The benefits of graduate and professional education are clear.
Individuals who pursue education beyond the bachelor’s degree have more opportunities for career advancement and social and economic mobility. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “median weekly earnings in 2017 for those with the highest levels of educational attainment – doctoral and professional degrees – were more than triple those with the lowest level, less than a high school diploma.” Similarly, the unemployment rate for those with the highest levels of education was significantly lower than those with the lowest level of education. Ideally, graduate and professional programs prepare students to enter an increasingly competitive job market by providing them with the knowledge, skills, and tools to be successful.
While we’ve made notable gains in the number of students of color enrolling in undergraduate programs, ethnic and racial disparities in graduate education persist. In 2012, only 3% of doctorates were conferred to Latina/o/x students (Pérez Huber et al., 2015, p. 15). The graduate outcomes of Latinas were even more concerning. In their report titled “Fulfilling America’s Future: Latina’s in the U.S., 2015, ” Patricia Gandara and the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics noted that “Latinas have the lowest percentage of graduate degrees compared to all women of other non-Hispanic racial groups combined” (p. 10)
Latina/o/x undergraduate students encounter various barriers along the education pipeline – many of which are also encountered at the graduate level. As undergraduate students, we experience financial hardship, unwelcoming campus environments, lack of representation and mentorship at the faculty level, and incongruity between our cultural values and the institution’s. At the graduate level, students of color experience racism, isolation, and lack of mentorship. Representation at all levels of education is necessary. Our stories and our voices matter.
“Latina’s Guide to Grad School” was created to support Latina women along the pathway to graduate education. Our mission is to increase the educational attainment of Latina women by empowering them to pursue graduate education and supporting them through the graduate school exploration and application process. Our primary goals are to:
- Celebrate the accomplishments of aspiring, current, and former graduate students
- Provide culturally relevant information about graduate school, the graduate school application process, and the graduate student experience
- Build a loving and caring community of support for Latina women at all stages of their academic journey
“Remember that no one succeeds alone. Never walk alone in your future paths.”
Justice Sonia Sotomayor
