So you’re at the finish line of graduate school, finalizing your thesis or dissertation, which means you’re ready to leave campus behind, right? Not so fast! Before you say goodbye, there are some important things to wrap up that could easily slip your mind and cause some headaches for you later. If you want to avoid some frustrating pitfalls I went through plus optimize the transition to the next phase of your career, get ready to take some notes.  

1. Keep connections close
You may have heard the saying, “Your network is your net worth.” It’s true. Throughout your academic journey, you’ve created a wealth of connections, and the last thing you want to do is lose them. Before you graduate, take the time to organize contact details for your mentors, peers, advisors, professionals, and recruiters you’ve met at events or online. I recommend platforms like Trello, Notion, or Google Drive so that you can create categories and notate key parts of correspondence or discussions to reference in the future. Be mindful that once you graduate, you will lose access to your student email, so unless you are approved for a courtesy appointment (we’ll get into that later), capture all the email addresses and advice from those messages.

Once you graduate, make it a habit to stay connected to people in your network. You run the risk of missing out on valuable leads to job opportunities, events, or industry information if you let this slip.

2. Secure your health coverage
A major loose end to tie up is your health-care coverage. Many of us have medical insurance provided by our fellowships or postdoc appointments. Hopefully, you are heading into a job that provides health insurance; however, if you haven’t secured a position, most health insurance coverage ends at the same time your student status does. Any time without health insurance in the US is financially dangerous. I had to go to the hospital for an emergency and walked out with a $5,000 bill with no medical coverage to assist me with the cost. Thankfully, I was able to apply and get approved for health coverage that retroactively covered that medical expense, but this is something that you do not want to neglect.

There are a variety of health coverage plans with no-cost options, such as Medicaid. Alternatively, you can look into COBRA, which offers a low-cost plan. And don’t forget that your ACS Member Insurance provides other options. 

3. Settle your accounts
I cannot stress this enough: take care of any outstanding bills or fees. Don't let them sneak up on you down the line in the form of debt collectors! Check with your campus bursar to ensure your student balances are all squared away. Even though I completed my program degree requirements, I was not able to get my degree because I owed my institution money for some unpaid parking fees. Not only was my degree delayed until I took care of the bill, I also had to pay accumulated late fees. Trust me, you don't want that surprise. 

If you are moving, make sure you are all caught up on your bills first. Provide your forwarding address to your landlord, internet provider, credit card companies, phone company, etc. Submit your change of address with the post office just in case you miss one. If you are done with an account, close it.

4. Make sure that you are a graduate
It's one thing to say that you have a master's or doctorate, but until you have completed all of your final requirements, it’s not an actuality. Unfortunately, you cannot depend on your advisors and mentors alone; you’ll need to check in with your department and university for requirements. More specifically, you need to check with the Graduate Studies office or department to make sure that your paperwork is squared away.

When it comes to graduate school, there is no definitive checklist for graduation. In most cases, after you finish classes, you could walk the stage to graduate but still need to submit written documentation, which could be either your thesis or a dissertation. Graduation requirements vary by school, so double-check them and make sure you meet university deadlines.

5. Max out on student benefits
All grad students figure out how to survive on limited income and resources. Now is your last chance to take advantage of any student accounts for discounts, download any software, and maximize the benefits of your student status before you graduate. Whether you are heading for a job or not, it never hurts to save some extra money. 

Some programs allow you to maintain your access to student status with a courtesy appointment. These appointments are extensions to your student account that allow you to maintain a student status a little longer than normal. I was able to obtain a yearlong courtesy appointment through my department chair, which enabled me to keep access to my student emails, campus facilities and resources, and software like Adobe and Microsoft suite.

6. Build and strengthen your brand
Once you get your fancy degree, it is time to start embracing that you are now an expert in your field, whether it feels like it or not. Now is the perfect time to brand or rebrand yourself and showcase your expertise to the world. Buff up your résumé, CV, social media accounts, and LinkedIn profile to reflect your accomplishments and skills.

What is your brand? What does the higher version of yourself represent? Familiarize yourself with personal branding strategies to establish a clear and authentic brand. You can also check out this free educational guide, Building Your Brand on a Budget, which teaches you how to market yourself without spending a fortune. This worksheet will guide you through practical steps, tips, and tools to help you create a brand identity.

You can also build your reputation by sharing your expertise and experiences through ACS—either by getting involved with an ACS local section or technical division event, or by tapping into the ACS Speaker Directory. The speaker directory is a platform where you can create a profile and be contacted by other chemists looking for someone to host a speaking engagement.

The journey from academia to the professional world can be a challenging but rewarding experience. Remember that you have a wealth of knowledge and skills that are valuable far beyond the classroom and lab. Taking the time to honor yourself, showcase your expertise, lock in on those connections, and maintain access to resources is a strategic approach to putting yourself in a position where your skills and passion can truly shine. You've worked hard to get here—now it's time to show the world what you're capable of!