Starting graduate school can feel overwhelming. The demands of a course load, combined with work, family and academic research requirements, can pose a challenge for even the most prepared student.
Luckily, graduate students at PSU have support navigating this new experience. Graduate student ambassadors — current graduate students, often at least a year into their program — are available to help fellow students transition to graduate school by sharing their own experiences and passing along resources.
We spoke with three ambassadors about their role, and invited them to share tips to help new graduate students find their way at Portland State.
Ambassador Angelika Vinevtseva graduated from PSU with her BA in Political Science and is in her second year of the Business Administration program. As an undergraduate, Vinevtseva participated in various PSU clubs, as well as in student government, so working as a graduate student ambassador felt like a natural transition.
“I wanted to share my knowledge,” says Vinevtseva. “I know a lot about PSU’s resources.”
She encourages new graduate students to come speak with an ambassador one-on-one to help orient themselves to campus or attend one of the Q&A sessions she and her fellow ambassadors host. “It’s good to talk to people who know a lot about the school” says Vinevtseva.
She says that ambassadors can help students with a lot of things from navigating programs to understanding graduation requirements to figuring out how the school works. They can even tell you where to find the best coffee on campus (for Vinevtseva, that’s Matta Cafe).
Chone Poe, an MBA student and fellow graduate student ambassador, agrees. “It’s helpful to ask someone about their experiences,” says Poe. “We can help with tips and tricks for navigating housing, transportation, managing academic stress and discovering resources and opportunities.”
Originally from Burma, Poe says she became an ambassador to help other graduate students, and particularly international students like herself. She struggled, at times, with the transition to PSU, and understands what international students are going through.
“I wish I had reached out to an ambassador for their personal experiences instead of just relying on the information available on the website,” says Poe. “Ambassadors can direct students to resources that we have personally found helpful.”
Mike Pang, a second-year graduate student in PSU’s Electrical and Computer Engineering program and fellow ambassador, also says personalized support from an ambassador can make all the difference.
“Ambassadors have been at the school for a while so we have a deep understanding of the academic environment, professors and resources available,” says Pang. “Visas, housing, transportation, academic concerns — we can provide advice [on all of it].”
Most of all, the ambassadors urge their fellow graduate students to ease their transition to graduate school by getting involved on campus.
Vinevtseva recommends connecting with Student Activities and Leadership Programs (SALP), which is the hub for all things student involvement at Portland State. She also says to talk to your peers — including the graduate ambassadors — to find answers to any questions you might have, and share resources with each other.
“Reach out to the ambassadors,” agrees Pang. “And get involved in campus activities. PSU offers a wide range of academic and social events.”
New graduate students have their first opportunity to attend social events during Viking Days, PSU’s week-long student welcome celebration. This year, they can attend several graduate student-specific events, including the Graduate Student Welcome on Friday September 27th.
At the event, grad students can mingle with their peers during a welcome ceremony with the Dean of the Graduate School. This invitation-only event is a great way to get more information about getting started at PSU. There will also be two Graduate Open House sessions on Tuesday Oct. 1 and Thursday Oct. 3.
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Photo in header of PSU Graduate Ambassador Angelika Vinevtseva