The Freshman Survival Guide: Soulful Advice for Studying, Socializing, and Everything In Between

by Nora Bradbury-Haehl, Bill McGarvey

Of the approximately 2.5 million freshmen starting college each year, one in three won’t make it to sophomore year. Combining relatable and relevant stories from hundreds of college students, and insightful interviews with professors, deans, and other campus and community leaders, The Freshman Survival Guide helps incoming first-year students transition successfully.

Much has changed on campuses in the twelve years since The Freshman Survival Guide's initial publication. Culture changes, social media, and hybrid- and remote learning have added layers of complexity. The Freshman Survival Guide's updated edition addresses these. It also features new research on issues such as mental health, sexual assault, and finding balance, and it addresses gender and race relations on campus, dating, and money management.

Genres: Self Help

400 pages, Paperback

Published March 26, 2024

About the author

Nora Bradbury-Haehl is an author, speaker, and a nationally recognized voice in the conversation about youth and young adults. Her book The Freshman Survival Guide has sold over 130,000 copies. She’s worked as a development editor at Saint Mary’s Press, the leading Catholic publisher of religion and spirituality texts for teens in the United States. Nora came to publishing from more than twenty-five years in the trenches, working directly with teens and twenty-somethings. As a church youth worker, she has spent her life creating supportive communities for young people and helping them navigate the challenges of adolescence and early adulthood.
The Freshman Survival Guide emerged from Nora’s youth work. A popular article she wrote for BustedHalo.com, grew into an online sensation and was downloaded over 30,000 times. The article became a book and agent Joelle DelBourgo sold the book at auction to the Center Street imprint at Hachette Book Group.
It was featured in a surprisingly lengthy segment—five and half really funny minutes!—on The Late Show with David Letterman. https://youtu.be/cuidDukQyfE
Nora is a leader in interfaith work in her hometown of Rochester, New York . She is chair of the annual Global Citizenship Conference, a local interfaith program that gathers over 700 high school students with diverse faith leaders to build interfaith understanding and cooperation. She also directs the Global Citizenship Immersion program each summer for the Hickey Center for Interfaith Studies and Dialogue at Nazareth College.
Nora is an experienced public speaker, retreat and workshop leader. She has been a frequent presenter at the National Catholic Youth Conference, leading workshops for large groups of young people (500-1500 teens) and their adult leaders.

Reviews

[Paris Salmon MD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok you guys, hear me out your girl is just getting prepared! A WAR GENERAL NEVER ENTERS THE BATTLE FIELD WITHOUT A STRATEGY. Went to the rock climbing gym today, was pondering major on the purples about the incoming college approach. This needs to be distributed to the class of 2028 at Boulder for them to get prepared for Paris Salmon hitting the scene! I am feeling so prepared after reading this, and am just so so so so so excited for all the devious activities I will be partaking in!!

Anyways, after the mid-climb reflection I took a mini-hike down to B&N as a way of easing my retirement from the establishment aka to harass Ocean and take advantage of the merchandise - and stumbled upon this absolute gem!!!!! There is a reason "Soulful Advice" is marked on the cover, some of these insights really went after that worldly perspective!
Current Status - Feeling so Grounded.
5 STARS

[Dorie Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave copies of this book to my kids several years ago. Now that my own kids have finished college, I include this in graduation gifts for friends and family.

The writing style is breezy, colloquial, and engaging. Advice was collected from young people currently in college or recently finished, and revised for each new edition, so it’s very up to date and relatable for the young adult reader.

The guide covers a wide range of topics, with practical advice on everything from classes and studying, to friendships and relationships, to looking after your own physical and mental health. Some is just practical tips just to make things easier and more convenient, but there’s also important info about what’s an actual crisis and when and whom you need to ask for help.

Five stars both for content and for writing style. Wish I’d had something like this when I was a college freshman!

[Victoria Kozikowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lot of great advice and covered everything. Highly recommend if you're starting college.

[Mariah Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a high school counselor and mother of a junior I found this to have a lot of useful information for students and parents. I think it would be resource for parents sending their first child to college and for students who are the first kid in their family to go to college. I will be adding this to my wishlist for my office so that I can offer it as a resource for my students. Review copy received from Netgalley.