ILLUMINATING PATHWAYS TO GRADUATE SCHOOL IN THE GEOSCIENCES WITH GEOGRADAPP WORKSHOPS

Graduate school is oftentimes inaccessible due to the opacity of the graduate school application process, especially for low-income, first generation, and historically excluded students who may not have external resources to help. Without guidance through the process, many scholars are barred from higher education in geoscience without the chance to show their aptitude. This project aims to encourage students who are interested in applying to graduate school by leading them through an interactive workshop based on the content on geogradapp.com. The website and workshops are designed to provide a step-by-step guide to the graduate school application process, offering “insider-advice” to an otherwise confusing process. In 2023, participants attended a workshop and were asked to complete surveys assessing their belief in their ability to overcome challenges (self-efficacy). By analyzing changes in self-efficacy among participants, we can assess the effectiveness of the workshop intervention in empowering scholars to pursue higher degrees. Thus far, participant feedback highlights the positive impact of this workshop and the need for more interventions.