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How to college : what to know before you go (and when you're there)
2019
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Booklist Review
This comprehensive guide offers invaluable advice to college-bound students. The authors, both American University professors, describe the reality of college life from their insiders' points of view. They provide advice on all aspects of college life, including getting around on and off campus, staying healthy, finding and using resources, living and learning with peers, cultivating professional and personal relationships, and managing finances, time, and academics. Four types of exercises, which are geared toward high-school seniors and college freshmen, are found throughout the book: Know before You Go, Discuss before You Go, Do before You Arrive, and When You Are There. Sidebars of fast facts and pro tips, lists, and charts provide additional bits of advice, and the end of the book offers a tidy to-do list of main points. The authors address college-bound students directly and emphasize that now they have to be responsible for themselves instead of relying on their parents. Some of the best advice comes from other college students and professors. Anyone planning to attend college will find this practical guide useful.--Sharon Rawlins Copyright 2019 Booklist
Kirkus Review
A practical and thorough primer for high school students preparing to attend college.The authors, both of whom have taught at American University, help seniors master important life skills and adjust successfully to the first year of college. Topics covered include the expectedacademics, health and wellness, time management, finances, internshipsas well as ones that teens might not anticipate, such as imposter syndrome, fostering a successful mindset for being a college learner, and appropriate communication with professors. The volume is readable, well-organized, and explicitly claims to address universal needs and concerns. However, much of the advice assumes a middle-class, mainstream background, and first-generation college students, those living at home rather than in a dorm, LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities, nontraditional students, and students of color may feel overlooked or taken aback by some of the advice, such as to avoid talking about identity and diversity when you initially contact your new roommate. The all-too-brief section on sexual assault unfortunately addresses potential victims, missing an opportunity to educate potential perpetrators. Drug and alcohol abuse are, surprisingly, overlooked. College faculty and staff will appreciate the advice to parents about allowing young people to grow in responsibility. While not as universally applicable as the authors may have intended, this nevertheless contains information of value, particularly in addressing the differences between high school- and college-level academics.A solid guide, as far as it goes. (notes, index) (Nonfiction. 16-19) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Summary

The first practical guide of its kind that helps students transition smoothly from high school to college

The transition from high school--and home--to college can be stressful. Students and parents often arrive on campus unprepared for what college is really like. Academic standards and expectations are different from high school; families aren't present to serve as "scaffolding" for students; and first-years have to do what they call "adulting." Nothing in the college admissions process prepares students for these new realities.

As a result, first-year college students report higher stress, more mental health issues, and lower completion rates than in the past. In fact, up to one third of first-year college students will not return for their second year--and colleges are reporting an increase in underprepared first-year students.

How to College is here to help. Professors Andrea Malkin Brenner and Lara Schwartz guide first-year students and their families through the transition process, during the summer after high school graduation and throughout the school year, preparing students to succeed and thrive as they transition and adapt to college. The book draws on the authors' experience teaching, writing curricula, and designing programs for thousands of first-year college students over decades.

Table of Contents
An Introduction for Studentsp. 1
We Need to See Other People: A Letter to Parents and Familiesp. 5
A Guide to This Guidep. 8
Part IThe New College You
1Your Identity: Is Reinventing Yourself a Real Thing?p. 11
2Doubling (or Tripling) Down: Sharing Your Living Spacep. 31
3Beyond icebreakers: Getting to Know Your College Peersp. 42
Part IICollege is School
4What Do You Want from Me? Academic Standardsp. 55
5Going Pro: Professionalism in College Academicsp. 72
6Get to the Point: Read and Study with Purposep. 84
7There Are No Bad Writers, Only Unpersuasive Papers: College Writingp. 93
8Know Your Network: Academic Supportp. 103
Part IIITake Care of You
9Eat, Sleep, Pray, Play: Wellnessp. 121
10Health 101: Access to Care in Schoolp. 137
11You Are Your Own Safety Net: Staying Protected in Collegep. 156
Part IVThe Resident Experts
12Key Players on Campus: Staff and Administratorsp. 169
13Not So Scary After All: Professorsp. 176
Part VMoney Talk
14You're Not a Loan: Paying for Collegep. 189
15Your Life's Transcript: Financial Literacyp. 197
16Turns Out, There's a Math Requirement: Understanding Budgetsp. 210
Part VILife beyond the Classroom
17The Lay of the Land: Your Campusp. 223
18After the Activities Fair: Involvement and Community Responsibilityp. 230
19Work It: Career and Internship Resourcesp. 247
20Act Locally: Your New College Townp. 258
Part VIIYour to-Do List
Do This. Now. Seriously.p. 271
Know and Do Before You Gop. 272
Make Your Smartphone Smarterp. 277
Boost Your Browser: Bookmark These Sitesp. 278
Acknowledgmentsp. 279
Notesp. 283
Indexp. 285
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