Grad Slam season is officially here! (Applications close February 9, 2024.)

We asked 2023 UC Davis Grad Slam champion Julia Mouat to share her top five ideas to make your application rise above the rest.

1. Focus on the “why” more than the “how”

Grad Slam is all about the big picture so try to think about the impact your research field could have on the world, even if your particular project is only a small piece of this. Try to sell your audience on why your work is important and then only briefly explain exactly how you conduct your research. Metaphors can go a long in explaining complex topics.

2. When crafting your talk, alternate between writing and speaking

When I first decided to do Grad Slam, I started by writing out a rough transcript. When I practiced saying it aloud, I realized that a lot of the sentences were too complicated and the whole thing was too long, so I went back and made edits, and continued this iterative process until I was happy with the result. I ended up cutting or changing some of my favorite written sentences because they were just too clunky to say.

3. Use a hook at the beginning of your talk and return to it at the end

The main goal is to make your audience feel that your work is important and relatable, so it can be really helpful to “hook” them right from the beginning. Sharing a cool stat or cute story can really help you capture the audience's attention before you jump into the hard details. I really love when speakers round back to their hook at the very end of their talk to bring it full circle, and/or add a vision for the future. For example, I started my Grad Slam talk by saying “Picture your grandparents. What do you know about them? About their lives before they were born?” and ended by saying, “So, as we all reflect on our grandparents and the lives they led, let us also think about our own lives and consider that our actions today could impact generations to come.”

4. Show enthusiasm and confidence

I found it really, really difficult to show enthusiasm when making the pre-recorded video, but varying your voice and making some hand motions can go a long way. When I was making my video, I would try picturing someone I know (it's especially helpful is this is someone who isn't familiar with your work) and pretend I was talking to them. It got easier to show enthusiasm the more I practiced because I felt more confident in my talk. Remember that you know your topic and you most likely can talk about it better than anyone, so feel confident in yourself.

5. Create a cute title

Your title is the first thing the judges/audience will see so try to come up with something that is a bit clever or catchy.

Good luck with your application! 

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Looking for more ideas? Need some support? Check out the GradPathways Institute for Professional Development.