The First-Gen Guide to Grad School: Advice from One Student to Another - Hardcover

Kincaid, John D.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0520428099 ISBN 13: 9780520428096

Publisher: University of California Press, 2026

Synopsis

A compassionate and encouraging companion, The First-Gen Guide to Grad School has a message for all who aspire to keep learning and developing professionally: You belong.
 
For first-generation college students, navigating undergraduate life is hard enough. But applying to graduate school? That's an even taller mountain to climb. Accessible and inclusive, offering practical advice for everyone from community college transfers to adult learners with jobs and kids, The First-Gen Guide to Grad School empowers all students to pursue their educational and career goals.
 
Before John D. Kincaid became a sociologist, he was a first-gen student struggling to make grades and decode the unwritten rules of academia. With humor and heart, he demystifies the process of applying to master's, certificate, and PhD programs and tackles psychological barriers like financial anxiety and self-doubt. There are strategies here for choosing schools, writing personal statements, and understanding timelines and funding. Drawing on a decade of experience running application workshops, Kincaid pairs helpful checklists and examples with candid stories of what grad school is really like.

About this title

About the Author

John D. Kincaid is Associate Professor of Sociology at California State University, Stanislaus. A first-generation college student, he is the proud holder of a 3.001 undergraduate GPA.

From the Back Cover

"The First-Gen Guide to Grad School demystifies the hidden curriculum of academia with a blend of humor, vulnerability, and strategic guidance that is as emotionally resonant as it is practical. This is the kind of book that students will keep carrying with them―not just as a resource, but as a reminder that they belong, that they are capable, and that they are not alone. I wish I had it when I was applying to grad school."―Nancy Huante-Tzintzun, Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies, California State University, Sacramento

"John Kincaid's book cuts through all the pretentious and elitist nonsense of academia to give prospective students the information they need to apply and succeed in graduate school. His style is disarming, appealing, and bound to resonate with his audience."―Fred Block, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, University of California, Davis

"With thoughtful attention to the experiences of first-generation graduate students, Kincaid clearly breaks down the challenges and uncertainties of preparing for and applying to grad school. Blending humor with firsthand insight, he offers a practical road map for students considering post-baccalaureate paths in their fields."―Manuel Fernando Rios, Professor of Fine Art, Woodland Community College

"Rooted in personal stories and real-life lessons, this book offers first-generation college students a practical guide for navigating the path toward grad school that also honors all the emotions that come with the process. It carries the steady warmth of a trusted mentor, making the path feel doable and deeply relatable."―Ricky Gutierrez-Maldonado, Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies, Cosumnes River College

Edition details

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0520428099
• ISBN 13: 9780520428096
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 301