Many graduate students continue to be regarded as "apprentices" despite the fact that they are expected to design and teach their own classes, serve on university committees, and conference and publish regularly. The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that the attrition rate for American Ph.D. programs is at an all-time high, between 40% and 50% (higher for women and minorities). Of those who finish, only one in three will secure tenure-track jobs. These statistics highlight waste: of millions of dollars by universities and of time and energy by students. Rather than teaching graduate students how to be graduate students, then, the guide prepares them for what they really seek: a successful academic career.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 5.0 based on 11 reviews)

An invaluable resource.

Applying to Graduate School can be an isolating and discouraging process. This book is thorough, practical, and not without humour. Well worth it.
October 10, 2008

A Must Read

As a first year graduate student, I was asked by my Director of Graduate Studies to read Semenza's "Graduate Study for the 21st Century" this summer before beginning the program. The book is a concise, easy-to-read introduction to graduate programs in the humanities that manages an excellent balance between useful information in the short term (how to approach seminar papers and comprehensive exams, for example) while also keeping the big picture in view (i.e. the looming job search). I found the book incredibly informative and worthwhile, full of the things that I wanted to know, but no one was telling me. A must read.
August 29, 2008

Great advice that often applies to all academics

I've read "Getting What You Came For" and other highly recommended books out there about graduate school and academics, but this one is certainly the most up-to-date, detailed, and clearly focused on those who want a tenure-track job. Although this book is written for the humanities and I'm in a social science Ph.D. program I found it very helpful and it was easy to 'translate' to my field. If you know you want an academic career I highly recommend this engaging and well thought out book.
January 08, 2008

A must-have for humanities Ph.D.s

Finally! There's no better advice for graduate students in the humanities than what Prof. Colon Semenza offers in this incredibly detailed, thoroughly honest guide. I share other readers' regret that Graduate Study for the 21st Century wasn't available when I began graduate study in English. I've recommended this essential book to everyone I know in the humanities as well as the social sciences (where Colon Semenza's insights also apply in many respects).
December 01, 2006

I wish I had written this book.

I am a tenured professor of English (coicidentally, my specialty is Semenza's -- early modern drama -- I should say, however, I don't know him). For several years now I have been running workshops on the job market, serving as my department's "placement director. This is easily the best book on the topic out there, an essential work for any graduate student in the humanities. When I read it I immediately disposed of stacks of photocopies (sample letters, etc.) and stopped preparing a rather lame powerpoint presentation. Now, I simply recommend (read:insist) students take a look at this book.
May 30, 2006

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