From Student to Scholar: A Candid Guide to Becoming a Professor

by Steven M. Cahn, Catharine R. Stimpson (Foreword)

Steven M. Cahn's advice on the professorial life covers an extensive range of critical issues: how to plan, complete, and defend a dissertation; how to navigate a job interview; how to improve teaching performance; how to prepare and publish research; how to develop a professional network; and how to garner support for tenure. He deals with such hurdles as a difficult dissertation advisor, problematic colleagues, and the pressures of the tenure clock. Whether you are beginning graduate study, hoping to secure an academic position, or striving to build a professorial career, Cahn's insights are invaluable to traversing the thickets of academia.

Genres: Academia, Nonfiction, Academic, Education, Philosophy, Teaching, Reference

84 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

About the author

Steven M. Cahn, Ph.D. (Philosophy, Columbia University, 1966; A.B., Columbia College, 1963), teaches academic ethics, philosophy of religion, and philosophy of education at the Graduate Center and has published widely in the field of philosophy and education.

Cahn joined the Graduate Center as professor of philosophy and dean of graduate studies in 1983. He was named provost and vice president for academic affairs in 1984, remaining in that position until 1992. He previously taught at Dartmouth College, Vassar College, the University of Rochester, New York University, and the University of Vermont, where from 1973 to 1980 he headed the department of philosophy. He held executive positions with the Exxon Education Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and he is longtime president of the John Dewey Foundation.

Reviews

[Stephanie Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

This slender volume is a practical treasure trove of information for anyone in graduate school who wants to be a professor. I always feel like I was absent the day the handbook of How To Do This was handed out, and that I am just faking my way through this experience, but THIS Is the handbook I was wishing for all along. It deals with the whole process from the dissertation to job searching to interviews to publishing. It maps out the process and includes priceless advice for not only how to conduct oneself but how to get what you need out of the whole process.

Seriously--if you are headed for a life in academia, I cannot recommend this book enough. It is clearly worded and well written and frankly downright indispensable.

[Rashid Saif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invaluable to anyone venturing to enter the world of academia and scholarship. The book is forward, straight to the point and friendly. I wholeheartedly recommend

[Hunter Dewey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great introduction to academic. As a student still in undergraduate, I am debating between becoming a college professor or high school teacher. This gives me a great idea what graduate school would be like the typical experience of becoming tenure and the other responsibilities as a professor. The chapters are short, but with meaningful information to have success in grad school and academia. An INteresting read with it being accessible for help for many parts of one's career in academia.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing you can't gain from having good mentors and advisors within your own department and/or talking with other students in your department that are further along. However, considering the brevity of the work and the abundance of poorly advised programs out there, it´s not a bad tome to have.

[Jim Gulley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A basic guide to navigating academia and getting a job as a tenured faculty member. Cahn’s advice is practical, filled with common sense, and includes helpful tips. A brisk read that delivers value well beyond the effort required.

[Sherrie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not. Useful. At. All.

[محمد بلال · Rating 4 out of 5]

كتاب بديع أنصح به إخواني الطلبة المقبلين على التخرج والراغبين في الالتحاق بالسلك الأكاديمي. يأخذ بيدك خطوة خطوة في طريق الدراسات العليا، ويعرفك على معالم هذا الطريق، ويوضح لك مكونات وتعقيدات النظام الأكاديمي بلغة سلسلة وروح مرحة. وأجمل وأنفع ما في الكتاب هي النصائح التي يعصرها المؤلف من خبرته الطويلة بالبيئة الأكاديمية؛ نصائح تطوي لك المسافات الطويلة وتذلل الطرق الوعرة. يبدأ الكاتب بالتعريف بملامح مرحلة الدراسات العليا والفوارق بينها وبين مرحلة البكاليريوس، وكيفية التأقلم مع هذه الفوارق، وبعد أن يوطئ لك البيئة الجديدة يعرفك كيف تختار أطروحتك الدراسية، وكيف تختار المشرف وتتعامل معه، وكيف تبني شبكات من المعارف في مجال تخصصك، ويعرفك على خطوات التقدم لوظيفة أكاديمية بالتفصيل، وفي الفصول الثلاثة الأخيرة، التي هي درة الكتاب، يحدثك عن الأعمدة الثلاثة للحياة الأكاديمية: التدريس، والبحث، والأنشطة. ويقدم في كل من هذه الفصول نصائح رائعة تفيد الباحثين وطلبة العلم في أي مجال. قرأت هذا الكتاب قبل أن أتخرج من الجامعة، وذلك لرغبة شديدة تحدوني إلى دنيا الأكاديميا، وتعلقني أيما تعلق بالتدريس والبحث.

[Ainsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

On page 75, Professor Cahn opts to conclude his book with an anecdote from his time at Columbia University. One would think an accomplished writer like himself would recognize that the fact that he did his PhD at Columbia probably should have been addressed earlier.

[Lisa Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-have book!

This book is a valuable resource for anyone who wishes to become a professor. It also provides tips for graduate and doctoral students,

[Tristan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Revealing, unsettling, confirming, and exciting.

[Court · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible book. The author is on a mission to make you decide not to become a professor. There’s being honest and there’s being actively discouraging and this author is nothing but the latter. Also extremely short book for the price. Wish I could rate this lower than one star.

[Luketure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cahn's book is divided into ten sections, in which he narrates the process from grad school to the dissertation, to the interviews for a position, to the three pillar-like tasks for the professor: teaching, service to the university, and research. It is quite accessible, and each section centers around one theme of advice. Generally, this book can be summed up quickly - persistence is key, choose your advisor well, make connections and be friendly as much as possible, and peer-evaluated research is the most important thing to gaining tenure. While a helpful book overall, there was much lacking concerning my field of interest. A quick and helpful read for the liberal arts or science major. Recommended!

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful, blunt advice on the process of securing tenure and hacking the academic life. That said, I found the author's lack of respect for great teachers somewhat annoying. It was in these passages that I sensed the very mediocrity of mind that he himself attributes to teachers. I know he's giving useful advice and that there's a lot of pressure to publish, but he seems to have embraced the more superficial aspects of the academic lifestyle (the vulgar craving for "prestige" and "renown") too easily for my taste. His values are the academy's, and that's that. He seems like the kind of person who will do whatever one needs to do to get ahead. That said, this books contains many helpful hints for navigating the academic scene.

[Avory Faucette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 78-page guide is a great introduction to academia. It's short and precise, with chapters just touching on all the essential bits. Though there are longer, more in-depth guides, this tells someone who's considering a PhD what they want to know about what their life might be like for the next ten to fifteen years. Granted, it doesn't go into much detail about who should pursue this sort of a life, or how likely one is to succeed, but it does lay out the important steps and give some nice nuggets of advice.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read, finished it in one sitting, yet super helpful and comforting that one can, in fact, complete a PhD and become gainfully employed at a university. It can be done. Not a ton of new info, necessarily, but a good, concise overview of helpful hints. And same as it ever was, the message is clear: Publish or perish. No pressure, right? ;o)

[Anie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of this was not new to me. However, it was still a useful read, and engagingly written. For those who don't have guidance on these matters from their professors, I can see it being very, very useful.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's well-written and easy to follow but actually I am depressed now because all it does is make me realize how far I have to go!

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

change my perspective in academic career.
Although the examples are from social science fields but in general it touches the common issues in academic world.

[Miriam Tager · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent practical guide! Very useful information

[Rhonda Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent read for anyone thinking of undertaking a career as a college professor.

[Michael Tallman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers wonderful advise for anyone given the privilege of navigating the complexities of academic life.