Also, connect with friends who graduated before you and landed jobs. Ask about their application process, but also about their daily lives. How many hours do they work per week? How much time is research vs. teaching vs. service? Do they have friends? Are they happy? Would you be happy in that role?

Start dreaming of the life you want after grad school. Be clear about what (R1, R2, SLAC, alt-academia), where, and with whom you'd like to work -- and what/where/with whom you really DON'T want to be. This will prevent you from applying to a bunch of jobs you don't actually want!

"This is not incidental; sowing the seeds of chaos and accumulated despair is part of the president’s fascist agenda. We are afraid, and as a result, the imminent threat of violence forecloses our ability to imagine. And yet, as soon as we cede the territory of the imagination, we’ve already lost."

"Every headline, every urgent text and furtive conversation and terrifying social media post comes with an insidious whisper lurking in the back of your mind. Give up, it says. Give in. Let go."

Yes and I need to know your top 2024 books and movies

Heavy by Kiese Laymon and The Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward