Graduate Student-at-Large Info Session | UChicago Graham School | May 2026

The Graduate Student at Large program at the University of Chicago lets students take graduate courses across the university, earn formal credit, and build faculty relationships before committing to a specific degree. Dean Seth Green and program director Esther Pandian-Riske describe how GSAL operates as the oldest program at the Graham School, dating back close to the founding of the university and built around extending UChicago's resources to students on non-traditional paths into graduate study. The program has three tracks: GSAL for courses across the university outside the medical school and Booth, GSAL Business for Chicago Booth coursework where up to three courses can transfer into a Booth MBA upon admission, and Returning Scholars for non-credit auditing in select humanities and social science areas. Students receive an official UChicago transcript with letter grades, gain access to libraries and faculty that includes Nobel Prize winners, and work with personalized advisors on course selection. About 36 percent of GSAL students go on to pursue a postgraduate degree at the University of Chicago. Two alumni talk through their experiences. The first used GSAL Business as an entry point after moving from California to Chicago, took three Booth courses, earned letters of recommendation from two professors, finished his part-time Booth MBA while working at McKinsey, and recently joined an AI startup in Los Angeles. The second came from a background outside engineering, used GSAL to take classes across departments, and built relationships that led to admission into UChicago's master's in computer science, which he just finished. Esther outlines the intensive advising model that begins at the admissions interview, the broader student support network for writing coaching and time management, and the range of students the program serves, from recent graduates testing graduate fields to mid-career professionals upskilling in areas like AI. The session closes with application deadlines of June 2 for international and September 2 for domestic students, a cost of $4,785 per course, scholarship availability, and audience questions on credit minimums for international students, the Returning Scholars audit policy, and pathways for combining math with humanities or computational social sciences. Chapters: 0:00 Welcome and program history 1:50 Meet the alumni panel 3:08 What the program offers 4:34 Three student tracks 6:15 Booth pathway and faculty access 8:14 Suraj's path into the program 11:21 Classroom experience and integration 13:13 Cole's path to computer science 17:35 Who applies and why 21:39 Advising and student support 27:04 Application deadlines and costs 30:23 International student credit rules 35:14 Returning Scholars audit track 40:34 Closing thoughts from alumni About Graduate Student-Large Forge connections with esteemed professors, engage in thought-provoking class discussions, and access unparalleled resources while taking for-credit courses at a world-renowned institution. The Graduate Student-at-Large (GSAL) is tailored for individuals seeking to refine their academic interests, enhance their professional trajectory, or prepare for advanced graduate studies. This immersive experience equips students with the skills, credentials, and confidence to achieve their aspirations. Learn more about GSAL: https://graham.uchicago.edu/program/gsal/ About Graham The Graham School is a one-of-a-kind intellectual community that brings the best of the University of Chicago to lifelong learners who are seeking discovery and discernment. Through an array of distinctive programs and courses in the Great Books, the liberal arts, and advanced leadership, we welcome learners who seek to deepen their understanding of the world and lead examined lives of purpose. Learn more at https://graham.uchicago.edu