Michael S. Malone - The Everything College Survival Book: From Social Life To Study Skills—all You Need To Fit Right In

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THE
EVERYTHING
COLLEGE
SURVIVAL
BOOK

Second Edition

From social life to study skills
all you need to fit right in!

Michael S. Malone

Adams Media
Avon, Massachusetts

This book is dedicated to my parents, Deborah and David Malone, and to Greg Wells. Without their love, faith, and guidance, I would not be in a position to write this book.

Copyright 1997, 2005, F+W Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

An Everything Series Book.
Everything and everything.com are registered trademarks of F+W Media, Inc.

Published by Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc.
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com
ISBN 10: 1-59337-334-1
ISBN 13: 978-1-59337-334-4
Printed in the United States of America.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Malone, Michael S.
The everything college survival book / Michael S. Malone.-- 2nd ed.
p. cm.
(Everything series book)
Rev. ed. of: The everything college survival book / Jason Rich. 1997.
ISBN 1-59337-334-1
1. College student orientation--United States--Handbooks, manuals, etc.
I. Rich, Jason. Everything college survival book. II. Title. III. Series: Everything series.

LB2343.32.R53 2005
378.1'98--dc22

2004026913

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the
American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations

Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.

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Contents

Acknowledgments

Thanks first to Gina for gentle criticisms, generous compliments, and constant encouragement. Thanks also to Leslie for reading and rereading every word before it was finalized. Final thanks go to Linda, Mary, Rich, and Ruth for guidance in their areas of expertise.

Top Ten Things to Do During Your First Year of College

1. Find a favorite local restaurant: Cafeteria food will get old before long, so find a place you and your friends can visit for an escape or a planned night out.

2. Visit a new friend at his home: Travel to see a different part of the country meet a new college friend's family and enjoy the break from classes.

3. Bring a new friend home with you: Show off your hometown, introduce your new friend to your family and high school buddies, and enjoy a favorite homecooked meal.

4. Get to know the library: Become acquainted with the campus library early in your college career and you'll see the benefits until the day you graduate.

5. Send a thank you note home: Write a heartfelt letter to your parents thanking them for all their love and support throughout your life. They'll treasure it for years to come.

6. Visit your high school teachers: Round up some friends, visit your old teachers and tell them about college. Thank them for helping you get there.

7. Join a campus organization: Get involved! Find an organization that interests you and attend meetings, plan events, and meet great new friends.

8. Attend parties: Gather a group of friends to dance, play games, or just hang out. Find your place in the social scene and balance out your study stress.

9. Invite a professor to the cafeteria for lunch: Your professor may be on campus for lunch anyway, so invite her to join you for a meal. Getting to know professors as more than just teachers is a great opportunity.

10. Create (or revise) a resume: Get assistance from your school's career office and prepare a resume that will impress future prospective employers. Starting early will get you on the path to a great job after graduation.

Introduction

After twelve years of formal education, the end is in sight. Yet in order to pursue your dreams and increase your earning potential you are about to head to college. Just an undergraduate degree means several more years of classes, papers, and tests. If you pursue a graduate degree, you could be in school for another six to ten years. And you are actually looking forward to this?

Of course you're looking forward to college! These will be the best years of your life so far. You will meet lifelong friends and perhaps your soul mate. You will try new things, learn valuable skills, and be challenged to figure out who you really are and what you stand for. You will fall in love with some of your classes (and perhaps classmates), deeply discuss serious issues with peers and professors, and enjoy many moments of quiet reflection.

You have achieved a lot and have done well to graduate from high school. You have learned what teachers want and how to succeed. However, college classes will move faster and your professors will be more demanding. You'll read thousand of pages and process dense information for class discussions and presentations. You'll also write hundreds of pages in essays, reports, and exams. To do so, you will spend many hours researching in the library, as well as many more hours studying in your room, in quiet places around campus, and even in the cafeteria.