Forty students from four different institutions participated in the Graduate School’s annual GradFIT program this May 22 to May 26. Since the program’s inception in 2014, with eight students attending from one institution, this year’s cohort was one of the largest yet. GradFIT is a five-day intensive bootcamp that introduces first-generation college students and students from underrepresented backgrounds to the opportunities, challenges and expectations of graduate school and provides training and tips for the application process. Participants attend lectures, tour campus and labs, meet with current graduate students and faculty, attend workshops to develop competitive applications and learn about career choices afforded by a graduate education.

Prospective graduate student from California State University (CSU) – Channel Islands, Spooner Greenbird, stated “I loved GradFIT! I’m so grateful for this opportunity and I have learned so much.” The Graduate School had ten students participate from CSU – Channel Islands this year and each one hopes to attend the University in the near future to start their graduate education. Along with CSU – Channel Islands, GradFIT welcomed students from our very own Wolf Pack along with students from Nevada State College and Cal Poly Pomona.

GradFIT workshops, lectures and lab tours are led by current University faculty and students who volunteer their time to meet with prospective graduate students and encourage them to continue their education while informing them about all the resources the University has to offer. Thirty faculty and staff from a variety of disciplines come together throughout the week to make this program a success! After attending GradFIT, University of Nevada, Reno undergraduate student Mariana Garcia said “Every single component really just made me feel strong and that I can apply to graduate school. I feel a lot more ready and prepared.”

Over the years, the Graduate School has seen fifty percent of GradFIT participants matriculate to Graduate School demonstrating the success of this program. Current University Ph.D. candidate, Rocio Olvera, attended GradFIT in 2015 when she was an undergraduate at California State University – Sacramento. A few short years after attending GradFIT, Rocio applied to the University’s Integrative Neuroscience Ph.D. program to begin her journey in 2018. “I am so glad that I was able to participate in GradFIT because that brought me here to UNR to be able to pursue my degree and now I am only one-year away from obtaining my Ph.D.!”

To expand this GradFIT into next year, the Graduate School was able to secure a micro-grant through the Nevada First-Gen Network (NFGN). The NFGN’s micro-grant supports educational programs and initiatives throughout the state. On a budget of $2.5 million, the organization received $6.9 million in funding requests from competitive applications. The Graduate School was thrilled to receive $55,620 for GradFIT. Says Graduate Dean Markus Kemmelmeier: “First-generation students shape the future of our state. This grant helps get them involved in graduate education, and launches their high-impact careers.”