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The Secrets of College Success
If you’re currently a college student, or plan on being one, you need to check out this book. Written by award-winning professors Lynn Jacobs and Jeremy Hyman, it’s loaded with insider information that only professors know--but few are willing to reveal. The over 600 tips in this book will show The tips are quick and easy-to-use, and the advice is friendly and supportive. It’s as if you had your own personal professor guiding you on the path to college success.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
11 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 16, 2019
Some of these tips were interesting and/or funny, but most were common sense. They seemed to find dozens of ways to give the most basic advice: go to class. Also, it didn't talk about relevant college things like living with roommates, socializing, and greek life. It was more about how to do well academically, which is important, but it ignored the whole person.
July 13, 2017
Amazing book for people going into college, so helpful this book was perfect! I'm giving this as a gift to all of my friends who will be graduating highschool next spring
January 1, 2021
Terrible format to convey information. Could do with actual cohesive paragraphs instead of endless lists. Good information overall, however.
April 24, 2021
This book is underrated and a gem. A really good value I recommend this book to all high school seniors and College freshmen.
January 30, 2011
This book contains tips for college students and soon to be college students that focus mainly on classes and academics. Most of the comments are common sense and students that have been paying attention will have already heard much of what is in this book.
The second half of the book included topics quite different from students' high school experiences, including making the most of professors' office hours, how to pick a major, graduate school, finding a job, studying abroad, and signs you are in trouble--to name a few. Unfortunately, the people that need to know that they are in trouble (and don't already know it) will never pick up this book. I have heard that more colleges are including a freshman seminar that teaches kids how to be successful in college. This would make a good textbook.
I would like to add a thought on choosing a major the author did not include. Choose a major you can job in that you would not hate. If you are planning to go to graduate school, be sure to have a back up plan with your major should you not get into graduate school. I will be even more specific: don't major in psychology unless you are at the top of your class and absolutely sure you will be getting a PhD or Masters. Well, unless you like scrubbing crap off the wall of a group home as one of my roommates did. Each to their own.
I did suggest this would be a good book for my professor husband to read, particularly the chapter about bad professors. He should be sure to avoid any of those characteristics. As I read further, I found several variations on the topic of how to not PO your professor. I suggested he read it and make a list for his students--he did not find any of my suggestions of interest or humorous. A few nights later he was reading the topics submitted for a paper for a masters level class. One was "Right Wing Terrorist Groups." I thought that was hilarious! You would think with that much education, a student might think about his audience--even if you don't know your professor's political views. Turns out the student decided to change topics after a few questions from the professor.
Besides using some of the advice in this book for my HS junior son and HS students that I work with, I found that some major universities offer online classes for free (not for credit.) I may take advantage of this. Here is the link:
http://ocwconsortium.org/courses
I had hoped my son might want to read this book...not a chance!
The second half of the book included topics quite different from students' high school experiences, including making the most of professors' office hours, how to pick a major, graduate school, finding a job, studying abroad, and signs you are in trouble--to name a few. Unfortunately, the people that need to know that they are in trouble (and don't already know it) will never pick up this book. I have heard that more colleges are including a freshman seminar that teaches kids how to be successful in college. This would make a good textbook.
I would like to add a thought on choosing a major the author did not include. Choose a major you can job in that you would not hate. If you are planning to go to graduate school, be sure to have a back up plan with your major should you not get into graduate school. I will be even more specific: don't major in psychology unless you are at the top of your class and absolutely sure you will be getting a PhD or Masters. Well, unless you like scrubbing crap off the wall of a group home as one of my roommates did. Each to their own.
I did suggest this would be a good book for my professor husband to read, particularly the chapter about bad professors. He should be sure to avoid any of those characteristics. As I read further, I found several variations on the topic of how to not PO your professor. I suggested he read it and make a list for his students--he did not find any of my suggestions of interest or humorous. A few nights later he was reading the topics submitted for a paper for a masters level class. One was "Right Wing Terrorist Groups." I thought that was hilarious! You would think with that much education, a student might think about his audience--even if you don't know your professor's political views. Turns out the student decided to change topics after a few questions from the professor.
Besides using some of the advice in this book for my HS junior son and HS students that I work with, I found that some major universities offer online classes for free (not for credit.) I may take advantage of this. Here is the link:
http://ocwconsortium.org/courses
I had hoped my son might want to read this book...not a chance!
July 2, 2016
Title of Resource: The Secrets of College Success
Type of Resource: Nonfiction – Pair for “Monsters University”
Complete Citation: Jacobs, L. & J. Hyman. (2010). The Secrets of College Success. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Ordering Information:
Publisher: Jossey-Bass
ISBN: 9780470874660
Price: $15.95 (paperback)
SOL: English 12.5b) Analyze and synthesize information in order to solve problems, answer questions, and generate new knowledge.
Student/Teacher Description: I would put this book in the hands of a junior or senior high school student who is attending college after high school. While this information benefits those attending a community college, the information is mostly geared to those students who are attending a two or four year college and living on campus. This book could be used to reassure some who are nervous about college or those who are looking forward to the new experience. It gives lots of good information about many topics that high school students will want to know.
Selection Criteria:
Accuracy: This book is full of facts and relevant details for today’s high school and college students.
Authority: This is part of “Professors’ Guide” with other books of advice for college students.
Relevance to Curriculum: This is not necessarily for an SOL, but more for life after high school and answering questions juniors and seniors may have. In order to incorporate it into the classroom, teachers could use this book as a research resource for students to present information to each other about college.
Appropriateness: This book has taken a wealth of information and broken it up into several easy to read mini-chapters, which are perfect for a busy high school student’s reference. It is also written on a level that all students can understand, including subtle humor while providing reliable information.
Scope: This book discusses several topics related to college life with many tips and tidbits of advice.
Literary Merit: This book includes lots of good information for the college bound and is well organized by topic.
Review: School Library Journal 12/10, p.138
Value to Collection: Many students will find this book a worthwhile read. Many students will be intrigued by the title The Secrets of College Success, and this title will fill a need for current information about surviving college.
Type of Resource: Nonfiction – Pair for “Monsters University”
Complete Citation: Jacobs, L. & J. Hyman. (2010). The Secrets of College Success. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Ordering Information:
Publisher: Jossey-Bass
ISBN: 9780470874660
Price: $15.95 (paperback)
SOL: English 12.5b) Analyze and synthesize information in order to solve problems, answer questions, and generate new knowledge.
Student/Teacher Description: I would put this book in the hands of a junior or senior high school student who is attending college after high school. While this information benefits those attending a community college, the information is mostly geared to those students who are attending a two or four year college and living on campus. This book could be used to reassure some who are nervous about college or those who are looking forward to the new experience. It gives lots of good information about many topics that high school students will want to know.
Selection Criteria:
Accuracy: This book is full of facts and relevant details for today’s high school and college students.
Authority: This is part of “Professors’ Guide” with other books of advice for college students.
Relevance to Curriculum: This is not necessarily for an SOL, but more for life after high school and answering questions juniors and seniors may have. In order to incorporate it into the classroom, teachers could use this book as a research resource for students to present information to each other about college.
Appropriateness: This book has taken a wealth of information and broken it up into several easy to read mini-chapters, which are perfect for a busy high school student’s reference. It is also written on a level that all students can understand, including subtle humor while providing reliable information.
Scope: This book discusses several topics related to college life with many tips and tidbits of advice.
Literary Merit: This book includes lots of good information for the college bound and is well organized by topic.
Review: School Library Journal 12/10, p.138
Value to Collection: Many students will find this book a worthwhile read. Many students will be intrigued by the title The Secrets of College Success, and this title will fill a need for current information about surviving college.
July 31, 2013
Nice useful guide for college students for planning their years in higher education. There is information that might seem to be common sense to many but a revelation to many young people becoming adults. The book covers not only the first year but right through the senior year when it provides tips on a senior thesis. I really appreciated the units on student loans and approaching professors. It does mention how big universities rely on Teaching Assistants who are graduate students and big classes where students can barely see the professor. Many students have no idea what large public universities are like and most states have set up their public university systems this way. My review is for the second edition. I think this is perfect for college students, especially before leaving for Freshman year. Great tips.
July 30, 2013
Nice useful guide for college students for planning their years in higher education. There is information that might seem to be common sense to many but a revelation to many young people becoming adults. The book covers not only the first year but right through the senior year when it provides tips on a senior thesis. I really appreciated the units on student loans and approaching professors. It does mention how big universities rely on Teaching Assistants who are graduate students and big classes where students can barely see the professor. Many students have no idea what large public universities are like and most states have set up their public university systems this way. My review is for the second edition. I think this is perfect for college students, especially before leaving for Freshman year. Great tips.
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August 21, 2018The book provides good advice for those going to college. However, if you are not going to college in the United States, half of the book is useless, as the information pertains to them exclusively.
April 16, 2011
This book did contain a few tips that some may consider common knowledge, and there were a few repeats of the tips here and there but nonetheless it was a very interesting read. It has several different facets that may facilitate the transition between high school and college--or just going into college period. Since I have yet to read other similar books to compare it too, for now it receives four stars.
June 20, 2012
helpful advice
useful to high school students too.
useful to high school students too.
September 22, 2011
Every college should read!!!
June 19, 2013
I enjoyed this book. It offers a lot of tips for college bound students.
May 23, 2016
A lot of good information.
April 7, 2024
thx mom
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews