Visual Walkthrough: Incorporate To-Do Lists into Your Planner
Finding a Balance
Always Start with Academics
Your Schedule Will Lead the Way
All Work and No Play Isn’t a Good Solution
Be Flexible
PART II: STUDY SKILLS
5. LEARNING PREFERENCES AND STUDYING
What Is VARK?
Understanding the VARK
I Know My VARK Score: Now What?
Visual Walkthrough: Use Your VARK Learning Preference during Study Sessions What Is Myers-Briggs?
Personality Type Can Influence College Choices
Study with Your Learning Preferences in Mind
Create a Study Plan
Make Connections with Study Notes
Study with Others
Take Practice Tests
6. CRITICAL THINKING
Critical Thinking in College
Five Steps for Critical Thinking
Try Not to Inhibit Critical Thinking
Where to Use Your Critical Thinking Skills
Critical Thinking
Combine Your Interests with Requirements
Map Out Your Academic Plan
Visual Walkthrough: Balance Your Course Load
Get Help from an Academic Advisor or Mentor
Be Smart about Class Exploration
12. MANAGING YOUR MONEY
Create and Manage a Budget
Visual Walkthrough: Budgeting
Understand Your Financial Aid Package
Types of Aid
Applying for Aid
Use Credit Cards Wisely
Choosing a Credit Card
Control Your Spending
Know When to Put the Card Away
Get Help
Your Credit History
13. EXPERIENCING DIFFERENCE
Acknowledge Differences
Keep an Open Mind
Challenge Stereotypes
Understand and Respect Difference
Create Meaningful Connections
Find a Community
Look for Campus Resources
Visual Walkthrough: Learn about Your College’s Diversity Resources
Learn from Differences
Authentic Communication
Mutual Respect
14. STAYING HEALTHY AND REDUCING STRESS
Eat, Sleep, and Exercise
Keep Your Body Fueled
Visual Walkthrough: Making Balanced Food Choices
Find a Sleep Solution
Exercise Can Make All the Difference
Manage Your Stress
Build a Community
through 14 will help you with aspects of college life beyond academics: managing money, embracing diversity, making healthy choices, managing stress, and navigating the social scene. Lastly, Chapter 15 empowers you with concrete strategies as you begin your career exploration.
Appendix A, Living on Campus, contains tips and advice for students who live on campus, such as avoiding conflicts with roommates, building relationships with residential advisors, and taking advantage of on-campus opportunities.
Appendix B, Living off Campus, offers guidance for students who live off campus, such as establishing a workable home/work/life balance and how getting involved in campus activities can support overall success in college.
For more details on these chapters, please see the Preface for Instructors on pages xi–xix.
Table of Contents.
Browsing through the brief table of contents at the beginning of the book will usually guide you to the information you need. If not, consult the more detailed table of contents included inside the back cover.
Getting Started Guides.
Ease your transition to college by reviewing these guides at the beginning of the text to see what you should keep in mind during your first week, month, and termin college.
Index.
If you can’t locate what you need in either table of contents, consult the index at the back of the book, beginning on page I-1. The index can be especially useful if you’re looking for something specific and you know the termfor it. For example, if you want help creating a to-do list, you could simply look under “todo list” in the index and then go to the designated pages.
Lists of Features.
Just before the end of the book, you’ll find a quick guide to some of the most often consulted parts of this book: “5 Questions” and “5 Ways” lists, Case Studies, Checklists, Getting Started Guides, Quick Tips, and Visual Walkthroughs (illustrated explanations of key points).
Preface for Instructors
APocket Guide to College Success, Second Edition, is a unique handbook for college students. In contrast to longer, traditional texts, it is organized as a “go-to” resource that’s easy to dig into whenever necessary. Creating a handy college guide that students could refer to quickly and easily has always been the driving force behind this book.
A Pocket Guide to College Success is just that a friendly resource, succinct and understandable, filled with digestible advice and doable strategies, that students fromvarious backgrounds can refer to periodically in a first-year college success course, throughout their college years, and in the years beyond college or even before they enter college life.
Despite its brevity, A Pocket Guide to College Success covers virtually all of the topics and advice typically found in much longer texts, in a format that your students will read and at a price that they will definitely appreciate.
Building on the success of the first edition, the second edition of A Pocket Guide to College Success has been carefully revised to work well in an even wider range of programs and institutions: it offers expanded guidance for open-enrollment, nonresidential students, ensuring that it’s a great fit for two- and four-year schools, in traditional first-year-experience seminars and courses, as part of “Common Read” programs, and as part of orientation programs. It will prove a great fit for programs that find full-size texts overwhelming, prohibitively expensive, or simply too much.
The second edition also provides additional support on the transition to college and features new coverage on motivation, mindset, and goal setting to help students start off on the right track. With even more emphasis on asking questions, this text focuses on helping students drive their own success by regularly reflecting on their college experiences, proactively employing study skills strategies, and creating a strong college support system.
For many students, the first termof college can feel like visiting a foreign country. Suddenly, they have to learn how to navigate new customs, unfamiliar policies, and possibly even a new language. These students, and many others besides, can use practical strategies and advice to navigate the unfamiliar terrain. Each chapter of A Pocket Guide to College Success is written with an eye toward students whose understanding and information about college life are limited.
New! Chapter 1 introduces students to the value of college, what they can expect during their transition to college, academic expectations, and how to start finding their place in college.
Chapter 2 helps students build a college support systemearly on so that they are able to ask the right questions and get the help they will need.
New! Chapter 3 outlines how students can stay motivated, foster resilience, and set long- and shorttermgoals for themselves in order to drive their own success in college.
Chapters 4 through 6 discuss time management, learning styles, study strategies, and critical thinking, all topics fundamental to success in college.
Lecture Slides. Available online for download, lecture slides accompany each chapter of the book and include key concepts and art fromthe text. Use the slides as provided to structure your lectures, or customize themas desired to fit your course’s needs.
French Fries Are Not Vegetables. This comprehensive instructional DVD features multiple resources for class and professional use. This video is also available on LaunchPad Solo for College Success. Curriculum Solutions. Our new CurriculumSolutions group brings together the quality and reputation of Bedford/St. Martin’s content with Hayden-McNeil’s expertise in publishing original customprint and digital products. With our new capabilities, we are excited to deliver customized course solutions at an affordable price. Make A Pocket Guide to College Success, Second Edition, fit your course and goals by integrating your own institutional materials, including only the parts of the text you intend to use in your course, or both. Please contact your local Macmillan Learning sales representative for more information and to see samples.
The CS Select customdatabase allows you to create a textbook for your College Success course that reflects your course objectives and uses just the content you need. Start with one of our core texts, and then rearrange chapters, delete chapters, and add additional content including your own original content to create just the book you’re looking for. Get started by visiting macmillanlearning.com/csSelect.
TradeUp. Bring more value and choice to your students’ first-year experience by packaging A Pocket Guide to College Success, Second Edition, with one of a thousand titles fromMacmillan publishers at a 50 percent discount fromthe regular price. Contact your Macmillan Learning sales representative for more information.
Student Resources
LaunchPad Solo for College Success. LaunchPad Solo is an online course solution that offers our acclaimed content, including videos, LearningCurve adaptive quizzes, and more. For more information, see the Instructor Resources section.
Unique to LaunchPad Solo: LearningCurve for College Success. LearningCurve for College Success is an online, adaptive, self-quizzing programthat quickly learns what students already know and helps thempractice what they haven’t yet mastered.
Ordering information. LaunchPad Solo is available to package at a significant discount with select College Success titles. Please contact your Macmillan Learning sales representative for more information. To order LaunchPad Solo for College Success as a stand-alone product, use ISBN 978-1-319-06478-5.
E-book Options. E-books offer an affordable alternative for students. You can find PDF versions of our books when you shop online at our publishing partners’ sites. Learn more at macmillanlearning.com/ebooks.
Bedford/St. Martin’s Insider’s Guides. These concise and student-friendly booklets on topics that are critical to college success are a perfect complement to your textbook and course. One Insider’s Guide can be packaged with any Bedford/St. Martin’s textbook. Additional Insider’s Guides can also be packaged for additional cost. Topics include:
New! Insider’s Guide to College Etiquette, Second Edition
New! Insider’s Guide for Returning Veterans
New! Insider’s Guide to Transferring
Insider’s Guide to Academic Planning
Insider’s Guide to Beating Test Anxiety
Insider’s Guide to Building Confidence
Insider’s Guide to Career Services
Insider’s Guide to College Ethics and Personal Responsibility
Insider’s Guide to Community College
Insider’s Guide to Credit Cards, Second Edition
Insider’s Guide to Getting Involved on Campus
Insider’s Guide to Global Citizenship
Insider’s Guide to Time Management, Second Edition
For more information on ordering one of these guides free with the text, go to macmillanlearning.com/collegesuccess.
The Bedford/St. Martin’s Planner. Everything that students need to plan and use their time effectively is included, along with advice on preparing schedules and to-do lists; blank schedules and calendars (monthly and weekly) for planning are offered as well. Integrated into the planner are tips and advice on fixing common grammar errors, note taking, and succeeding on tests; an address book; and an annotated list of useful Web sites. The planner fits easily into a backpack or purse, so students can take it anywhere. To order the planner as a stand-alone product, use ISBN 978-0-312-57447-5. To package the planner, please contact your local Macmillan Learning sales representative.
Journal Writing: ABeginning. Designed to give students an opportunity to use writing as a way to explore their thoughts and feelings, this writing journal includes a generous supply of inspirational quotes placed throughout the pages, tips for journaling, and suggested journal topics. To order the journal as a stand-alone product, use ISBN 978-0-312-59027-7.
Acknowledgments
I want to thank my colleagues at Bedford/St. Martin’s Vice President-Editorial Edwin Hill; Publisher Erika Gutierrez; Development Manager Susan McLaughlin; Senior Executive Editor Simon Glick; Associate Production Editor Matt Glazer; Marketing Manager Kayti Corfield; and First Edition Editor Julie Kelly for their important contributions, expertise, and hard work. I amespecially grateful to my editor, Bethany Gordon, for her vision, guidance, creativity, and dedication every step of the way. I also extend my deepest appreciation to Maxine Rodburg, whose endless support and encouragement made this exciting journey possible. And sincere thanks to Clayton Spencer, Don Pfister, Nancy Sommers, Bill Wright-Swadel, and Bob Cohen for opening so many doors. To the remarkable CSAGraduates I have been truly fortunate to teach you inspired me to write this guide and I ameternally grateful. Finally, to my family Carol Horr, JimHorr, Brian Harr, and Stacy Harr, as well as my husband, David Shushan, and children, Kevin and Nathan special thanks for believing in me.
1
Getting Started Guide
Your First Week in College
Gather the basics. Pick up your student ID, set up your student e-mail account, and purchase any course materials you need for your classes such as books, pens, and notebooks.
2
Use a planner to get organized. Figure out if you’ll use paper or an electronic planner, and begin adding your class times and locations, any job hours, commute time, and other commitments including meetings, orientation sessions, family obligations, and so on.
3 Get oriented. Take time to familiarize yourself with campus before you need to be somewhere. Locate the buildings where your classes are held, the location of your job if you have one, places to eat, the library, the student center, the financial aid office, and so on.
4
Focus on your living situation. If you live on campus, unpack and begin to get settled in your new place; meet with your roommate(s) to discuss ground rules; and figure out where to eat your meals and how your meal plan works If you commute, figure out your best mode of transportation and how much commuting time you need to allow. If you have a family, research childcare or eldercare options, if necessary.
5 Introduce yourself to peers and campus staff. Find ways to interact with your peers and strike up a conversation in your classes, during campus events and orientation, or during meals. Also, don’t forget to begin reaching out to upperclassmen and campus staff when opportunities arise. Schedule an appointment
where are you having difficulty? Determine if you might be able to form a study group with your classmates. If necessary, meet with your instructor during office hours to discuss material and ask questions, or research your college’s academic support services.
1
Your First Term in College
Continue making connections. Meet regularly with peers outside of class, connect with instructors during office hours, and participate in activities that are meaningful for you. Also, meet with an advisor or mentor at least once or twice during the term.
2
Make changes to your schedule as needed. Reflect on what worked and what didn’t work, and make adjustments to your schedule to set yourself up for success in the next term. For example, if academics were harder than you expected, figure out how to fit in more study time. If you want to be more involved, you may need to investigate more deeply the activities that suit your interests and passions
3 Fit in activities that keep you healthy. In your planner, write down when you plan to engage in activities you’d like to do to keep your body and mind feeling good Maybe that means taking regular walks, meeting a friend for coffee between study sessions, or going to the gym.
4
Get help if you need it. College can be challenging academically, personally, and socially. There are many possible resources, such as campus support offices, peers and mentors, and counseling centers, that can offer you the support you need.
5
Prepare for next term. Jump into next term having learned from your first term! Reflect on what worked and didn’t work academically and socially, and what you might want to change or explore as you embark on a new term and register for next term’s classes. Be sure to meet any course registration deadlines and
Why Go to College?
You are likely attending college for a variety of reasons. Perhaps college feels like the logical next step after graduating fromhigh school. Maybe you’re excited to be the first in your family to go to college, or you’re returning to school after a break to pursue a new career. Or maybe you don’t know yet what you want to do and hope that college will help you find your passion or teach you the skills necessary to get a good job in the future. Whatever your reasons, this experience can open up new opportunities, and help you grow academically and personally.
More Opportunity
Your decision to attend college is a powerful one and something to take great pride in. Pause a moment to congratulate yourself and reflect on the path ahead. Your college path will be unique and distinct fromthe paths of those around you. The academic, social, and personal experiences that come your way will push your thinking, challenge your beliefs, and open up more opportunity for you in a number of ways.
To appreciate how your decision to go to college will likely impact your future, it’s helpful to look at a number of factors. Studies have shown that higher levels of education positively affect earnings and economic growth, job status and satisfaction, health and security, and parental and civic engagement. For example, recent reports reveal that college graduates compared to high school graduates often experience the following benefits:
Higher earnings1
Lower rates of unemployment and poverty2
More full-time job security
Opportunity to climb socioeconomic ladder
More satisfying career
Health insurance benefits and pensions3
Healthier lifestyles
More volunteerismand voter participation
Children experience more engagement and education at home
These benefits are significant when you consider the positive impact they have on your standard of living and your family’s well-being, not to mention the potential community and societal benefits. Going to college is a transformative experience. It is a privilege that will help you grow in significant ways if you open up your mind to all that’s possible, and work hard to make those future opportunities a reality.
