The Complete Guide to Your Freshman Year of College Book Release
“Can you tell me why you didn’t come prepared to class?” I asked. Sitting across from me, a student blankly stared with no response. After tracking down this freshman multiple times throughout the semester, even I was struggling to know what to say or how to help him pass the class.
Many high school graduates plan to attend college the following school year, because college is the “next step” in adulthood. Some of these graduates are well prepared for the rigor of college academics, while others are slightly less prepared. What many high school graduates do not realize, however, is that college includes much more than academics.
The most difficult parts of college are often the ones which graduates will not learn in a semester-long course (which is a big reason why I started this blog). Today, I am excited to announce The Complete Guide to Your Freshman Year of College is now available on Amazon! Let me share a little more with you about this book.
Why did I write this book?
After teaching a freshman-level course for 2 years, I taught high school courses. When teaching freshmen, I remembered the struggles freshmen experience. Managing time well, communicating well, taking initiative, and committing to self-discipline are all difficult skills they must develop within the first semester if they want to succeed.
When teaching high school upperclassmen, I became increasingly aware of the steep incline from being a senior year in high school to being a college freshman. College professors are often less available, less likely to reach out to a struggling student, and less tolerant of excuses. With large class sizes, professors cannot offer the level of hand-holding that high school teachers may have offered.
Their inexperience in any context other than their own can cause them to struggle with social adjustments as well. They may latch onto a roommate or a fellow freshman met at orientation, or they may choose to stick to themselves and occasionally try to make friends.
The gap between high school and college is extreme for some students, but their transition doesn’t have to be abrupt or jarring. This book aims at guiding freshmen through the trickiest parts of this transition.
What topics are included in this book?
For many freshmen, the first month is completely overwhelming, because they don’t feel like they belong at college. They start doubting their own abilities and struggle to know what steps they should take. This book guides them through the trickiest parts of adjusting to college life and academics.
The book contains four chapters: “Social Life,” “Academic Life,” “Dorm Life,” and “Family Life.” Everyday examples illustrate why these topics are needed. First, let me share a story about adjusting to a college social life. A student, let’s call him Will, was not a social butterfly. Although he was friendly once you got to know him, Will wasn’t one to get outside of his comfort zone. Will had nice roommates, but they didn’t necessarily include him in social plans. As the semester went on, Will became more and more lonely. He heard that college was a great place to make lifelong friends, but in his experience that wasn’t going to happen.
In the chapter “Social Life,” I share tips that Will could incorporate into his routine to help him find friends and be a good friend. If Will would be willing to go slightly out of his comfort zone, he could meet new people. He wouldn’t be so lonely anymore, and he could finally feel like he had friends.
Second, let me share a story about adjusting to college academics. Christine was the exact opposite of Will. She was incredibly social and loved meeting new people in the dorms and in clubs on campus. Her struggle was balancing the fun parts of college with the school parts of college. Her day-to-day schedule was a scramble to finish assignments. When evening came, she rode with a group of friends to explore new coffee shops nearby. Although they brought homework to work on, they usually ended up talking instead. While her professors enjoyed her vibrant personality, Christine rarely earned a grade higher than a C in college.
In the chapter “Academic Life,” I share practical ways in which Christine could improve her grades. If Christine could learn to manage her mornings, afternoons, evenings, and weekends better, she could probably still spend time socializing with her friends in the evening. She could finally bring her grades up closer to what they were in high school, and she could see that she is capable of doing well.
Third, let me share a story about adjusting to living in a dormitory. Steven hadn’t shared a room with anyone in years. He was used to having his own space. Before arriving at his dorm room, he hadn’t thought much about adjusting to living with a college roommate. His roommate seemed nice but was barely in the room during the day. Steven usually waited until the evening to finish his homework, but his roommate and his roommate’s friends frequently used the room to hang out. They didn’t try to be quiet or considerate, and they stayed until the early hours of the morning. Steven was exhausted, stressed, and incredibly frustrated.
In the chapter “Dorm Life,” I share helpful steps Steven could take to prevent this situation from occurring. I also share steps Steven could take after this situation had occurred. Steven could reassess when and where he works on homework, and he could start communicating better with his roommate.
Fourth, let me share a story about adjusting to living away from home. Rebekah was a homebody. She and her parents had a very close relationship. Even though her parents only lived a few hours away, Rebekah felt extremely homesick. In the first month, she called home multiple times a day and came home every weekend she could. Her parents loved seeing her, but Rebekah soon felt like she didn’t belong at home or at college. Rebekah was stuck in a weird spot and felt disconnected from her family and her peers at college.
In the chapter “Family Life,” I share ideas that could help Rebekah adjust to living at college. Being away from home for months is difficult, but living away from home can be even more difficult for some freshmen. Rebekah could learn to call home less and go home less. She could also get involved in clubs at college and reach out to other students so that she could finally feel like she belonged at college.
What is the writing style of this book?
Anybody who knows me knows that I tend to be direct. In other words, I don’t beat around the bush but get right to the point. This book is written in a similar style. While I incorporate some examples, I write in a straightforward and practical manner. The language is easy to understand, because my desire is to give graduates the tools they will actually use to succeed.
With less than 50 pages, this book is an easy read that can truly help high school graduates prepare for college. Each chapter includes several entries that are no longer than 4 pages. My goal is for students to use this as a resource they can come back to again and again and one in which they can easily find the information they need.
Please stop by Amazon to view The Complete Guide to Your Freshman Year of College” and consider buying a copy!
