Been There, Should've Done That II : More Tips for Making the Most of College

by Suzette Tyler, Jeff Fillion (Designed by)

In this unintimidating, pocket-sized book, students from colleges across the U.S. share their “hot tips” and solid strategies for success. Their revelations - and confessions - provide a “tell it like it is” manual that will help new collegians, as well as veterans, avoid the pitfalls of campus life and maximize the countless resources. Data confirms that retention of college students is based on their success in and out of the classroom. This savvy, ‘easy-reader’ reveals the academic and lifestyle management skills necessary for that success. From interviews with college students across the USA, topics discussed include the 'inside scoop' * Finding the best profs * Choosing a major * The ''secret'' to math * Raising your G.P.A. * Transfer tips and traps * The courses you really need (according to grads) * How to impress profs (according to profs) * What impresses employers (according to recruiters).

Genres: Education

260 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is basically a book of quotes with bits and pieces of advice for the college bound. Most of the advice is from college students, but there are some pieces of advice from college advisors and professors. Having been on both sides of the desk, I will say to readers that are college bound to heed some of the things professors say and suggest in this book. Most of the advice and suggestions are pretty solid, but there are some that you have to take with a grain of salt. There are also suggestions that may seem contradictory. For example, in the section about Greek life, you will find quotes from students that are both favorable and unfavorable to the Greek system. What that means is that going Greek worked for some people, and it did not work for others. In the end, you can get all the advice in the world, but you have to make up your mind and choose the path that works for you. Things like working hard, studying, good time management, and socializing in a moderate way are probably the best pieces of advice in the book.

There are also one or two pieces that are not accurate, which is why I say that you have to take a good part of this book with a big grain of salt. One particular quote was inaccurate, and it jumped at me because I am an academic librarian, and I know how things work. The quote:

"Know the web address of journals in your field so that you can access the full text without going to the library" --Graduate, Microbiology, University of Michigan (page 94).

I noticed the name was not given. He or she was probably in deep crap once he realized it does not work that way. As a librarian, I can tell you that advice is bunk. Most journals (unless they are open-access, and no, not all journals are open-access) do NOT just post their articles full-text on their website for you to use. They charge for that; you can get a subscription or buy the article. Now, if you are a college student, you can still do a lot of research without going to the library (if you must). Usually, your library offers remote access to its databases (it's part of the licensing agreement, and your tuition helps pay for it). Databases have a lot of articles in full-text, and if you find a citation to one the database does not have full-text, the librarians can usually locate it for you free. So, there is no real good way to do your research, especially as a graduate student, without using the library (sure, you can google a lot of stuff, which may or not be good, at your peril). In the end, I will give you one piece of advice not really in the book: become friends with the librarians. They know pretty much every resource out there; they are happy and willing to help you, and they can find stuff you never knew existed.

So ends my little pro-library and librarian rant. Overall, the book is nice and amusing. I think it would make a nice gift to recent high school graduates headed for college, but again, take things with a grain of salt.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

An opinion from a teacher with twenty years of experience teaching math/computers

As a college instructor with over twenty years of experience, I can say without qualification or conditions that this is a book that should be passed out to all students at freshman orientation. Unfortunately, the advice given in the book is of the after the fact type. By that I mean that the messages are those of experience that can only be appreciated after you have the experience of not having it.

My favorite sections were about interacting with your instructors and understanding that for most people, the major is of limited relevance. In terms of interacting with instructors, simply talking to them on a regular basis and showing interest in the subject is the best way to get yourself over the top if your grade is on the border. I have never failed to give the student who showed interest and a desire to succeed the higher grade when the issue is in doubt. Students who try to excuse their way out the last week have never gotten it. In conversations with my colleagues, that opinion is universal.

This is one of the best books about how to really succeed in college currently available. The best part about it is that it is interesting and lacks that dull pedantry that seems to be a requirement in all the "How to Succeed in College" pamphlets that colleges and universities hand out to their students.

This review also appears on Amazon

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome knowledge and funny --sort of a "been-there-done that" type of book full of college tips and tidbits. Like "set the mood--follow the format required" as a way improve your grade tip. Now that's funny!