Advice from Gaels in Grad School: How Mentorship and Hands-On Learning at SMC Pave the Way to Success

For those who pursue it, graduate school can be a launchpad—toward better job opportunities, greater expertise, or a career in research and teaching. It can offer professional connections, build focused technical skills, and nurture immense personal growth. 

According to one recent survey of students considering graduate school, more than half of those surveyed see a return on investment as their number one priority. That interest and desire for value is undoubtedly reflected at Saint Mary’s.

Over a third of the undergraduate Class of 2022 continued their education with graduate study, as did nearly a quarter of the Class of 2023. Those Gaels are regularly admitted to top-tier graduate programs—whether it’s in all four schools at SMC, or throughout the University of California system, or even across the pond at the University of Edinburgh—and in a diverse array of fields, from law to religion, business to medicine. 

On a societal level, a recent report on “Graduate Education and the Public Good” from the US Department of Education notes, “Increasingly, graduate school is where future professionals obtain the knowledge and skills needed to solve big, complex problems.”

With that in mind, what makes Gaels uniquely qualified for graduate school? And how do they know they’ve found the right fit? We spoke with four recent graduates about their lives and studies after Saint Mary’s. They offered advice and encouragement to Gaels hoping to pursue JDs, master’s degrees, doctorates, and more.

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Matthew White ’20

Degree: PhD in Biological and Biomedical Sciences

School: Harvard Medical School

Career Goals

I plan to go into the research side of medicine, working on the development of therapeutics for a broad range of diseases. 

The Value of Independent Research

During my junior and senior years at SMC, I did an independent study with Dr. Sonya Schuh. In the lab, we studied the potential of using adipose-derived stem cells for neural regeneration. Essentially, the idea was to take stem cells isolated from fat tissue—called adipose—and turn these cells into neuronal support cells so that they might aid in nerve regeneration at a site of injury. 

This research and the classes I took were critical to forming the educational foundation that I rely on every day in graduate school. It’s given me a great deal of confidence in pursuing new research areas.  

Advice?

If you are interested in exploring PhD programs in the Biomedical Sciences, take full advantage of the independent research opportunities available to you at Saint Mary’s and in the Bay Area during your undergraduate studies. 

Beyond that, trust in the comprehensive education you are getting at SMC, made possible by the small class sizes and attentive faculty. The skills I picked up in classes outside of STEM, such as Seminar, taught me how to present and defend ideas, which has been quite useful in graduate school. 

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Theo Zittel ’23

Degree: Joint Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Social Change and Master of Arts in International Policy and Development 

School: Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California

Career Goals

I hope to either work in the social change nonprofit sector as a program manager or pursue a role in the local, state, or federal government. Ideally, I would like to work for an organization with international reach in a role that allows me to travel while still making an impact on local communities. 

Applying While Abroad

I started applying to schools during the first semester of my fourth year while I was studying abroad in Spain. The most challenging experience during the application process was the time difference between Spain and the United States. I had to schedule Zoom calls with faculty at SMC at odd hours. Despite this, I was fortunate to receive immediate support and flexibility from the faculty, who met with me at unconventional times to accommodate my schedule. 

On the last day of my study abroad program, I received the acceptance letter from Middlebury. It was one of the most exciting moments of my trip. 

Advice? 

Entering graduate school immediately after completing my undergraduate studies was daunting—especially during my first semester of grad school—but it was one of the greatest decisions I’ve made as I take my first steps toward my early career. Once you get over the feeling of imposter syndrome and realize that you made the right decision in moving forward with your education, you can fully appreciate the journey and the growth it will bring. 

And if it weren’t for the classes I took at SMC, I would not have been as well prepared for my graduate school work. The courses I took as a Global and Regional Studies major and the mentorship I received from professors such as María Luisa Ruiz ’96 and Jennifer Heung introduced me to the projects I’ve encountered in my graduate studies. 

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Zlatas Serebnitskiy ’21 

Degree: PhD in Molecular and Computational Biology

School: University of Southern California

Career Goals

My current career trajectory is to stay in academia and hopefully become a tenure-track professor at a research university!

Learning About the Little Things

My time at Saint Mary’s was crucial to my success in graduate school. I was able to conduct undergraduate, independent research in a socio-microbiology lab run by Professor James Berleman from my first to fourth year. During my last two years at SMC, Berleman’s lab was in partnership with the biopharmaceutical company Dermbiont, whose founder and CEO, Karl Beutner ’71, is an alum. Here, I studied a couple very cool bacteria that produce potential antifungal compounds. We were tasked with uncovering how these microbes produced and released these compounds and measured their potency, for use in one of the first probiotic ointments to treat a variety of skin infections.

This opportunity, which I could only really get at SMC, definitely helped me stand out as an applicant and develop fundamental skills in life and my academic field. 

Advice?

First, everyone has imposter syndrome, even the smartest and most talented of scholars, so don’t be too hard on yourself. And second, stick to what you’re passionate about and stay driven. The rest will fall into place.

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Sofía Cuevas ’23 

Degree: JD in Law

School: Cornell Law School

Career Goals

After graduation, I will be working in New York City in business law, but I hope to maintain an active immigration pro bono practice as well. 

Time Management

At Saint Mary’s, I was involved in many things on campus, such as cross country and track, peer mentoring, and interning with the Office of Sustainability. The time management skills I developed were indispensable for my success in law school. It even helped in my applications to law school, since applying to graduate programs while still in school and being a Division I athlete was challenging. I found myself doing a lot of work on my applications during summer, Thanksgiving, and winter breaks. 

In addition, classes like Seminar allowed me to grow confident in sharing my opinion and speaking in front of groups, which became a valuable skill in navigating law school and becoming a student leader at Cornell Law. 

Advice?

My biggest advice for Gaels wishing to pursue grad school is to follow your own path. Don’t let other people’s timelines affect your decision for when you go to graduate school. If you feel like taking a year to work will be helpful, do that, regardless of what your peers are doing. 

Also, take advantage of the resources at SMC. Seek to make meaningful relationships with your professors. Not only will you benefit from their wealth of knowledge, but down the road, they can also help you to connect with employers or schools you may be interested in attending. 

At Saint Mary’s, I always found everyone willing and excited to help me reach my goal. Don’t be afraid to knock on some doors!

Jordan Sapp MFA ’25 is a graduate editorial fellow with the Office of Marketing & Communications at Saint Mary’s. Write her.