Fall 2019

Draft your journey, connect with community

Meet every 2-3 weeks during the semester, either virtually or in-person, with a small group of other grad students through GradPro's check-in program. GradPro facilitators guide the check-ins, fostering an informal yet supportive community.

Each member describes the progress they have made since the previous meet up, as well as any challenges they've encountered, then the group offers support and advice. We also help you keep track of your grad experience through the Grad Mapping program.

Check-ins are coordinated by GradPro of the Graduate Division. They start at the beginning of each semester they are offered. Space is limited, so look out for application announcements in the Graduate Profestional Development Digest.


Grad Map by C. Hyun

Grad Mapping approach

Based on GradPro's Grad Mapping program, the check-ins are designed to help you figure out and plan your journey through grad school with the support of a small community. You have a little journey of getting through this semester as well as the big journey of life. In order to navigate through life, we believe that it’s helpful for you to visit these five regions on the Grad Map:

  1. Self Reflection Shore: understanding yourself through self-assessments
  2. Futuretopia: consider and envision multiple future options for yourself
  3. Planning Peaks: write down short- and long-term goals
  4. Community Cove: finding or creating a crew to support you through your journey
  5. Exploration Estuary: investigate and sample your future options through informational interviews, internships, workshops, etc.

This isn’t a linear process, but as you go through grad school, you may want to visit each of these areas multiple times -- reconsidering your values, joining various communities, adapting your plans, etc.

As you go through the check-in modules below, you will mainly work on your “little” semester-long journey with your group. However, if you have time, you can to also work on your “big” life journey by doing the optional “big journey” activities, briefly experiencing each region of the Grad Map. If you or your group doesn't have time to work on your big journeys, then you can go back to the activities some other time to help you when you’re ready.

Check-in module plans

Below are the suggested module plans to follow during each check-in session. They are designed for five group sessions every two to three weeks over the semester, using accompanying collaborative worksheets. (Note: If your group only has four scheduled check-ins, then skip Check-in #4 and go straight to Check-in #5.) A star (*) indicates an activity in the group's Google Doc Worksheet for the check-in. The “big journey” activities are optional, depending on if you or your group has time.

#1 Self Reflection Shore

Suggested activities before check-in:

  • Read: To be list (Grad Logic 2016)
  • Do: Fill out sections 1-3 of the check-in worksheet.
  • Big journey activity (optional): ImaginePhD (Social Science/Humanities) or MyIDP (STEM) values assessment. Login via UC Berkeley's institutional subscription. Fill out section 6 of the worksheet.


  1. Meet & Greet: Your name, pronouns, department, year, and one personal thing about you* (3 min)
  2. Guidelines for active listening and creating a safe space (2 min)
  3. Check-in expectations: Why did you join a check-in group?* (5 min)
  4. Facilitators share about two check-in aims (2 min)
    • Little journey: Help each other with our semester goals in grad school.
    • Big journey: Help each other with our life goals beyond grad school. The “big journey” activities are optional, and your completion of them depends on if you or your group have time to do them. You can discuss about this in your group.
  5. Little journey - Semester goals: What are your top 3 goals for the semester?* (8 min)
  6. Next check-in goals: What would you like to see completed by our next check-in?* (10 min)
  7. Week-by-week plan (optional): Consider breaking down your goals by weekly milestones.* (1 min)
  8. Discussion: Suggested reading (8 min)
  9. Big journey - Survey your values (optional): If you have time, take the ImaginePhD (Social Science/Humanities) or MyIDP (STEM) values assessment. Login via UC Berkeley's institutional subscription. Or, take a look at the list of personal and professional values on the GradPro Check-in Toolkit website. Share 1-3 of the values that most ring true to you. Share how you think one of the values can help guide your life decisions.* (10 min)
  10. Confirm details of next check-in (1 min)

#2 Futuretopia

Suggested activities before check-in:

  • Read: Remember the big picture (APA 2011)
  • Do: Fill out sections 1-2 of the check-in worksheet.
  • Big journey activity (optional): ImaginePhD (Social Science/Humanities) or MyIDP (STEM) interests assessment. Fill out section 4 of the worksheet.


  1. Ice breaker (5 min)
  2. Reflection: How has it been since last check-in?* (10 min)
  3. Next check-in goals: What would you like to see completed by our next check-in?* (10 min)
  4. Week-by-week plan: Consider breaking down your goals by weekly milestones.* (1 min)
  5. Discussion: Suggested reading (8 min)
  6. Big journey - Interests & future options (optional): If you have time, take the ImaginePhD or MyIDP interest assessment. And/or look through ImaginePhD’s job families or MyIDP’s career paths. Share at least 2 job families/paths that interest you and share why those job families/paths interests you.* (10 min)
  7. Confirm details of next check-in (1 min)

#3 Community Cove

Suggested activities before check-in:


  1. Ice breaker (5 min)
  2. Semester goals: We’re about halfway or more through our check-ins. Reconsider your top 3 semester goals from the first check-in. How do you feel about them now? What would you change? If needed, change them in the Check-in #1 worksheet.* (10 min)
  3. Reflection: How has it been since last check-in?* (10 min)
  4. Next check-in goals: What would you like to see completed by our next check-in?* (10 min)
  5. Week-by-week plan: Consider breaking down your goals by weekly milestones.* (1 min)
  6. Discussion: Suggested reading. (8 min)
  7. Big journey - Find your crew (optional): What's next in terms of community for you? Look through the Community Cove webpage. Share 1-2 ways you would like to stay connected to community.* (5 min)
  8. Confirm details of next check-in (1 min)

#4 Exploration Estuary

SKIP TO CHECK-IN #5 IF YOU HAVE ONLY FOUR SCHEDULED CHECK-INS.

Suggested activities before check-in:

  • Read: Yoda Was Wrong | It’s All About Try (Grad Logic 2016)
  • Do: Fill out sections 1-2 of the check-in worksheet.
  • Big journey activity (optional): ImaginePhD (Social Science/Humanities) or MyIDP (STEM) skills assessment. Fill out section 4 of worksheet.


  1. Ice breaker (5 min)
  2. Reflection: How has it been since last check-in?* (10 min)
  3. Next check-in goals: What would you like to see completed by our next check-in?* (10 min)
  4. Week-by-week plan: Consider breaking down your goals by weekly milestones.* (1 min)
  5. Discuss suggested reading (8 min)
  6. Big journey - Skill to explore (optional): If you have time, do the ImaginePhD or MyIDP skills assessment. Or, look through GradPro’s six skills/competencies. Share one skill that you want to explore. Share one way you would like to explore this skill. Use the GradPro Guide to find opportunities. (10 min)
  7. Confirm details of next check-in (1 min)

#5 Planning Peaks

Suggested activities before check-in:

  • Do: Fill out sections 1-3 of check-in worksheet.


  1. Celebrate: Share a photo of a highlight (on your phone) during this past semester. (5 min)
  2. IMPORTANT: Spend time now to fill out the check-in feedback form. This also helps with reflection in the next activity. (5 min)
  3. Semester goal reflection: How did it go?* (10 min)
  4. Plot your plan: Next semester* (15 min)
    • Find your crew: What are 1-2 ways you want to connect with community?
    • Explore grad school opportunities: What are 1-2 professional development related campus events/activities that you want to pursue?
    • Explore future options: What is one way you want to explore options beyond grad school? Use the GradPro Guide to help you.
  5. Gather resources (2 min)
    • Make sure to sign up for the GradPro Digest and a consultation (see the right sidebar of the GradPro website).
    • Look out for workshop and check-in group announcements for next semester in the GradPro Digest and calendar.
  6. The journey forward: What is one fun thing you are looking forward to during the break or next semester? (5 min)

About this toolkit

The GradPro Check-in Toolkit (website) is a resource for GradPro check-in group facilitators and members. It provides guidance and resources for check-in sessions. The modules are intended to coincide with a worksheet (Google Doc) that the members fill out before and during the sessions. The toolkit is a project of GradPro, the professional development program of the Graduate Division at University of California, Berkeley.

If you're a check-in participant and have any questions about the check-ins, then please contact your check-ins' lead facilitator or co-facilitator. If you need further assistance, please contact Linda Louie at GradPro.

Contact Chris Hyun or Linda Louie at GradPro for any questions about this website.