College Rules!, 4th Edition: How to Study, Survive, and Succeed in College

This updated classic gives students the tools they need to successfully transition from high school to college, avoid rookie mistakes, and set themselves up for academic success from day one.

College can be the most exciting time in your life, but it also throws you into the deep end, with new academic and social responsibilities often seeming impossible to juggle. College Rules! will save you time and trouble, setting you up for academic success from the get-go. Whether you’re graduating at the top of your high school class or returning to college as an adult, this updated and expanded edition offers practical advice on how to successfully transition into college. Including tips and strategies that won’t ever be taught in lectures, you’ll learn how to:

- Study smarter—not harder
- Use technology in the classroom
- Choose an app for every occasion
- Excel at time management [Read: Balance homework and parties]
- Stay motivated—even in those “yawn” classes
- Plan a manageable course schedule
- Interact effectively with profs
- Become a research ace—online and at the library
- Survive the stress of exam week
- Set yourself up for stellar recommendations

With sad but true stories that teach tough lessons the easy way and inside scoops that provide advice based on actual research, College Rules! will help you make the most of your college years.

SHERRIE NIST-OLEJNIK received her PhD from the University of Florida in 1982. She spent her career at the University of Georgia researching and writing about college student learning. Over the years, she developed a special interest in how students make the academic transition from learning in high school to learning in college. But it was her love of teaching that inspired College Rules!. Years of university teaching led her to a firm belief that students can make a smooth transition from high school to college, and should be able to, if they are given the tools. 

Sherrie has published numerous research articles and book chapters that focus on studying and learning, and she has made over 125 presentations at professional meetings. In addition, she has co-authored four textbooks focusing on reading, studying, and learning at the college level, as well as vocabulary texts designed for college students. These texts are used on college campuses nationwide. 

Sherrie also has a keen sense of practicality. Because she interacted with thousands of students over the course of her career, she knows firsthand the demands and stresses that are placed on them. She’s heard all the excuses, learned all the lines, and listened to hundreds of students talk about their frustrations, mistakes, successes, and failures. These unique experiences, combined with her knowledge of research, enabled her to write a compelling, upbeat, and realistic guide for academic success in college. 

Sherrie lives with her husband, Steve Olejnik, and her dog, Turley, in Athens, Georgia, home of the University of Georgia. She has one daughter, Kama, who lives in Los Angeles. After retiring from UGA in June 2006 with professor emerita status, Sherrie has more time to pursue her love of travel and art. She continues to be an active writer and consultant. 

JODI PATRICK HOLSCHUH is a professor and chair in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Texas State University. Jodi has been involved in helping students make the transition from high school to college learning for her entire academic career. An award-winning teacher, Jodi is currently the department chair of one of the largest colleges of curriculum and instruction in the country. She has also served as an educational consultant in Texas and Georgia public schools, teaching teachers ways to prepare their students for college learning. 

Jodi has presented many conference papers and has written many articles and book chapters on the topic of helping students learn. She has also been involved in several projects with Sherrie Nist-Olejnik, including the Transitions to Learning in College video program and three college textbooks, Active Learning: Strategies for College Success, College Success Strategies, and Effective College Learning. 

Jodi lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, Doug, her daughter, Maia, and her son, Samuel. When she is not writing, teaching, or researching, Jodi loves rediscovering the world as her children learn new things. She also loves to read good books and travel to new places.