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Negotiating Graduate School: A Guide for Graduate Students
The book is written in an easy-to-read format, taking a one-on-one dialog approach, rather than that of a scholarly treatise, of the graduate school process. This new edition reflects the growing influence of the internet and degree granting programs offered via distance education while updating information in the first edition relative to all aspects of the graduate school process. The book provides many useful exercises, tools, and techniques that encourage graduate students to take more control of the process of obtaining a graduate degree.
144 pages, Paperback
First published April 11, 1995
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October 3, 2025
Negotiating Graduate School: A Guide for Graduate Students by is a practical book designed to help both prospective and current graduate students navigate the many stages and challenges of advanced study. Rossman frames the process of graduate school as a series of negotiations—with your committee, your institution, and even yourself—emphasizing that success often comes from understanding expectations and managing relationships as much as from academic ability.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its clarity and approachable style. Rather than writing in a dense academic tone, Rossman opts for a conversational voice that makes his advice accessible and encouraging. He walks readers through key phases such as choosing a program, working with faculty, preparing for comprehensive exams, writing a thesis or dissertation, and moving beyond graduation. The structure highlights how each stage connects to the larger arc of graduate education, giving readers a sense of direction and control.
Overall, Negotiating Graduate School serves as a helpful starting point for anyone entering or in the early years of a graduate program. It reassures students that graduate education is not just something to endure but something they can actively shape. The guide is a clear, encouraging roadmap for making graduate school a more intentional and successful experience.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its clarity and approachable style. Rather than writing in a dense academic tone, Rossman opts for a conversational voice that makes his advice accessible and encouraging. He walks readers through key phases such as choosing a program, working with faculty, preparing for comprehensive exams, writing a thesis or dissertation, and moving beyond graduation. The structure highlights how each stage connects to the larger arc of graduate education, giving readers a sense of direction and control.
Overall, Negotiating Graduate School serves as a helpful starting point for anyone entering or in the early years of a graduate program. It reassures students that graduate education is not just something to endure but something they can actively shape. The guide is a clear, encouraging roadmap for making graduate school a more intentional and successful experience.
Displaying 1 of 1 review