduate Study: Customize Your Education”
Mid-America Transportation Center Scholars Program 2015
STEP 1: Take a personal inventory.
1. Awards/Leadership
2. Courses
3. Course Projects
4. Co-ops
5. Internships
6. Organization Activities
7. Research
8. Volunteer Work
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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.
Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.
Inventory