Once you’ve confirmed a meeting time, come prepared. Have your questions ready and keep a document or notebook open to take notes. This helps you make the most of the conversation and shows that you’re organized and intentional.

Below are guiding questions to help you get the most of your chat.

Introduce Yourself

Begin the zoom call by introducing yourself and thanking the student/alumni for taking the time to meet with them. Use this template:

Hi [Name], thank you so much for meeting with me today. My name is [Your Name], and I’m currently a [your background- e.g., senior psychology major and first-generation student] interested in applying to [Program Name]. I appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences with me today. To help guide our conversation, I wanted to also share my goals for today and why I’m interested in this program, so that your insights can be tailored to the areas I’m most curious about.

Guiding Questions

About the Program

  • Why did you choose this program?

  • How would you describe the department culture?

  • What kind of support or mentorship is available for students?

  • What does a typical week look like for you?

  • Are there opportunities for collaboration across departments or with other research groups?

About Research or Faculty

  • What drew you to your advisor or research area?

  • I’m interested in applying to work with [Professor’s Name]. Have you taken a course with them or worked with them? What is their teaching or mentoring style like?

About Student Life

  • Are there resources for first-generation students or students of color?

  • What has helped you feel a sense of belonging in the program?

  • What is the culture of the school like? How would you describe the culture of the department? Do folks attend school events?

About Funding

  • How is funding structured in the program? (e.g., fellowships, assistantships, hourly positions, scholarships)?

  • What types of assistantships (e.g., research assistant, graduate assistant) are available, and how competitive are they?

  • Are summer research or teaching positions available and funded?

  • Is the location of the program, considering rent and other costs livable?

  • What do you wish you had known about the financial side before starting the program?