Grad Skool Rulz Ebook?

[joss10]

Has anyone bought the Grad Skool Rulz ebook? Is it worth the $3? (It seems like a pretty big investment which is why I'm asking.) /sarcasm. Sorta haha.

 

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/93455

[AaronM]

totally worth it. It is very straightforward advice about the whole process, and continues all the way to tenure. Very helpful book and definitely worth $3

[socspice]

I agree. Worth it.

[magicunicorn]

Yes.  Absolutely worth it.  $3 is what today?  A coffee?  And the advice in that book will last you a lifetime (or at least for grad school which sometimes can feel like a lifetime.)

[RandomDood]

Just bought it and started reading it.

Pretty pretty pretty fantastic advice.

[jacib]

Current grad student.  It's useful, but not gospel.  We had a class that dealt heavily with professionalization, and I sent it to everyone in the seminar including the professor, who wrote back "I cannot endorse many of those rules, so follow with caution."

[magicunicorn]

@jacib - about when did your professor get their phD?  Just curious if there was a difference in experiences due to time.  We also had a professionalization seminar but had a different professor lead the discussion for each class each time.. and it was really interesting to note the differences in advice between older/senior faculty, midrange and younger junior faculty.  The advice given by the latter two was much more in line with the grad skool rulz book advice.. whereas the older faculty were like "I just published some papers and one day found myself tenured" (not so helpful advice if you aren't genius already) where the younger professors' experiences and suggestions were much more in line with the book advice (which is written by an assistant professor who recently graduated right?) 

Edited February 23, 2013 by magicunicorn

[jacib]

@jacib - about when did your professor get their phD?  Just curious if there was a difference in experiences due to time.  We also had a professionalization seminar but had a different professor lead the discussion for each class each time.. and it was really interesting to note the differences in advice between older/senior faculty, midrange and younger junior faculty.  The advice given by the latter two was much more in line with the grad skool rulz book advice.. whereas the older faculty were like "I just published some papers and one day found myself tenured" (not so helpful advice if you aren't genius already) where the younger professors' experiences and suggestions were much more in line with the book advice (which is written by an assistant professor who recently graduated right?) 

He got his PhD in the mid-80's, but he's also the faculty least likely to say "I just published some papers and one day found myself tenured" in large part because he says things like, "My adviser just called around and I ended up with an appointment at [a top 15 school].  That doesn't happen anymore.  You guys can't do that anymore."  He is one of the ones really pushing for professionalization stuff (we have a formal pro-seminar with all the faculty, this was technically a research designs class but it became more than that).  I wish I asked him what he specifically didn't like about it, but I didn't (it was over email and professor emails are usually very very short). 

 

His advice would probably be roughly in line with the Grad Skool Rulz book, in that it would say that you need to think strategically and stuff like that, don't teach in the summer unless there's a compelling reason to, develop good taste, etc, but it would differ on certain points, too, I'm sure.  I, unfortunately, just can't tell you what.  Ah, here's small but obvious one.  I don't think he'd pick "passion" as something to consider in choosing a dissertation project (though he might ask you how "interesting" the problem was, technically or sociologically).  He'd also give definitely different advice for coursework, but he'd agree with the general statement that "courses are important short term, irrelevant long term".  Rojas doesn't mention taking course to develop a relationship with a faculty member, for example, or just to get noticed by one.  He'd also encourage people to take course where you could get a draft of a paper out of it.  So yes, I think he'd say that on the broad points Rojas is saying things that everything agrees with these days, but some of the finer points aren't perfect, you know?

[Willows]

I bit the bullet and bought the book. It was worth the $3 if anyone is still wavering. 

 

I found that all of his information on the graduate school application process are things you can find here by spending a week on the forum, but the part once you've been accepted is the most valuable -- in my opinion!

[froot_loop]

Has anyone bought the Grad Skool Rulz ebook? Is it worth the $3? (It seems like a pretty big investment which is why I'm asking.) /sarcasm. Sorta haha.

 

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/93455

 

 

Buzz marketing, eh? I was going to buy the book, but then I realized that the majority of the admissions chapters were originally posted on Rojas' website, orgtheory.net. Even better, the original blog posts have comments and discussions, which shows the variability in opinion by other academics. Not saying that it's not worth the $3, but it seems like the bulk of the book covers the post-admission process. That shouldn't be a major concern until you get in.

 

Edited February 25, 2013 by froot_loop

[soc_guy_2013]

Easily worth the price. You can get info from the Orgtheory blog, along with comments, but $3 isn't much to pay for having the convenience of having it right there whenever you want to refer to it. Plus, the additional chapters come in really handy for planning ahead! Once you're admitted into a program you'll be asking questions about the next step. This book can help!