After pointing out gaps in several popular graduate school survival guides, Semenza (English, U. of Connecticut) presents his empathic approach to professional development tailored to graduate students pursuing a tenure track career in the humanities. He provides guidance on all aspects of managing the demands of academia while even raising a family. Actual samples of professional documents including a curriculum vita, syllabus of a course taught, and dissertation prospectus are appended. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) A guide to forging a successful academic career for graduate students. A guide to forging a successful academic career for graduate students. 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.
