I never pictured myself as a writer. In fact, I rarely read books for pleasure—which is probably an embarrassing fact to admit. However, when I do read, I read books that help me process and solve my problems.

Since starting this blog in late August 2018, I have aimed my content at sharing helpful and needed information with college freshmen and their parents. First-time college students often arrive at college unprepared for the rigor of college life, and college parents often struggle to know how to help.

Freshmen can learn what does and doesn’t work by trial-and-error, but there is an easier way to manage this transition. This high school graduation present guides new college freshmen, giving them the how-tos they will need to segue into college life and academics.

What is this book about?

When I talk to high school seniors, high school graduates, or new college freshmen, I hear a few common concerns. Living away from home with people they do not know and living with pressures they are not used to can be challenging. Many students feel overwhelmed by all these changes.

When searching for helpful books available for new college freshmen, I found very few. Many of the available books looked outdated or tied to one specific area. I decided something needed to be done, so I wrote a book: The Complete Guide to Your Freshman Year of College. This book guides freshmen through the 4 most difficult parts of starting college: socializing, academic rigor, living in a college dorm, and maintaining relationships back home.

Making friends or finding your people is usually the number one concern of college-bound students. They are anxious about fitting in or finding friends. They can also be slightly clueless as to how to avoid looking so much like freshmen.

Performing well academically is usually a concern of college freshmen. Even if graduated seniors excelled in high school, they have concerns about the difficulty of college courses. High school teachers may have told them stories about what isn’t tolerated during college, but they aren’t exactly sure how to succeed.

Living in the dorm is another concern of college freshmen. This new living situation can cause stress. If they’ve never shared a room with another person, the idea of living with a stranger is completely unappealing. If they’ve shared a room with a sibling, they might wonder if living with a college student will be the same. They’ve heard the horror stories about horrible roommates, and they’re not sure for whom they should prepare themselves.

Maintaining contact and keeping open communication with family is a concern for some college freshmen. When life gets busy, they struggle to call home often enough. On the other hand, some college freshmen experience homesickness. Being away from people they know and love rips out the carpet from underneath them, so they struggle to adapt to this autonomous lifestyle.

How is this book designed?

When designing the concept for this book, my focus was on being practical. Most freshmen will not take the time to read a 100+ page book about what they should and shouldn’t do. They want a quick and helpful resource that is easily accessible.

This book contains 4 chapters: “Social Life,” “Academic Life,” “Dorm Life,” and “Family Life.” Each of these chapters include several entries which are concentrated on specific topics (e.g., “Packing for College”). The short length of each entry enables them to find and read the information they need when they need it.

For whom is this book intended?

College students of all classifications could benefit from this material, but this book is not intended for upperclassmen. This book is specifically designed for high school graduates bound for college, and it would be an excellent high school graduation present.

Finding the right graduation present can be a frustrating process, and in the end many hope that their gift is somehow helpful. This book can truly help a new college student by providing simple tips to help navigate college life and academics. Instead of adding to the overabundance of travel mug gifts, consider giving this book to a high school graduate!