Congrats on continuing with your graduate student journey! As a grad student, there is almost always a lot on the horizon. That can be exciting, but also daunting, especially combined with the frustrations of classic grad student woes like imposter syndrome. External validation can be hard to come by, but trust us that nobody really ever feels like they know what they are doing. The best thing you can do for yourself is find like-minded individuals, and build a supportive community to help you get through the hard times.
On this website, we are trying to build up a centralized hub of resources to ease your way through the program. As always, please feel free to let us know what other resources you would appreciate having for yourself and those that follow in the program.
Please note that guidelines are always changing. This website is meant to be supplementary, but for the most up-to-date logistics, visit the Policies & Guidelines page of the GGE website.
The "Newly Admitted Students" page on the official GGE website also provides more information on essentials for navigating Davis.
Nobody knows what your going through better than the people alongside you. Don't be afraid of asking for help and building a supportive community that makes you feel safe to talk about any problems you might have. Fellow students can also help give insight into classes or rumors about upcoming lab/TA openings.
Research guidance can also come from your Major Professor. Don't be afraid to schedule weekly meetings with them if it helps you to discuss things like research direction and grant writing. Their time is valuable, but so is yours.
Your Academic Advisor is the one who will check your graduation requirements and sign off on paperwork. They can also be helpful in navigating the program if you do not yet have a Major Professor.
For mental health and wellness resources, reference the Student Handbook.
For confidential conflict management, consider reaching out to the Ombuds office.