Graduate Schools Books

Its different from the text I used just a few years ago to learn calculus. It explains things step by step instead of just assuming you follow their thinking like most calc texts do. I realize the reason for the other texts doing this but in the end it gets distracting and confusing for the student and this text seems to realize this. The author of this book takes the time to explain EVERYTHING they're doing in a problem including the basic math/algebraic stuff so you don't have to waste time on it and you can get down to getting used to calculus. When I first learned calculus it was scary and confusing, this text makes it so much simpler. It does show you a lot applications for it in business which might be of help to you business majors out there. Unfortunately for my case, I can't say I found them to be too useful as my reasons for needing calculus are much more scientific. I wish there was a part two to this text because there are a few harder integrals and partial derivative problems that I use but are hardly touched upon. I need a version of this book for advanced calculus. (like the kind you use in physics and chemistry) Perhaps we can call it "Forgotten Advanced Calculus".

This is a great book for a general treatment of beginning calculus. It was definitely meant for people who have either already taken calculus or people who know nothing of it and want a easy intro. If your a non-mathematical student looking to prepare for your first calculus course this isn't a bad start, but you may want to consider augmenting it with a more complete text. As noted in another review (Smolley) this book doesn't cover the full content of a Calculus I course. Good luck!

If you are going to business school, and have been out in the work force for a while, or just barely scrapped by in business calc the first time around, this book is for you. The explanations are great and there are enough problems to warm up your mind.

If you are returning for a grad degree in math, science or engineering, this book is only a warm up. If you need to brush up on the hard core calc that was covered in engineering calc, then further study will be required.

I did plenty of calculus in undergrad, but I haven't used it since about 12 years. Now that I am in graduate business school, I needed a refresher on calculus. This book is perfect. Even if you are new to calculus, this book will work for you. I suggest that you do the exercises at the back of each chapter to solidify your understanding. "Practice makes perfect" is at least true in mathematics!

I recommend this text for anyone either taking calc for the first time or reviewing after having been away for any amount of time.

Alan did a great job with this book. Not only did it help me to understand the mistakes I have made with graduate school but it also helped me to take a good look at my life. I needed help and after I read the book it was like I had a better outlook on life.The book was very easy to read. What I liked most about the book was was how the author told his story and the stories of others. It was interesting, informative, sad, and sometimes even amusing. Great Book.......Would like to see more of Alans books come out.

This is a great reference book to have on your shelf. It is honest, straightforward, and very easy to read. In fact, it took me about two hours to read. However, don't let the brevity of the book decieve you. this book is packed with advise from every thing to enhancing your application to the final defense of your thesis or disertation. Since I've been to graduate school, I can say that the author talked about every issue you will need to know about to be successful in graduate school. I would even recommend this book to students who have not finished their graduate education. It should be required reading for anyone wanting to get into graduate school.

Being a college students, Mr. Paredes book was very helpful to me. I have plans to futher my education but wasn't sure where to start. Now, I have the help of this book. I have already shown this book to my sister-n-law who is filing out college applications, she loved it too!

This books feels like an abridged version of Getting What You Came For. It's very short so you can finish it pretty quickly. This book didn't provide me with the depth that I was really looking for. Also, I found the writing to be quiet poor. The author's tone was rather encouraging. He repeated several times that you do not need to be extraordinary smart to receive a PhD. He also provided lots of precautionary personal tales. After a few chapters, though, you will start wondering how many friends the author has and why they all seem to be making such terrible mistakes that eventually result in their leaving their graduate program.

I enjoyed reading this book and finding out that I have it in me to SUCCEED in graduate school. I thought grad school was only for the cream of the crop, not average people like me. I wish I would have known what grad school was like sooner because I would have tried to get in a long time ago. The most interesting aspect of this book was how the author weaved his story and the stories of others with facts about graduate school to tell a tale that was interesting, informative, sad, and sometimes even amusing. I thought the author gave commen sense advice to what seems to me most aspects of graduate school (although since I've never attended, I don't really know). Another very interesting part of this book that I haven't seen in other books, and I've been reading a lot lately, was the section entitled "History of Graduate School" This section gives you when, where, why, and how graduate school got started in general and how it got started in the United States. I could go on with other positive statements about this book, but I guess I'll cut it short and just say that, all in all, this was a very informative book and one that deserves high marks.

I'm coming to the end of my undergraduate studies (in PHYSICS!) and I was looking for some insight into what graduate school would be like to to try and figure out if a PhD is in the cards for me. This book is easy to read and FULL of useful tips. However the overwhelming majority of these nuggets of gold come from past PhD students in the medical/biological sciences. This began to get really annoying. I was constantly having to decide which comments to take onboard and which to leave behind (because I thought they wouldn't apply to me). As a result, I probably have in my head a very distorted picture of what grad school will really be like.
The title is very descriptive, it's just missing one word, but I suppose if they added it sales would drop significantly.

This book should be required reading for anyone applying to gradutate school in the sciences (physical or biological). A quick read of the text will give one plenty to think about before making the big decision. The earlier you read it the better off you will be. The most important reading regards selecting an advisor. I am in the process of completing my degree and in hind sight agree with the issues on which the author has choosen to focus.

The following was copied from another website's review of The Ph.D. Process, and I think it describes the book perfectly:

Graduate school in science is not an experiential extension of undergraduate education, where the passing of a sufficient number of courses usually guarantees one a degree; nor is it medical school or law school, where there is a delineated and set curriculum. Ph.D students are actually pretty much on their own--and they will sink or swim depending upon their own interpretation of how the system works.

The purpose of this book is to provide students with some insight into this unusual system. The authors--each a Ph.D. in the sciences--reveal the generally unspoken "rules" of the game. They offer the secrets of survival and success: What should you discuss in your application essay? What types of research advisors should you avoid? What kinds of research projects should you never undertake? How hard do you have to work? Are grades important? What steps should you take now to make yourself "employable" when you finish? What decisions can make or break your career? How can you network in the scientific community? What goes on at the oral defense, and how can you prepare?

Described also is the daily experience itself: research life, classes, seminars, journal clubs, lab meetings, interactions with peers and professors, qualifying exams, professional meetings, oral exams, dissertation preparation, etc. Anxiety, frustration, and joy-- all normal responses to a grad student's life--are also examined. (In quotes sprinkled throughout the text, numerous past and present grad students relate their individual experiences and emotions during their doctoral training.) A separate chapter is devoted to the special problems of foreign students, strangers to our culture and educational system.

There are many intellectual and emotional challenges inherent to becoming a scientist. This book prepares students for each stage of the experience. They will learn what to expect--socially, psychologically, and academically!

The PhD process is a great overview of graduate school in the sciences. It covers most basic topics such as choosing a type of school, applying, preliminary exams, comps, thesis work, etc. Of course each school does these things slightly differently, but the main points are there and the authors do a good job of pointing out where differences between programs are likely to turn up. This book also explains things that graduate programs aren't likely to advertise such as using students as `cheap labor' and what things to look for in an advisor other than interesting research. This is a fun to read honest book, and the anecdotes from current and past graduate students are the best part. I enjoyed reading them because so many of the same things have happened to me, and it's nice to know that I'm not alone.

I wouldn't say that I received any great insights from the book because I had some experience with academic labs before I applied to graduate school and had a pretty good idea of what I was getting into. I found it a little calming to read about others' experiences as I was waiting to get started. I think most students who apply to graduate school have already spent much time in labs with current graduate students so this might not be that useful to them as practical advise; however, I found this book to be an excellent resource for my parents. My parents had no idea what graduate school is like, and the fact that I'm at school all day and only go to class for an hour baffles them to no end. Reading this book helped them to understand the structure and goals of graduate school. Though I still don't think they understand journal club. (Why would anyone join that club? It doesn't sound like very much fun.)

I recommend this book to grad students for their parents or to undergraduates who aren't sure if graduate school is the right path for them. This book gives great insight into what graduate school is really like.

The book definitely unfold the whole map of graduate school life, especially for (biological) science students. Many aspects and stages of doing science research and how to survive in graduate school are covered. However, the lack of insightful guidence is the main drawback of the book. Pointint out possible obstacles does not necessarily makes gradute students' lives easier. The interviews from (past) graduate students do help readers build up confidence because it is comforting to know many people suffer as they do now, but at the same time few specific steps or directions are NOT distilled by the authors. It's like everyone just talks their experiences without any conclusions.

This book has been my savior I reccommend it to anyone even remotely interested in a PHd or a PsyD in clinical psychology you wont be dissapointed

I carefully followed this book's recommendations throughout the entire application process. I applied to eleven APA accredited doctoral programs in clinical psychology and was accepted at EIGHT of them! The book's detailed suggestions were tremendously helpful and probably contributed to this remarkable outcome. However, I found it important to use other sources of information as well, since some data in the book is inaccurate. Inadequate information on how to select the "best-fit" school from among multiple offers was the book's greatest shortcoming. P.S. Don't worry about typing the application forms - just use very neat printing or handwriting. Type everything else, however.

Everything you'd want to know about grad school is all in this one source. This book includes everthing you'd want to know about applying to graduate schools (overall acceptance rates, whether an advanced degree helps, what graduate schools consider to be important). However, rather than presenting the author's advice and opinions, the information is compiled from empirical research studies which adds much credibility to the information provided. Very helpful, is also the comprehensive guide of all APA approved combined, clinical and counselling psych programs. Provided are such things as scales indicating how clinically or research oriented a program is, the theoretical orientations of the faculty, what percentage of students are accepted into APA internships, the GPA and GRE cutoffs, number of applications received and number admitted, percentage of students receiving financial aid, percentage who hold advanced degrees, percentage of women and minorities, average years to completion of the program as well as research and clinical oppurtunities available. This book is very helpful in providing you with a general idea of what programs you may want to look into further, however the information doesn't always seem to be 100% accurate, therefore you may want to investigate further rather than accept all the information as factual.

This book gave me a realistic look at what it takes to get into a Ph.D. Program in psychology and how to go about getting what I needed. I have recommended this book to many others because most books on this subject only give you statistics of different schools- how many students they accept, what the average GPA is of someone who is accepted. THis book is much more practical and step by step.

For anyone interested in clincal or counseling graduate study, this book is essential. These areas are extremely competitive and one cannot go into the process "blind." The general APA guide can be useful, but it covers many areas and mainly gives the basic facts on all programs. On the other hand, this book is very specialized. It gives information on the programs, but also includes invaluable information relevant to clinical and counseling psychology training. It has information on the programs, but also tells you how to prepare yourself, so you get in to those programs.

I am interested in clinical health psychology and this book was a great help. It has a useful index of programs by subject area. It also has a self-rating from programs about how strongly they emphasize research or clinical practice. It is essential to find schools that will provide you with the experiences you are looking for.

Overall, this book will help you find programs that suit your needs and maximize your potential for getting accepted to them!

I got exactly what I thought I was buying. This is a really convenient way to have a textbook, because you can just stick it in a three-ring binder and take it with you! Also, you can just take a few chapters if you want, or the whole book! The pages are a little thin, but it's a wonderful educational textbook. As a B.A. in psychology, I would recommend this book to anyone looking to have a great learning experience and a textbook that doesn't cost a fortune.

The book was in excellent condition mater of fact it was new. I was very please with the time of shipment.

The Seller was great - item shipped in a timely fashion and the looseleaf version is much easier to work with than regular hardcover texts.

The book is easy to read and it gives great examples to better understand the concepts. I would recommend this book.

The book treats many cases and reaches high level of coverage; it is very helpful, that in practice one can find many similarities, since the cases are very realistic and explained in depth. My opinion is, that it is valuable because it is applicable.

As a first year graduate student, I was asked by my Director of Graduate Studies to read Semenza's "Graduate Study for the 21st Century" this summer before beginning the program. The book is a concise, easy-to-read introduction to graduate programs in the humanities that manages an excellent balance between useful information in the short term (how to approach seminar papers and comprehensive exams, for example) while also keeping the big picture in view (i.e. the looming job search). I found the book incredibly informative and worthwhile, full of the things that I wanted to know, but no one was telling me. A must read.

I've read "Getting What You Came For" and other highly recommended books out there about graduate school and academics, but this one is certainly the most up-to-date, detailed, and clearly focused on those who want a tenure-track job. Although this book is written for the humanities and I'm in a social science Ph.D. program I found it very helpful and it was easy to 'translate' to my field. If you know you want an academic career I highly recommend this engaging and well thought out book.

Finally! There's no better advice for graduate students in the humanities than what Prof. Colon Semenza offers in this incredibly detailed, thoroughly honest guide. I share other readers' regret that Graduate Study for the 21st Century wasn't available when I began graduate study in English. I've recommended this essential book to everyone I know in the humanities as well as the social sciences (where Colon Semenza's insights also apply in many respects).

I am a tenured professor of English (coicidentally, my specialty is Semenza's -- early modern drama -- I should say, however, I don't know him). For several years now I have been running workshops on the job market, serving as my department's "placement director. This is easily the best book on the topic out there, an essential work for any graduate student in the humanities. When I read it I immediately disposed of stacks of photocopies (sample letters, etc.) and stopped preparing a rather lame powerpoint presentation. Now, I simply recommend (read:insist) students take a look at this book.

This book was recommended to me by a well respected professor at my university. Because I am a fairly new graduate student who plans on getting a PhD in literature and teaching as a university professor, I figured it could only be helpful to give this book a serious perusal.
It is perhaps one of the smartest things I have done in informing myself about what lies ahead. There is a plethora of information offered to those who are automatically expected to know how to go about pursuing a tenure-track position in the humanities, but ultimately, do not.
This book covers everything from CVs to what, exactly, is expected from you in the way of teaching, research, and service. There is an extensive amount of material covering the importance of conferences etc. as well as a realistic lay out of what you can expect to be doing over the next decade of your life. The book can be intimidating, and downright scary, but serious scholars must understand that reality should always be preferable to a generous "sugar coating."
Perhaps what is most refreshing about this book is that it is laid out very simply...no bombastic and/or pedantic language! Nothing annoys me more than a scholar who tries to unload his entire lexicon in one page of information.
This book has proved to be invaluable to me and has given me a number of tools to help me further my career more quickly and efficiently.
Perhaps Semenza's best advice is this: "Do not pursue a PhD unless you are absolutely OBSESSED with your field"---with all that a person is expected to endure in his/her graduate program, this statement couldn't be more true.
So, if you have any questions concerning the proper path to take in beginning your career in academics/humanities, buy this book! It is worth every penny!

This is a great book with lots of important information on what it's like to be in academia. I recommend it highly for all graduate students as well as for their advisors.

I graduated a couple years ago with BS in Mathematics and was trying to decide if I should return for my PhD. This book was extremely helpful. It presents a very thorough overview of the PhD process with helpful information regarding thesis advisors (both selecting and working with) and thesis preparation. Material is easy to read (conversational tone) and very specific. Definitely recommend this to anyone considering a graduate program in mathematics.

Also gives extensive information regarding the application of a PhD in academia- such as types of jobs (tenure track, post-doc fellow, etc.), types of colleges and the workload (and pay) to be expected at those colleges.

End of text is an overview of mathematics topics important to the post-bachelors, pre-grad student.

It does not spend time explaining all the different areas of mathematics, so that part you'll need to figure out for yourself. Reading this book will get you excited to talk to your professors about a doctorate program. Good luck!

Dr. Krantz's lucid "Survival" guide is rich in advice for the aspiring mathematician who sees a plum job in academia as the ultimate career goal. With section names such as "How do I work my thesis problem?", and "Why does everyone else appear to be succeeding?" Dr. Krantz's chronological account of Math graduate school and the first few years in the work force does an excellent job of providing step-by-step guidance for us future mathematicians. This advice, and the author himself are at their best when talking about prevalent insecurity issues with which all of us mathematicians deal and showing us how such issues are indeed very commonplace and how the solutions are also commonplace and readily available to you.
Now, that being said, it is also important to remember that this is just a rough guide and that not every section in the book should be followed to the letter. More to the point: Dr. Krantz's advice should be used in addition to, not instead of, grad advisors, faculty in your department, and even more senior grad students. Dr. Krantz's advice can be detrimental in some instances and in others, it's just plain wrong. For instance, his advice that a student should NOT study for general and subject GRE's is particularly questionable; in fact I do believe the opposite to be true. GRE tests follow a well-defined set of rules and question formatting; thus, the question themselves have a finite amount of variation to them, and therefore it is precisely in this type of standardized exam MOST students will benefit from reviewing old material and going through numerous practice tests before taking the real thing.

Overall, this is a very good book, full of wisdom and it is, alas, even entertaining at times. If you're considering a career as a mathematician, you would be doing yourself a favor by buying this book and reading it with an epsilon amount of caution.

I gave this to my son who is a high school junior planning to major in mathematics in college. He thought it was great because it looks beyond just getting into college and taking a bunch of math classes. What does a math major do next? Do you have to teach? What do professors and TA's really do? What does it take to get into grad school and is it worth it? I would recommend this book to anyone contemplating any type of career involving higher level mathematics.

I'm a graduate student in computer science, working on my PhD. If you're looking for a sort of rulebook that contains all the meta-knowledge one needs to know to survive in the scientific game, this is it.
The book includes helpful information to questions you probably wouldn't dare to ask anyone:
"How do i choose a thesis advisor?",
"What if I can't solve my thesis problem?",
"Am I in competition with the other graduate students?",
"What kind of money can I make as a professor?"
There's also lots of information about life after graduation, especially relevant for those of us who want to pursue an academic career.

The book is written in an easy to follow style, and gets straight to the point. You really feel that the author knows what he's talking about.
I highly recommend it to anyone planning a career in a science related to maths.

I would like to thank the author for the wonderful book " MBA Admissions
Strategy " I'm accepted by University of Chicago the last round and
invited by Said Business School of Oxford for an interview. I only
applied 3 schools and all the 3rd round.

I learned the most from the book and formed a strategy and plan. The
book is insightful and well written.

Business coach and Director of the MBA Admissions Studio (www.mbastudio.net) A.V. Gordon presents MBA Admissions Strategy: From Profile Building To Essay Writing, a step-by-step guide to creating a successful MBA application with particular emphasis on essay writing. Chapters cover how to present one's personal profile in an optimum light, what MBA admissions personnel are looking for in applicants, principles of better writing and much more. "Expect your readers to constantly be asking the pointed question, 'So what?' If you give them a fact, a story, an observation or any other piece of information, they will want to know: Why is this relevant? Why am I reading this about you? What understanding about you do I get form it? What am I learning about your growth, transition, development, experience or insight? Why does this advance your candidacy? It is your job to answer these 'so what's' by showing how each piece of your essay connects to you and your argument for an admissions ticket, and framing this, at least in part, in human resources and organizational behaviour terms." Highly recommended.

Avi's book distills the admissions process in a clear and concise fashion. The book got me on track to think about whom I was and what I had to offer. Avi does a great job of helping you connect the dots among your dreams, achievements, and personality.

Book has given me a good framework to piece the puzzle together from the personal front to the school that will fit my needs. It has empowered me to make it happen.

This is not my first try at knocking on the doors of the top MBA programs. Fortunately I found this wonderful book before I started my campaign this year. The book helped me to identify several mistakes that I've made in my previous application, and of course much more things that I can improve, especially in the essay writing part. Amazingly, the insights to the application process that the author shared in this books matches perfectly with the feedback that I got from the schools that I applied before. On top of that, the book also gives out hands-on instructions to address each aspect with a lot of details. Also it teaches so many smart techniques on how to positioning and marketing yourself. To me, it is an extremely practical guide to help me through the process.

MUST HAVE BOOK. By far the best book on the subject.

Even if you have already purchased Richard Montauk book or any other MBA consulting book, I still advise that you buy and read this book.

If you have not purchased any book yet, I strongly recommend you to start with this book.

If you are targeting top 15 MBA programs, reading this book will be the best thing you could do to improve your chances.

Pros -
1) Very structured approach. It begins with helping you profile yourself.
2) No nonsense material. Very brief, succinct and to the point.
3) It leaves the obvious clutter out. Author does not repeat himself. I think this is the biggest plus of this book. There are many top sellers (no names), which are too thick at the expense of being repetitive.
3) Comprehensive.
4) Refined. Polished.

Cons -
1) Addition of some sample essays would be a very useful.
2) Schools specific research and advise will be useful too. I notice that most of the MBA admissions book in the market lack this type of material.
3) Part time program specific advise.

The med schl survival guide, its the BEST THING ever!! I got it from a friend like 3 yrs ago. Even my friend in med schl read it several times when he was starting. I've read and REREAD IT like 6x, and i keep going back, its even on my bed right now! I even find myself implementing some stuff there, she says whenever ur going thru any big issue, realize "This too shall pass" I quote" In med schl, as in life, little things can become big" She uses example of breaking up with 1st love, and how it might have seemed like a disaster to u at 1st but it soon passed. She even applies it to 3rd yr, dealing with senior resident from hell, and how guess what next yr u might not even remember his name, so take it in stride!!
Focus on the big picture!!

I carry this book around, its usually in my book bag, and has been past 3yrs, I start med schl in a few days and I go back to it more so now more than ever!!!
She talks about everything from motivation, to dealing with classmates, patients, relationships, gossip, missing classes, dealin with death, to not expecting others to understand, to realizing you made this choice...everything!

I received this book before starting my first year of med school, and I have turned to it again and again. It has helped me to maintain a positive outlook and to face new challenges. I highly recommend "The Med School Survival Guide" for all medical students!

This book is a good collection of primarily reminders: stuff you should already know but may forget in the rush to study. It's very lightweight in size and content, broken up into 101 "lessons" that are usually just a couple paragraphs.

So if you need something to read in the bathroom, I would definitely recommend this book while you struggle through Med School.

I am currently a first-year medical student in Texas. Before I started my medical school this August, I was searching for some "survival books." The reason I did that was before I went to college, I got a bunch of books with similar titles such as "The Survival Book for College", "College Freshman Pocket Guide." They proved to be very helpful, so I just wanted to find such a book for medical school.

It turned out that there aren't many options. That's why I bought this one, sadly. My first reaction after I started reading it was: Disappointed. It wasn't what I was looking for. I was looking for something like "this is how you take notes," "this is how you ace the anatomy class," or "this is how to make yourself not afraid of cadavers." This book is COMPLETELY not about this.

But, surprisingly enough, I LIKE this book. Make that "I LOVE it." What's "weirder" is that the more I read the book, the more I love it. I'm not exaggerating. The author didn't pay me so I don't need to lie. This is truly a book of wisdom. I really appreicate the author's wisdom, not in medicine, but in being a decent person and a decent doctor.

This book doesn't give you any specific instructions or tips to shine in medical school. It gives you the "directions." It shows you "how to think" instead of "what to think." You must read it to find out.

At last, I highly highly recommend this book for pre-med students. Why? Because I think it will help a lot for writing your personal statement! I must tell you that I was sick of the personal statement, and by the end of my AMCAS process I virtually depleted all my mental resources. This book would have filled my brain up, but I didn't know it existed at that time.

This book is a very quick read, but the information it has to offer spans everything from learning how to succeed on the wards to taking care of oneself, physically, spiritually and emotionally. It contains 101 survival tips, backed up with vivid and entertaining personal examples. Jennifer Danek helps assuage the fears that medical students may have upon entering their chosen careers. Her carpe diem attitidue and incredible humanism permeate the book and help future and current physicians learn how to approach their careers and lives with optimism in the face of death, empathy in the face of despair, and courage in the face of challenge.

I am always a little skeptical of guides like this. I never pick up those
"for dummies" books, Maybe it's a bit of a put off for me to purchase
a book that tries to teach you so condescendingly. But apparently these
books are helping some people - because thousands upon thousands
of "dummies" books have been sold.


How To Survive The Real World surprised me. When I picked it up and
started to read through the pages - I found it pretty enlightening and rather humorous. It wasn't like reading from some boring manual penned by a stuffy, elitist professional, such as allot of these types of books are, that are geared towards grads.


How To Survive The Real World is like sitting down to chat with your
best friends - the ones you can pour your heart out to and that won't make you feel completely idiotic. The friends who you secretly admire for their guts and grittiness because they always seem to have no fear when it comes to tackling difficult situations , and who have the crazy stories to prove it. And it's these same friends who you always have the happiest and enthralling times with.


How would you like to have 774 friends like this? This book combines real, sometimes brash, sometimes tongue-in-cheek, advice from the grads who set out before you and I, to conquer their destinies - but surprise, their grand visions didn't always match their real life situation.

This book is full of really useful tips and advice for just about any situation the college grad might find themselves in. Here are just a few examples - a guide to stocking your first kitchen, resume dos & don't(s), email etiquette - this is great material to have at your disposal. I would highly recommend How To Survive The Real World.

I am almost a junior in college now, and so when I saw this book I thought I didn't really need to worry about it yet. However, I'm glad that I picked it up and really gave it a look through. The topics in this book are not only relevant but also extremely helpful. After I started reading some of the tips and advice presented in the book, I couldn't help but keep skimming through. Everything from finding a place to live to finding a job that is right for you.

If you're worried about getting out into the real world on your own, or if you know someone who will be soon, this is a great book to get.

Though HOW TO SURVIVE THE REAL WORLD was written for the outside the college walls dilemma of college students with diploma in hand and eyes wide open with fear about stepping across the threshold into real adult life, this well designed and very informative book is a clever means for encouraging everyone who is making changes - whether that be from schooling or from career changes at any stage in life. Andrea Syrtash serves as special editor for this latest offering from the creative minds of the folks at Hundreds of Heads Books - a thoughtful publishing group that has hit upon a very user-friendly, unique, and entertaining manner of surveying important issues by seeking comments from thousands of individuals facing the problem subject of the book. The old adage of 'two heads are better than one' has been extended to 'many heads are better than just two', and the result is stimulating, easily digestible body information that is solidly practical and from a broad spectrum minds that comfortably offers from-the-trenches advice.

This helpful aid covers chapters ranging from topics such as selecting the type of job and the location and expectations involved, whether or not to return to further schooling and when and why, financial problems about credit cards and investments, the value of making contacts both as personal friends or people in the workplace who can help further the steps up the ladder of success, how to be 'on your own', to how to stay fit both physically and spiritually. The advice comes from interviews with regular people, the comments are brief but span a variety of viewpoints. The result is similar to stepping into a think tank for 'making it' outside the hallowed halls of ivy.

There is a lot of homespun wisdom in this fun little book. While it is an invaluable asset to the new grads, it is also a useful resource for people of all ages and walks of life as chances for growth become available! Well worth the purchase! Grady Harp, June 08

I thought it would be a nice, light graduation gift, but this book really tells it like it is. I highly recommend this for anyone who is about to face the Real World for the first time. Also good for those who need a refresher!

The type of real world advice varies from humorous to very practical. Many topics that recent graduates face are discussed, including traveling and the workplace. If you want even more details about finances after college, then another book entirely devoted to it will be more useful. However, I still give this book my highest recommendation!