Free Money for Graduate School, Fourth Edition

There is no reason in the world for a grant guide to invest 5,000 or so pages itemizing grants available at individual institutions - the most up-to-date and thorough sources for this kind of information will always be the institutions themselves. A quick scan of any grad school guide will indicate which institutions are most generous with funding for a given field. From there, you just contact your top five choices. Personally, I would never spend $100 on a tome that simply duplicates information available elsewhere.

I am equally baffled by the reviewer that complains about the general nature of the entries. If you're looking for degree-specific funding, there are web sites for profesisonal organizations that can help you.

I found this book to do exactly what it should. It provides detailed information about grants that you are unlikely to come across from other sources. After you contact instiutional grant offices and research funding for your specific degree, this book provides a wealth of information about those grants that are more hidden away in the woodwork.

For the 2001-2002 academic year, and as a doctoral student in an obscure humanities field, I have been awarded $85,000 intended to support myself and my spouse during the final phases of dissertation completion. These funds are the product of the information provided by this book, which I can't recommend highly enough.

It sounds as though the other reviewers are disappointed that one volume has not done all their work for them. For this, I would not blame Laurie Blum, but rather, the naivete of these readers.


A good source, depending on what you're looking for.   February 25, 2000
Sara Westhead (Southampton, Bermuda)
16 out of 18 found this review helpful

This book has lots of sources for students needing money for school. HOWEVER, most of the money is for students seeking a PhD, as opposed to a Master's. Still, don't let this get you down, as you just might find what you need.


Don't Believe the Hype   April 17, 2000
28 out of 28 found this review helpful

Getting money for Graduate School is a lot like playing PowerBall, or the state Lotto. Your best bet is always institutional aid through the grad program where you applied.

This book is at least a third chock full of fellowships. Many awards are for PhDs. I found two that I might qualify for as an MFA student.

It's inexpensive enough, and is a quick "read" -- but don't get your hopes up.

Best if you're a woman, minority (African-American, Asian, Native American, SOME latino) or looking for fellowships. No good for MFA's.


Where's the information?   September 7, 2000
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

If any research went into this book, it must have lasted about 30 minutes. I expected it to be a serious resource book which listed the many various fellowships and scholarships which truly are available at many different universities and colleges all over the U.S. Ms. Blum has not done the work necessary to make such information available. This book mentions, or describes about one-eighth of the funding that is actually available, if you are truly shopping for graduate study. How this pitiful excuse has made it into a fourth edition is a mystery to me. I guess it has been re-vamped because so many fresh undergrads or recent bachelor's degree students have not a clue as to what may be available. There should be a book (which this one is not!) for graduates who want to continue their academic careers, who do not have really helpful or generous mentors. Such a book would examine our universities in geographical sections, department by department. It would be twice as big, of course, and it would be worth a lot more money on the book market. If a searcher is expecting any real, extensive information from this book, information which is readily avaiable via telephone and fax machine, this one falls considerably short of value.


Mostly for PHD candidates   January 25, 2002
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

The biggest complaint with this book is its organization. The chapters are broken down with business, law and health all together. Which makes it really hard to find something specifically in business. Another problem is the fact that most of the grants are for PHD candidates and alot are school specific.