What They Didn't Teach You in Graduate School: 299 Helpful Hints for Success in Your Academic Career

by Paul Gray

Reviews of the first edition:
“Filled with enough advice to help keep one engaged and productive for an entire academic career.”?The Journal of Scholarly Publishing

“We plan to buy one of these for each of our incoming faculty and doctoral students. Take a look. It’s a wonderful read.”?The Review of Higher Education

"This manual's strength is in the crisp, straightforward tips on subjects ranging from how to handle students who may present a physical danger to how to navigate new technology for better teaching, research and writing. It is presented with a clever wit [and] includes a chapter on diversity that is brief and blunt."?Black Issues in Higher Education (now Diverse)

• This irreverent, but serious guide to what life in higher education institutions is really like, now enhanced by 100 new tips
• Invaluable advice that ranges from getting your Ph.D. to setting the course of your academic career

The 100 new hints expand sections on the dissertation process, job hunting, life in the classroom and on dealing with students, as well as on matters that affect readers’ careers, such as research, publication, and tenure. The book concludes with a tongue-in-cheek appendix on How to Become a Millionaire while an academic.

Genres: Academia, Nonfiction, Education, Academic, Writing, Grad School, Professional Development

279 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2008

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's okay. There's a nice chart about how long it takes for a publication to trickle through the editorial process and most of the advice seems sound. There are a few more unsubstantiated "studies show" sections than I'd ideally like to see, and some of the Strunk and White seems a little old fashioned, as does the section explaining how email works. That makes me a little nervous whether the advice about the job market, too, might be dated, although it was published in 2008.

[Angelynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I feel this book is great. Since the book was written in 2012, a lot of the authors' claims still hold today-- which is benficial as opposed to the information conveyed in older guides. I really respected how Gray and Drew were able to discuss life as an academic in a general setting and not oversway towards a specific field of study. Despite already knowing a good chunk about being a professor (thanks to many hours of discussion with my advisor) it was refreshing to have the words of widsom in text and it was also great to learn a little more. Not only did I obtain new input on academics in my field (mathematics/sciences), but I also received a good notion of the differences between my field and others (e.g. academics in the liberal arts). The illustrations throughout the book were entertaining. The author also delivered the advice/tips in a congenial manner, which made reading a lot more enjoyable. I recommend this book to anyone (in any field!) interested in pursuing a masters degree or PhD, with the intention of becoming a professor.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as helpful as I'd hoped. Among the useful hints was a lot of garbage, and much of this information can easily be found elsewhere. Also, aimed more at doctoral graduates in the early stages of their careers as professors than first year grad students. Finally, it is obviously a few years dated. Talking about how computers and the internet will change academia drastically would have seemed pertinent in the early '90s at the latest. A grad student today is going to laugh dismissively at discussion of the usefulness of wikis, because they've been writing in them since high school.

Nice and short, but probably still not worth the investment. Pick up a copy from the library or skip it for something more helpful.

[Haritha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a gift from the NCSU Graduate School to me for being a PFL Ambassador. This book a wonderful resource for grad students, especially for those considering a career in academia. Drs. Gray and Drew do a great job in providing very honest, candid and insider information into the workings of academic life. They touch upon a wide variety of topics- ranging from new doctoral student experiences, job hunting, faculty experiences, getting tenure to finances and family life, with even an appendix on health!

This is a great book to flip back to at appropriate points in the academic career. Even those who want to go into industry or research laboratories after their PhD should read this book.

[Victor Barger · Rating 4 out of 5]

What They Didn't Teach You in Graduate School is a practical guide to life as an academic. The authors, Professor Emeritus Paul Gray and Professor David Drew, enumerate the keys to success in a semi-categorized list of memorable (and often humorous) "hints". Topics include the dissertation, getting hired, conducting research, publishing, and tenure, to name a few. Doctoral students would do well to read this book and refer to it often as they progress through their programs and enter the professoriate.

[Ralph Palm · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mix of useful advice and pedantic nonsense. The book provides a lot of tips and insights into the workings of US academia. It's especially helpfully when detailing common expectations (which are usually, frustratingly vague). The end of the book, however, contains some substantially less useful advice on, for example, English grammar and the importance of regular exercise. The books editors would have perhaps been better off it they had managed to keep the authors more focused.

If you find yourself lost in the wilderness of academia, I'd recommend borrowing a copy from a friend and skimming it over a lunch break, but it's not worth taking any strenuous effort to track down.

[Marlena · Rating 5 out of 5]

- some really good tips. bookmarked pages to re-read and share with other higher ed gurus.
- loved the genuine honesty and opinion in the writing.
- great comics/pictures! when i first opened this book, i actually read the intro and then flipped to the beginning of each chapter to look at the picture (drawing/comic) on the first page of each chapter!!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think that there's anything new or extremely groundbreaking regarding academia in this book, but its genius lies within a stellar synthesis and ready reference of "hints" from the authors. Any grad student planning a career in academia should read this BEFORE starting a PhD and regularly refer to it during and after the process.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read list of tips for grad students and early career faculty to guide you through the ins and outs of being an academic, from grad school through job negotiations and tenure. I feel "Professor Mommy" offers a similarly useful set of information, with more of a focus on gendered challenges, conducting research, and getting tenure while attempting to have a family.

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

If they didn't teach you it in graduate school, be sceptical of whether this book will clue you in. It won't.

[Stephanie Graves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pithy and fun, but only sort of common-sensically helpful.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny. Helpful. I liked it.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great tips and suggestions that you may (or may not) learn while working on your doctoral research.

[Xi Xi · Rating 3 out of 5]

some insider stories about departmental politics

[Sarah M]

موصى من ا.محمد حطحوط

[Qiaowen Guo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for PhD

I like how this book gives advice. It directly tells graduate students what to do and what not to do. I love it!

[Stanley Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun book with practical information

[Swaprava Nath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a super helpful book for me during the job market days. Absolutely addictive, and perhaps the timing of the book was perfect for me. It is definitely going to help the folks who are close to the academic job market, near the end of PhD and perhaps before and after. I decided to purchase this after reading from the library -- so you can imagine the reason for my ratings.