Stanford Engineering
Management Science and Engineering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Pathways to Research & Opportunity

Graduate Ready for an Advanced Degree (GRAD)

Graduate Ready for an Advanced Degree (GRAD)

In Fall 2026, the Stanford Management Science and Engineering (MS&E) Department's Pathways to Research and Opportunity (PRO) Committee, in partnership with San José State University, will offer mentorship opportunities and graduate preparation to undergraduate students attending San José State University through the GRAD program. This program was previously known as the University Partnership Program from 2023-2025.

Management Science & Engineering (MS&E)

Stanford MS&E is an interdisciplinary field that applies mathematical and computational methods to entrepreneurship, business, technology, and beyond. Faculty in the MS&E department work at the intersection of engineering, business, and public policy.

Pathways to Research and Opportunity (PRO)

MS&E PRO is committed to supporting students from all backgrounds and helping them explore pathways to graduate studies, research, and professional growth.

Program Mission

The mission of the GRAD program is to help rising undergraduate juniors and seniors at partner institutions, particularly those in STEM disciplines, gain exposure to graduate studies, research, and the admissions process for MS&E and MS&E-related fields (e.g., business, engineering, economics, statistics, etc.).

Program Overview

  • Pair with M.S./Ph.D. mentors
  • Network with Stanford MS&E faculty and staff
  • Attend workshops on graduate admissions processes
  • Develop core research skills through an optional literature review

In addition, mentees will be invited to a private Discord server which will be used as a hub for cohort communication, allowing mentees to easily connect with mentors, ask questions, submit materials for review, share resources, and coordinate casual meetups for coffee chats, workshops and other events.

Program Timeline

  • Oct:   Program Kickoff
  • Oct:   Mentor Meetups + Workshop 1: Statement of Purpose
  • Oct:   Mentor Meetups + Workshop 2: Resume / CV
  • Nov:  Mentor Meetups + Workshop 3: Letters of Recommendation
  • Nov:  Mentor Meetups + Workshop 4: Mock Interview
  • Nov:  Farewell Celebration + (Optional) Literature Review Showcase

Program Dates to Remember

Applications now open. 

Advertisements of this program run on January 30th, March 23rd, and May 4th.

Applications close July 20th.

Decisions release September 4th.

Spots are limited to less than ~10 participants, but we will accept as many as we can in relation to our bandwidth. 

Questions

For inquiries, please contact Mathias Gomez at mgomezar@stanford.edu.