GradMAP Philippines

I am a volunteer mentor for GradMAP Philippines, a STEM mentorship network that helps Filipino scientists and engineers navigate the graduate school application process. Its premise is simple: Filipino STEM talent is everywhere, but access to guidance is not. GradMAP aims to close that gap by connecting aspiring graduate students with people who have already been through the process.

How it works. Filipino graduate students and STEM professionals volunteer as mentors. Mentees are matched with them based on their goals and backgrounds, and each pair works one-on-one for at least six months, supported by reference materials that give the mentorship some structure. Mentors come from more than 25 countries, so mentees can draw on experience from many different institutions and research systems.

What I do. As a mentor, I work with my mentees on their research statements, CVs, and school and program choices, and give feedback on their application materials. Coming from a physics background, I can speak to physics and related fields, and to applying from the Philippines to programs abroad.

Beyond one-on-one mentoring. GradMAP also maintains open resources that anyone can use, with or without a mentor: application guides, sample application materials, and a list of schools and scholarships. It also runs events on STEM careers, a grant program for mentees, and a network of Filipino scientists.

If you are a Filipino student thinking about graduate school, you can sign up as a mentee through the GradMAP website. If you have been through the process yourself, consider volunteering as a mentor.