the most convenient, most affordable, most fun way to be part of Thrive PhD…
the community!
have you ever felt like the only person who didn’t know the secret of grad school?
people are really good at telling you what you should produce during grad school (publish or perish!) but no one really talks about how you do that? much less how you do the work of scholarship and also still have a life?
one place that does talk about is the Thrive PhD community.
i made the community because it’s hard to teach yourself how to be a grad student.
grad students are busy. it’s like having three full time jobs (student, researcher, teacher) at once, and unlike other phases of education, people assume that you know how to do everything by the time you get there. the community is open 24.7.365 because you need to be able to learn on your own schedule, from wherever you are, and for less than the price of a very fancy coffee a month.
what you get
a library of resources, actitivites, and strategies so you can learn how to be a scholar and a human in a way that works for you
access to a coach (me!) so you can get direct experience and mentoring from someone who has been there herself, and supported hundreds of grad students around the world since then
work togethers, coaching calls, and special events so you can add a little structure to your day, feel less isolated, and get your questions about grad school answered
a podcast feed so that you can listen to community content away from your screen (don’t we all need that?)
a network NOT connected to social media (where you can control your display name, location, and more) so that you can show up authentically in a space away from your institution, colleagues, and advisor
in our community we have….
neurodivergent scholars feeling empowered to ignore advice that doesn’t work for their brain and find tools and strategies that do
part time PhD students finding ways to set reasonable expectations and make progress without huge push/crash cycles
first generation scholars having a space to ask questions about how things work without judgment or shame
parents and other caretakers figuring out how and when to set (and revise) boundaries so they can show up for all of the important roles in their life
grad students feeling (or who are told that they are) behind finding ways to make progress even if their institutions and advisors aren’t supporting them in useful, helpful ways
“Thrive PhD helped normalize the struggles and difficulties during graduate school and made me feel much less alone while defending my thesis. Without Katy and Thrive, I sometimes wonder if I would’ve dropped out by now. Instead, I am working on my dissertation proposal, my relationship with my advisor has drastically improved, and I have more work/life balance than ever before during grad school. ”
“This is the only space full of other academics where I don’t feel ashamed, judged, or alone when I veer off-course, fall short of my goals, or have a really terrible day (or month...). It’s a community of really kind, generous, supportive people who make me feel like I can do it... and I did it. I also really appreciate that there is no “one-size-fits-all” advice, just a lot of tools/ resources/ metaphors to work with so you can find what works for you. ”
frequently asked questions!
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grad students - anywhere around the world, in any discipline! we have caretakers, full time students, part time students, students on leave, students about to start, and all sorts of other groups and identities, too. most of the content is geared towards those in PhD programs, but many people have found it useful during their masters programs as well. if you are a recent grad, a post doc, or precariously employed, or otherwise not described here, reach out over email and we’ll see if you are a good fit for the network.
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as private as you’d like! the community is run on a platform called Mighty Networks, which is not tied to any social media site, nor does it require an .edu address. we have many people in the network who do not use their full, or even their real names, or are otherwise private about where they’re located, what program they’re in, or what their research is. you set your own username, location information, and profile images (should you choose one) on the site, and i’m always happy to help consult with you if you have specific concerns.
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most days!!! I do try and take weekends off to practice the sustainability i preach, but i love hanging out in the network. i host a one hour work together most week days, and often am popping in and out throughout the rest of the day too. plus i host our weekly coaching calls, and am posting new content and material all the time.
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yes! unlike previous versions of the community, we now have open enrollment. sign up anytime, cancel anytime - and you handle it all through your account with no emails or forms needed. memberships can be paid for with a monthly subscription, or you can sign up for a year in advance and get two months free! join for a few months, take time off when you need, or hang out for the long haul - you control it.
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as much or as little as you want it to be! i have some people who are in the network every day doing work togethers, and others who log on to read the curriculum when they need it. our motto is “welcome back” - whether it’s been a day or a few months, we’re always happy to see you, and trust that you’re using what you need, when you need it.
about katy
i felt so lonely as a grad student - everyone knew how to do everything, so i was stuck googling “tenure” at home, trying to catch up. things changed when i started joining online spaces where i could be open about how hard i found it to be a grad student and a human, and the community is the first thing i made as a business owner. it’s that important to me.
Thrive PhD started in 2017 and has touched thousands of people all around the world in all kinds of fields. read more about my background and mission here. when i’m not at my desk, you can find me gardening, hiking, reading on my porch, or taking a nap with one of my cats.
