For Graduate Students, By Graduate Researchers

Thrive in Your Program.
Finish Sooner.

We teach graduate students the skillsets they need to complete their programs. Thousands of students across the world have used The Grad Academy to complete their MAs and PhDs. Let us show you how.

Get in Touch → Learn more
1,608
Completed MAs and PhDs

You're a graduate student.

You seek to finish your program and not be one of the 50% that drop out. You have drive. You have determination. And you need practical guidance on how to complete your program. The Grad Academy is an empirically-based workshop designed to teach you all of the skills you need to succeed.

Master Academic Writing

The Grad Academy teaches you how to craft your academic papers, theses, and dissertations.

Conquer Academic Reading

We teach you the methods to quickly and effectively read and comprehend academic articles and books.

Speed Up Your Research

We teach you how to approach research without wasting time drowning in sources.

Overcome Impostor Phenomenon

Feeling like a fraud? The Grad Academy teaches you how impostor feelings affect your success and how to overcome them. We've actually published on this.

The Grad Academy

What our students say

“

Hands down the most useful and relevant workshop I have experienced in my grad school journey.

Andy
PhD, Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum
“

I learned how to structure my writing, read articles for reviews, and found outside resources that can help manage my time and writing so that I can be successful in my graduate program. I feel more confident that I can write like professionals in my field and publish in a top journal before I finish my program.

Jim
PhD, Management
“

Every part of that workshop was just jaw-dropping. I thought ‘Oh, my goodness gracious, if I would've had this last semester, I would've been so much less stressed’!

Janice
PhD, Political Science
“

The writing section of The Grad Academy was amazing. I think what I learned will fundamentally change how I write large papers, and will support my preparation for both my comprehensive exams and my dissertation. As a first-generation college student, I don't always know what I don't know — but I feel much more prepared for the future.

Teri S.
PhD Student, University of Iowa
“

The Grad Academy taught me to read articles quickly and efficiently and took the fear out of the literature review. The software Jonathan recommended has changed my entire outlook on productivity.

Alex R.
Graduate Student
“

The Grad Academy gave me extremely useful tools for efficiency. I came home, bought Scrivener, and haven't gone a day without writing.

Devon W.
PhD Student, University of Missouri
“

I learned so much from The Grad Academy — I'm so glad this program was opened to engineering students. The academic writing and reading sections were probably most helpful to me. I also loved learning about impostor syndrome and being able to relate to the other students.

Jessica S.
Engineering PhD Student, University of Iowa
“

Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience with us during The Grad Academy. I came in thinking I'd learn a few tips and came away feeling your advice has shaved several years off my time to graduate.

Beth B.
Education PhD Student
“

Hands down the most useful and relevant workshop I have experienced in my grad school journey.

Andy
PhD, Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum
“

I learned how to structure my writing, read articles for reviews, and found outside resources that can help manage my time and writing so that I can be successful in my graduate program. I feel more confident that I can write like professionals in my field and publish in a top journal before I finish my program.

Jim
PhD, Management
“

Every part of that workshop was just jaw-dropping. I thought ‘Oh, my goodness gracious, if I would've had this last semester, I would've been so much less stressed’!

Janice
PhD, Political Science
“

The writing section of The Grad Academy was amazing. I think what I learned will fundamentally change how I write large papers, and will support my preparation for both my comprehensive exams and my dissertation. As a first-generation college student, I don't always know what I don't know — but I feel much more prepared for the future.

Teri S.
PhD Student, University of Iowa
“

The Grad Academy taught me to read articles quickly and efficiently and took the fear out of the literature review. The software Jonathan recommended has changed my entire outlook on productivity.

Alex R.
Graduate Student
“

The Grad Academy gave me extremely useful tools for efficiency. I came home, bought Scrivener, and haven't gone a day without writing.

Devon W.
PhD Student, University of Missouri
“

I learned so much from The Grad Academy — I'm so glad this program was opened to engineering students. The academic writing and reading sections were probably most helpful to me. I also loved learning about impostor syndrome and being able to relate to the other students.

Jessica S.
Engineering PhD Student, University of Iowa
“

Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience with us during The Grad Academy. I came in thinking I'd learn a few tips and came away feeling your advice has shaved several years off my time to graduate.

Beth B.
Education PhD Student

Resources for grad students

The people behind The Grad Academy

Jonathan Cisco, PhD
Jonathan Cisco, PhD
Founder, Cisco Consulting

Jonathan is an award-winning presenter in literacy and higher education. He has trained over 1,600 graduate students and faculty for success in academia, and he has presented his mixed-methods research across a number of social science conferences. His research has been published in journals such as Higher Education Research and Development, Journal of Further and Higher Education, Literacy Research and Instruction, and Teaching and Learning Inquiry. Jonathan leads Cisco Consulting by providing workshops and one-on-one training for graduate students, post-docs, and faculty. Learn more at jonathancisco.com.

Jayme Cisco, PhD
Jayme Cisco, PhD
Co-Founder, Cisco Consulting

Jayme is a mixed-methods researcher and teacher in Anthropology and Health Sciences. She has served thousands of graduate students and faculty in their academic writing, both as editor and one-on-one peer reviewer. Her recent work has been published in the prestigious journal, Human Nature. Jayme co-facilitates The Grad Academy both face-to-face and online.

Bring The Grad Academy to your institution

Whether you're a graduate program director, a department chair, or a student who wants The Grad Academy at your university, we'd love to hear from you.

Thank you for reaching out. We'll be in touch soon.