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The author presents his thoughts on the value of graduate level education and the job placement rate of those with a Ph.D. (doctor of philosophy) degree. Specific attention is given to students pursuing careers in the academic field as tenured professors, as the author states that many such students are encouraged to enter graduate programs without knowing how the system works or the likelihood of employment. He suggests more data on individual graduate programs and advisers to prepare students.

The author presents his thoughts on the 50 percent attrition rate among graduate school students attempting to attain a Ph.D. (doctor of philosophy). He argues that despite the attrition rate's impact on the workforce, the ideal graduate-school attrition rate should not be zero. In support of this, he states that only admitting students guaranteed to finish the program would exclude those students able to finish the program but choose not to in favor of other academic and professional pursuits.