This page and those linked from it, are intended to provide resources and ideas about graduate school study. If you read it all, you’ll undoubtedly notice contradictions, because each person’s experience of graduate work has been unique. However, there are common themes about collaboration, finding information, focus, and time management.

Many of the examples and links refer to graduate programs I work with at the University of Illinois. But the general ideas should apply more widely. Obviously, you should confirm specific procedures with the particular program you are interested in.

Please share any suggestions you have for improving the site.

Contents

• General advice–general thoughts applicable to any graduate school program
• Admission to graduate study–getting admitted in the first place; personal statement; research statement; things to know
• Phases of doctoral work
• Financial support–assistantships, scholarships, grants
• Teaching while in graduate school
• Doing research–research methods and ideas
• Research writing–managing a large writing project in an unfamiliar genre
• Finding a job–faculty, postdoc, and research associate jobs
• What to expect: Your first year of teaching. Amy DePaul, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement (1998)
• Resources
• Acknowledgements

Resources

• U. of Illinois
  • Office of Admissions & Records–registration, academic deadlines (add, drop dates, etc.), tuition, grades, transcripts, diplomas
  • Grad Links–Bulletin from the Graduate College
  • The Graduate College Handbook of Policy and Requirements for Students, Faculty and Staff
  • Graduate College Career Services Office
• GSLIS programs of study
• The Center for Writing Studies. Resources for Graduate Students; Resources for Rhetorical Studies
• College of Education. Graduate Programs Handbook
• Arizona State University (1999). Preparing future faculty–program with useful online information
• Becker, Howard S. books, especially Tricks of the trade, Writing for social scientists, Telling about society
• Kung, H. T. (1987, October 14). Useful things to know about Ph. D. thesis research. Prepared for “What is Research” Immigration Course, Computer Science Department, Carnegie Mellon University.