If you want to improve your knowledge, and possibly boost your earning power, it can help to get a PhD. However, getting an advanced degree can be a lot of work. Becoming a successful graduate student requires time and effort, and you may have to do a great deal of work. Additionally the work itself is harder. After all, you are attempting to become an expert on a subject.
Even after all of this hard work, though, there is no guarantee that you will be able to get a good job, even with a Master’s degree or PhD. Sometimes it helps to make connections and meet other people. If you are interested in finding support for your tie in grad school, as well as making connections that can help you land a job later, you might want to participate in some of these 25 useful networking sites for grad students:
Student-Focused Social Networking Sites
Connect with fellow grad students, and find support. You can meet new friends, and you can also find good advice on getting your work done, balancing school and family, and on looking for a job. Also great resources for finding internships.
- Graduate Junction: This is the place to go when you want to network as a graduate student. Sign up and find others that share your same interests, share your work, and network in an effective manner.
- GradShare: This graduate student community is meant to help you connect with others, ask questions and get answers. Share your own knowledge and learn from others. Also, a good place to find partners on collaborative projects.
- EMES PhD Student Network: This social network is based in Europe, and you can find the student network is a great place for PhD students to meet others.
- PhDs.org: Get news, look for jobs, find information about graduate schools and connect with others. Great resources and opportunities to make connections.
- Alumwire: You can still keep up with those from your undergrad days, as well as connect with others in your graduate school. Includes corporate networks. You can also connect with alumni from your current grad school, making useful ties for when you are done.
- Graduates.com: You can keep in touch with students you have met. A great place to connect with different grad students and others.
- iHipo: Great for students looking for jobs and internships — including international opportunities. Aimed at students who are interested in networking, and learning more about what’s available.
- Jewish Graduate Student Network: Aimed mainly at those in Philly, this is a great place to meet other grad students who share your heritage. Forge useful connections that can help you through life.
Specialty Social Networking Sites
Get on these sites to meet other students and professionals in your field. These aren’t specifically aimed at students, but you can make a lot of good connections and learn a lot when you participate in these social networks.
- BioCrowd: This professional site is aimed at those in the biology and life sciences fields. If you are a grad student in a bio area, you can meet others, network and find jobs.
- Socially Psyched: If you are into psychology, you can join this social network. A great way to learn more about psychology, and to meet other professionals.
- Ecademy: This is a great destination for business professionals and students. If you are working on a business graduate degree, you can get a head start at this social networking site.
- PhatMath.com: If you are interested in math, this is a great social network. It’s designed for academics, as well as students and teachers.
- Scitable: This social network is aimed at scientists. Great for grad students as well as teachers and others. You can learn some cool things, do some research, and make connections.
- Social Science Research Network: If you are involved in social sciences, this is a great place to go. Join different networks, depending on your interests.
- LawLink: This is a social network for the legal community. Definitely worth looking into if you are a law school grad student.
- PoliticallySocial.com: If you are interested in politics, and if you are getting a grad degree in a field related to politics or public administration, this is a good place to meet others — and exercise your mind through debate.
- UniPHY: This physics social network is great for collaboration, and for meeting others. Make connections, and find out about the latest scientific research.
General Social Networking Sites
Just because these sites aren’t aimed specifically at students and grad students, it doesn’t meant that they aren’t useful. You might be surprised at how useful some of the more common social networking sites can be for grad students.
- LinkedIn: This is the premier social network for professionals. If you want to get your name out there, even as a grad student, this is the place to go.
- Facebook: Get on Facebook, and join groups of grad students and professionals. Chances are that someone has a group on Facebook related to what you are studying. It’s a good idea to get involved professionally. Just be careful of what you put up.
- Twitter: You might be surprised at the connections you can make on Twitter. You can find new people, and follow those who work in your field. Great for quick connections.
- Plaxo: A great place to keep all of your contacts. It’s a social networking address book. You can keep useful contacts, and stay connected.
- Networking for Professionals: Start networking now. Find out about events, meet people, and get noticed. A great tool for the grad student looking to get out there.
- Meetup: This is a very useful social network if you are interested in meeting up with others with simliar interests. You can use this social network to find those with simliar research interests and academic interests and then meet them in person.
- YouTube: This video site isn’t just for putting up pictures of scared cats. You can create a video resume, or document some of your work. This is a good choice for grad students looking for exposure.
- Tribe: Visit Tribe if you want to find information on just about anything, and meet up with people in your current city.
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