Get Into Graduate School:  A Strategic Approach for Master’s and Doctoral Candidates, by a nationwide team of graduate school admissions advisers, published by Kaplan

I happen to have read this book after finishing two graduate programs, one a Master’s of Science in Engineering Management (a degree that is not mentioned in the course of this book), and the other a Master’s of Arts in Military History, but its information is useful for graduate students in a wide variety of fields seeking either Master’s or Doctoral degrees.  As can be expected, this book has a “catch-as-many-as-possible” approach in its topics, preferring to tackle the most popular fields of study and the most popular concerns that insecure would-be graduate students have, meaning that people with unconventional graduate school interests are likely to find less specifically about them, and people of normal backgrounds (i.e. non-disabled straight white males) are likely not to find a lot of information specifically about their graduate school experiences.  Caveat lector.

Nonetheless, the book is not completely useless, and indeed there is much information here that any graduate student in any program can learn from.  Part One of the book introduces the reader to graduate programs–Chapter One looks at the goals of the reader (presumably a would-be graduate student), Chapter Two looks at finding information about graduate school programs, and Chapter Three looks at evaluating graduate school programs.  Part Two covers the process of applying to graduate school–Chapter Four talks about the requirements of graduate programs, Chapter Five talks about preparing the application, Chapter Six talks about the ever-important personal statement, and Chapter Seven talks about what happens after you apply.  Part Three is really the most “optional” part of the book for most readers, examining special situations–Chapter Eight looks at re-entry students, Chapter Nine looks at minority students, Chapter Ten looks at students with disabilities, and Chapter Eleven looks at International students.  Part Four looks at the least “optional” part of the book, the part on financing the degree–Chapter Twelve looks at planning the investment, Chapter Thirteen examines sources of financial aid, Chapter Fourteen looks at the financial aid application process, and Chapter Fifteen looks at loans.  Part Five, perhaps the most interesting part of the book, and certainly the most readable section, looks at specific courses of graduate study, which chapters on social work, education, psychology, nursing, humanities and social sciences, engineering, computer science, health, and science programs.  The book closes with a lengthy list of internet resources for the reader who desires further information (especially about nursing).

Overall, the book is very informative, and certainly filled with useful information.  There are some minor copy-editing flaws which could have been corrected with a bit more careful fine tooth comb, and the book is perhaps a bit front-loaded with more boring information, only getting really interesting to read towards the end as it talked about specific courses of study.  Nonetheless, despite its flaws, it is a worthy resource for those seeking to attend graduate school with the desire to do it right, or at least begin with eyes wide open.