This is an informative book to those students who want to pursue a PhD degree in the U.S., and other countries to some extent. Because I am already a PhD student and had worked for last 8 years in companies before I came here, the first half of the book was just not bad. However, the second half contains the information I really need, without which I would make some irreversible mistakes. If anyone is planning to get a PhD degree in the US, I strongly recommend you to read this book. If you are already a PhD student in the U.S., I still strongly recommend you to
read at least chapter 15, and if you have a bit more spare time, I bet you also would like to
read chapter 8, 14, and 16.
Followings are the summary of the book.
Educational use only.
Ch 1. Deciding to go to graduate school
In this chapter, the author discusses about the things before you are accepted, such as "which degree you need to pursue", "the importance of prior research experience for getting accepted", " how to select a school", "general admissions process", "criteria for admission", "information about financial aid", and "information for foreign students".
Ch 2. Selecting an advisor: Whose lab is right for me
In this chapter, the author gives some information about how to select an advisor and the factors to consider such as research interest, personality, funding status, reputation, even tenure status, etc.
Ch 3. The stages of graduate school
This chapter is to explain several big steps in grad school: coursework, qualifying exam, proposal, writing dissertation, and the final oral defence.
Ch 4. Classes, journal clubs, lab meetings, and seminars
This chapter is about the things listed on the title.
Ch 5. The absent Professor
It tells you what to do when professor is not always available which is a very common in most graduate schools.
Ch 6. How you learn
If your professor is not always around you and teach you, then how to learn stuff?: observing others, lab meeting and journal clubs, private meeting with your professor, classes and seminars, reading scientific literature, from your mistakes and mishaps, and from constructive criticism.
Ch7. Deciding on research projects for your dissertation
It tells as the topic is.
Ch8. Networking
Besides studying, a very important thing is to be social. It is a very important factor for you to succeed. You can network through your advisor, seminars, and meetings.
Ch9. Picking a dissertation committee, and defending the proposal at the preliminary oral exam
Picking the committee is as important as selecting your advisor.
Ch 10. The life of a graduate student
Coursework for the first a few years and research for the last a few years. In this chapter, the author also discusses things about how much you are expected to work and how much is enough for a dissertation.
Ch 11. Some additional aspects of graduate school life: Lab notebooks, etiquette, competition, luck
The topic of the chapter is pretty much self-explanatory.
Ch 12. Do I belong here?: Insecurity and stress
It says that some students may feel they don't belong to the lab, and some of them may drop at the middle.
Ch 13. Foreign students: Unique problems and stresses
In this chapter, the author discusses some unique problems of foreign students: cultural differences, English, loneliness, homesickness.
Ch 14. On the art of scientific writing
It teaches you what you can do to improve your skill of scientific writing:
Read lots of scientific papers in your field. Through reading papers, you will get to know the specific writing style in your field.
Ch 15. What should your goals be while in graduate school
Form a networking framework, become proficient in some useful techniques, make your research tells a story, learn to write a grant proposal, publish two to three first-author papers, become a good public speaker, finish graduate school within a reasonable amount of time, keep an eye on how your faculty think and conduct themselves, secure a postdoctoral position in a well-respected lab.
Ch 16. Times they are A-Changing
Situation has changed that to get a faculty position is not as easy as it is before. How to survive in this marketplace? Pieces of advice: learn multi-skills, be ready for industry, teach at a secondary college.
Ch 17. The end is in sight: writing the dissertation
The most important thing we should keep in mind when you are writing your dissertation is to have copies of your dissertation, hard copies and backups.
Ch 18. The final Oral Exam (The defence)
Final defence could be very stressful, but usually you don't have to worry. That's because, 1) you knows the best at this small universe, 2) if you are not ready, your professor would not approve your oral exam. However, be prepared.
The end of this book is References and Additional Reading
