Mentorship SERVICES for Students
I am passionate about mentoring BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), first-generation, and international students to succeed in post-secondary education. I am a second-generation Canadian who understands the barriers and unique challenges students from diverse communities may experience as they transition to university. I was the first person in my family to enter and finish a Ph.D. program. As a Punjabi woman, the experience from undergraduate to graduate studies was a journey! I didn’t have a mentor or advisor to look up to from the Punjabi community in academia to help me navigate this new landscape. I have learned a lot through my university experiences as a first-generation Punjabi student and how adjusting to a new environment can be difficult.
I figured it out along the way and carved out my own path without the parental pressures some Punjabi students experience. I recognize that this is not the reality for some students from diverse communities who are not supported by their culture or parents with their educational experiences. I continue to meet first-generation Punjabi students who share how their parents didn’t attend university, but have set unrealistic expectations for them to meet. I’ve heard students speak about the pressures to uphold family “honour” by pursuing programs they have no interest in. These students share how they followed their parents’ expectations to study law, medicine, business, and engineering but are concerned about their academic standing. Sometimes, they are the first in their family to attend university and have failed coursework. These students struggle with the transition to university because they experience cultural transition issues and expectations regarding their post-secondary education (e.g., career choices). For example, academic probation helped some students leave these programs and allowed them to negotiate ways to pursue their interests. At the same time, I have students seeking my guidance as a member of the Punjabi community. I always feel honoured when approached to share my post-secondary education experiences. For example, how I chose to apply to graduate studies and the support I received from my family and community. I enjoy these opportunities to reflect on my understanding of the cultural knowledge and perspective that allows me to connect with Punjabi students. I see these experiences as an opportunity to support members of my community in their academic journey. I also love sharing my passion and research experiences when approached by students with similar interests. I’ve supported students with writing term papers or thesis projects so they can succeed in their post-secondary education. I am also frequently invited to share with incoming and current students what I wish I had known before starting graduate studies.
I believe mentorship in higher education is important because high school does not prepare students for university (e.g., selecting classes, declaring a minor or major, time management, studying, writing an essay or test preparation, seeking volunteer or professional development opportunities, etc). I am interested in offering more individualized support that allows students from diverse, underrepresented, and marginalized backgrounds to participate in one-on-one mentorship sessions so they feel confident in achieving their academic goals. I see this as a way to break down barriers and support the next generation of learners, who may be the first in their families to attend university. Reflecting on my experiences, I wish I had mentors in the Punjabi community who would share their experiences at university and offer career advice. Having a mentor different from those of an academic advisor, supervisor, or committee member is valuable, especially if you do not know what to expect at various points of your postsecondary education. I wish to foster a sense of belonging by providing BIPOC and international students with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate the unique challenges they may face at any point in post-secondary education. I am passionate about providing individualized support for each student with a supportive and empathetic approach to support student success.
So, if you feel undecided about going to university, pursuing graduate studies, or unsure about what to expect, I can support you through the application process and the complex parts. I have experience in higher education, serving on undergraduate and graduate admissions committees (e.g., reviewing and evaluating applicants) and working with various student demographics (e.g., international students) to meet their academic goals. I have supported international students with admission processes, such as writing a statement of purpose (SOP) that outlines their academic aspirations and plans after completing their studies abroad.
I can support you one-on-one while you pursue your studies and point you to the right resources to help you succeed academically. I offer task-related support (e.g., making recommendations, reviewing documents such as statement of purpose, research proposal, resume or curriculum vitae, teaching statement, diversity statement, etc.), psychosocial support (e.g., providing encouragement and support for emotional well-being as the transition to university can be difficult when you need to learn about the university setting and sometimes even Canadian culture, but also grad school can be a lonely and stressful experience that few talk about), and networking support (e.g., offering advice on how to network and seek opportunities when you have no clue how to).
Most importantly, I can help you navigate what no one tells you about university or graduate studies so that you have a positive experience from day.
ADMISSIONS CONSULTING SERVICES
Choosing the right program or school to apply to can be challenging. Are you struggling to prepare your application but don’t know what program is right for you? Have you started researching programs in your chosen field and requirements but feel overwhelmed with the information? Are you planning to reapply after a rejection? I offer one-on-one sessions to help you navigate this fun and exciting process!
This session will help you decide which programs best suit you, where to apply, and how to connect with faculty with similar research interests if you are applying to grad school. I will also ask you to share your personal background, academic goals, programs and schools of interest, and, most of all, your reasons for pursuing the program. I strongly encourage you to come prepared with questions. This way, you’ll receive practical tips as you research programs (e.g., where should I apply and why?) and prepare your application package so it stands out.
You can expect the following:
Helpful tools, tips, and tricks for navigating the application process (e.g., graduate studies)
How to ask for glowing letters of reference
Support with writing a statement of purpose
Feedback and suggestions to strengthen your application
Follow-up guidance and support via email as needed
$50/hour sessions
APPLICATION PACKAGE REVIEW
This service includes reviewing documents (e.g., your written statement of purpose, research proposal, writing sample, resume/CV) required for studying abroad or admission to a graduate program.
The documents (e.g., statement of purpose) will be reviewed, and constructive feedback (e.g., tracked changes in an MS Word document) will be provided to ensure you set yourself apart from other applicants.
The fees vary depending on the hours required to review the number of documents and pages submitted.
To book a session, reach out well before your application is due!
GRADUATE SCHOOL INTERVIEW PREPARATION
I can also help with grad school interview preparation. You’ll receive a 20-30-minute mock interview with feedback and tips for your graduate school interview. You will practice answering questions like sharing what you’d bring to the program and your research interests. You will also prepare a list of questions you can ask the interviewer(s). You’ll walk away feeling more confident about your interview skills.
$75/hour sessions
GRADUATE SCHOOL PREPARATION
I will help you prepare for the undergraduate-to-graduate school transition. In this session, you will discuss your expectations for graduate studies and create a personalized plan that aligns with your academic goals. I will guide you in understanding practices in graduate school, such as preparing for your first teaching assignment (e.g., syllabus/curriculum development including marking rubrics) or research assistantship (e.g., time management), research proposal development, building a professional network, presenting research at academic conferences (e.g., how to give a good presentation), and participating in student-led groups or other committees.
I will offer recommendations for researching and finding good potential mentors. As well as how to seek conference opportunities, funding, paid research experiences, scholarships, and other opportunities.
Confidence and time management skills are important to successfully hold a teaching or research assistantship while doing coursework, conducting research, writing papers, and completing a thesis or dissertation. I will work with you so you feel better equipped to successfully navigate graduate studies with time management skills, research and funding plans, and writing goals. You will also receive strategies to manage school-life balance, anxiety, feelings of imposter syndrome, and perfectionism.
You will also have lots of time to ask questions about grad school. Preparation is key to your academic success!
$50/hour sessions
To book a session, reach out well before the first day of grad school!
Curriculum Vitae (CV) REVIEW and ADVICE
A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is an important document that records your scholarly achievements. It is a document that you might be asked to send when applying for graduate school applications, research positions, grants, scholarships, awards, and academic positions.
Are you unsure what information you should include or how to highlight your relevant skills and experiences related to research, teaching, and service work? Or are you looking to update your CV as you progress through graduate studies and beyond? I can help!
I advise students on building their CV by offering advice and tips from CV format to specific language, highlighting your strengths, and strategies for how to keep the document up to date (e.g., after you’ve delivered a conference presentation). I will also provide feedback (e.g., proofread your CV for grammar and spelling mistakes while making suggestions) before you send it out.
The fees vary depending on the hours required to review the CV and the number of pages submitted.
I also offer additional assistance where you can schedule a one-on-one CV advising appointment where I help you build or update your CV by giving advice. During this session, you will also learn what the CV is, receive tips, and have an opportunity to ask questions to get help on certain areas of your CV.
$75/hour sessions
ADVICE ON PUBLISHING
I will help you learn about the process and expectations surrounding publishing in grad school (e.g., when should you start publishing?). I’ll offer general information on how to find a journal to submit to and what to do with the decision.
I will review the journal submission process by drawing on my experiences as an assistant to a journal editor so you understand how it all works behind the scenes. You will gain an understanding of what happens when you submit your work to a journal and how the peer review process works. You will learn to address reviewer comments and communicate minor or major revisions because, trust me, it can be overwhelming.
I will also share my experiences with publishing by reflecting on solo vs. co-authoring and the realities and challenges of turning specialization papers into publications and thesis chapters into published articles as a grad student. I will then offer advice and tips for working with a co-author, authorship order, and looking out for and submitting to special issues related to your research topics.
I will also draw on my experiences reviewing papers for journals and why this is important!
$75/hour sessions
Preparation for your defense or presentation
You have submitted your final draft of your dissertation or thesis or have been accepted to deliver a conference presentation. Yay! Now, you might be thinking, how do I prepare and know what to expect from the audience? What questions will I be asked? When getting to this stage, you were so consumed with the writing process that you forgot to step back and see the whole picture. Why is this research important?
I can help you think of broad questions about your work so you feel prepared for your dissertation or thesis defense, qualifying exams (Candidacy or Specialization), or any other presentation (conference). I will work with you to review common thesis questions you should anticipate from your committee and how to present confidentially in any presentation you plan to deliver. I am here to discuss your research topic, ask potential questions, share the process, and cheer you along the way. I will encourage you to believe in yourself because you are the expert on your research topic. I will provide tip sheets with a list of questions that isn’t exhaustive but enough to help you practice for the oral defense or any other presentation about your research work.
$100/hour sessions
Career guidance and preparation
Are you looking for support with job planning and preparation? I offer guidance and support to individuals applying for academic jobs, preparing application materials and interview preparation. I also offer feedback on alt-ac job materials (e.g., resume writing) as well.
I’ve been on the job market a few times and can help you understand the process and how it works so you can best prepare for it.
I can review and provide feedback on written materials (e.g., cover letter, curriculum vitae, teaching dossier or statement, research statement, diversity statement, etc.).
If short-listed, I can help you prepare for interview questions and deliver excellent oral presentations (e.g., teaching demos and research presentations).
I can also offer a resource list I have compiled with books and other materials, from interviews, job talks, teaching demos, and preparation for campus visits to negotiating offers.
The fees vary depending on the level of support required (e.g., hours required to review the number of documents and pages submitted or time required to listen to and provide feedback on oral presentations).
If you would like assistance with any of the above, please contact me at waujla@gmail.com.
I would love to support you on your academic journey!
