Off to College - Now What? : A Practical Guide to Surviving and Succeeding Your First Year of College

According to the US Census Bureau's report on the number of college students in the United States, more than 500,000 high school seniors pack up and leave their homes for college each year, intent on starting the next level of their education. The freshman year of college is an initiation into independent living, but it can be incredibly stressful on someone who is not prepared. It is estimated that almost 150,000 students will dropout before starting their second year, and it is not always because of the angry professor or sub-par living conditions. Everything from the cost of living on your own to the stress of trying to balance a job, school, and a completely new kind of social life will weigh heavily on you.

The key to being successful in your first year of college is to be prepared for anything that might arise, maintaining a strict, well-organized schedule, balancing your free time and new found social freedom, and putting the right amount of energy into your studies. This unique, groundbreaking book will provide you with a milestone from which to set forth in your new college career. You will learn how you can transition from the rigid daily rules of life with your parents to a rule-free environment, without giving up the education you have worked so hard for. You will learn the four essential cornerstones of a healthy, successful college career: Study, Friends, Health, and Involvement.

Many hours of interviews have helped to compile a comprehensive list of studying and living habits and also routines that will keep you locked in and on target throughout your college career. The Freshman 15 is not a simple joke. According to Kidshealth.org, the average college freshman actually gains ten pounds in their first year away from home. You will learn how to balance your small budget with a healthy lifestyle and maintain the weight and health you enjoyed when you left home using the resources every major college provides its students. You will also learn how to balance your classes and choose a schedule that will help you in the arduous process of selecting your major and minor.

In addition, learn how to deal with your first college roommate, decide whether you want to join a fraternity or sorority, and decide how to handle parties on campus. An entire section is included on how to make extra money while in college by working part-time on- and off-campus. The chapter on college dating will help you decide when and how you should dip into the massive college dating pool. For any college freshman who wants to learn the best tips and tricks to staying organized, acing that first semester, and being the life of the campus, all without losing focus, this book is for you.

Jessica Linnell is a freelance writer and editor living in the metro Atlanta area with her three-year-old lab mix, Monte. She earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Reinhardt College in Waleska, Georgia. Her previous works have been published in Atlanta Magazine, Cherokee Living, and other local and international trade publications. In addition to her research and writing on education, Jessica has worked for newspapers, magazines, and corporations as a writer and editor. She served ten years as a Public Health Technician with the Air Force both as active duty and in the National Guard. When she is not writing or editing, she keeps busy with hiking, backpacking, skydiving, and other adventures.