Grad Path

Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering is committed to achieving a significant impact across our mission areas by 2030 through initiatives like GradPath, an ambitious program created to cultivate the nation's largest, most highly skilled, and diverse engineering talent pool.

GradPath is a free online mentoring program that prepares juniors and seniors from MSU’s BCoE for graduate school. Program goals are to support and promote the success of future engineering graduate students at MSU.

As a GradPath Scholar, students attend eight online meetings between January and March (Spring Mini Term 1) and complete small individual assignments in Canvas. Meetings will be on Monday evenings from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. CST. Two exclusive networking events with current Mississippi State graduate students and the graduate coordinators for each of BCoE’s outstanding departments will be offered. Students completing this program will receive individual and personalized assistance completing the necessary documents for competitive graduate school applications or summer research opportunities.

Scholars (mentee):

• Junior or senior students majoring in engineering at MSU
• GPA 3.0/4.0 or greater
• Must be enrolled as a full-time student

Mentors:

• No less than 1 year of graduate school
• GPA 3.0/4.0 or greater

This opportunity is open to all BCoE engineering students who are committed to advancing their educational careers and research opportunities.

Application Deadline: October 1, 2024

Undergraduate student mentees are selected based on their demonstrated commitment to advancing their educational careers and research opportunities, including motivation, research experiences, projects, awards, and other work experiences.

Application Deadline: October 1, 2024

Graduate student mentors are selected based on their demonstrated commitment to advancing their educational careers and research opportunities, and the skills and capacity demonstrated in their GradPath mentor application.

• October 1, 2024 - Application deadline
• October 2024 - GradPath Scholars notified of their acceptance into the program
• November 14, 2024 - GradPath Mentor training
• January 14, 2025 - Meet and greet with scholars, mentors, and Dean’s Office staff
• January 2025 - GradPath live online meetings begin. Check back as specific program meeting dates are added!
• GradPath Online Meeting Times
  All meetings will be held online using on Monday evenings 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Central Time in the Spring Semester.
  Check your time zone against Mississippi State.

Class Meeting Dates (6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Central):

• January 27
• February 3
• February 10
• February 17
• February 24
• March 3 (This meeting with be held in-person and dinner will be provided.)

During GradPath meetings, students can expect brief presentations, engage in discussions led by a qualified graduate student mentor, and participate in assignments designed to aid in the preparation of applications for graduate school and/or summer research programs.

Topics may include:

• Writing a Winning Statement of Purpose and Defining Your Motivation in a Captivating Manner
• Understanding the Behind the Scenes of the Application Process for Graduate School and/or Summer Research Programs
• Identifying Funding Opportunities for Graduate School and/or Summer Research Programs
• Talking the Talk with Faculty – How to Address Faculty and Helpful Hints for Academic Applications
• What are Those Funding and Acceptance Offers Really Saying
• Why Not Me? Handling Rejection and Imposter Syndrome

With a limited number of seats available in the GradPath program early applications are encouraged.