Prospective Graduate Students Invited to Diversity Forum at UC Merced

For students considering a master’s or doctoral degree, the 2025 California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education is the place to be on Oct. 18.

Eight hundred undergraduate and master's-level students are expected to descend on the UC Merced campus for a one-day conference offering workshops, panels, networking opportunities and exposure to more than 100 graduate recruiters from colleges across the state.

The event connects undergraduates with the knowledge, resources and mentors to explore master’s and Ph.D. programs, especially if you’re the first in your family to consider graduate school.

This year’s plenary talk will be presented by UC Merced soil biogeochemistry Professor Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, the campus’s former associate dean of Graduate Education.

Other sessions led by faculty, current graduate students and higher education professionals are tailored to support students at different stages of the graduate school exploration process, with content on:

• Understanding graduate school pathways

• Navigating the application process

• Funding your education through fellowships and assistantships

• Writing strong personal and research statements

• Building academic confidence as a first-generation or underrepresented student

• Exploring graduate programs in specific academic disciplines

2025 California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education Event Details

Date: Saturday, Oct. 18

Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Location: UC Merced, Pavilion Lawn

Lunch is included

The event is free and open to all college students in California who are considering graduate school in their future. Students are encouraged to register online by Oct. 6.