Overcoming the Hurdles to Academic Success: Strategies that Make a Difference

This academic preparation text provides essential information about academic success through a hands-on approach that uses interactive discussion techniques to cover over 100 success strategies.

The first five chapters lay a foundation for academics success, then chapters 6–11 contain the interactive discussions. Each chapter includes Case Studies that demonstrate how some students have overcome academic hurdles using a variety of success strategies; Take It Away summaries that highlight strategies covered and encourage students to apply them to academic and personal life; and Questions for Critical Thought which allow students to practice critical-thinking skills, reflect on their own difficulties, and assess the strategies most likely to work for them.

• Features and exercises throughout the text are marked by marginal icons and complement the discussion of success strategies.
• Points to Ponder highlight an important principle or concept discussed within the chapter.
• Time to Reflect exercises encourage students to mentally review what they've learned and try to connect to their personal experiences.
• Hands-on Exercise Breaks range in content and length, encourage group work, and reinforce the application of concepts and strategies.

"Darrell Luzzo, PhD. in counseling from UCLA, is the Dean of Career Development Services at Mt. Hood Community College in Oregon. Luzzo has taught at both 2- and 4-year institutions. Darrell is a member of numerous editorial boards for journals in the area of counseling and careers. He is well published in professional and academic books and journals. He has written a textbook called Making Career Decisions that Count (1997, Prentice Hall).
Marilyn Spencer, PhD. from the University of Arizona, is the Director of the Centers for the Academic Success and Advising as well as the Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence, and a Professor of Economics at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Marilyn was the Director of the University Core Curriculum Program, which included a First-Year Seminar from 1993-2000. She has published books and journals in the areas of student success and economics."