What do you think?
Rate this book
How to Thrive at College: A Guide to the Ups and Downs of Mental Health on Campus
A Senior University Psychiatrist and TED Speaker Gives Students and Families the Knowledge, Skills, and Confidence to Identify, Solve, and Prevent the Common Pitfalls of the College Years
In her New York Times op-eds, Mathilde Ross, MD charms parents with down-to-earth perspective, empowering messages, and wry wit. Now, with How to Thrive at College, Ross distills the lessons from her two-decade career in college mental health, clearing up public confusion on the subject of mental health on campus.
By inviting readers behind her office door at Boston University–to sit with students, as she meets with them over the course of a calendar year–her
- Illustrates the major forces that impact the mental health of young people. Some are obvious and some are not; some are downright funny; most are getting no attention in the media.
- Restores confidence for those parents doing it right. If you’ve been a decent parent for 18 years, the reward is knowing your adult children can handle whatever life throws at them.
- Nudges the public discussion of mental health in a more helpful direction, by increasing understanding and offering pragmatic solutions, as opposed to fanning the flames of anxiety.
College is a rewarding time to learn and develop into an adult. How to Thrive at College will be an evergreen guide to students embarking on “the best four years” of their lives, and for their nail-biting parents at home.
In her New York Times op-eds, Mathilde Ross, MD charms parents with down-to-earth perspective, empowering messages, and wry wit. Now, with How to Thrive at College, Ross distills the lessons from her two-decade career in college mental health, clearing up public confusion on the subject of mental health on campus.
By inviting readers behind her office door at Boston University–to sit with students, as she meets with them over the course of a calendar year–her
- Illustrates the major forces that impact the mental health of young people. Some are obvious and some are not; some are downright funny; most are getting no attention in the media.
- Restores confidence for those parents doing it right. If you’ve been a decent parent for 18 years, the reward is knowing your adult children can handle whatever life throws at them.
- Nudges the public discussion of mental health in a more helpful direction, by increasing understanding and offering pragmatic solutions, as opposed to fanning the flames of anxiety.
College is a rewarding time to learn and develop into an adult. How to Thrive at College will be an evergreen guide to students embarking on “the best four years” of their lives, and for their nail-biting parents at home.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 21, 2026
About the author
Mathilde Ross
1 book4 followersI joined Boston University Student Health Services as a psychiatrist in 2008. It was a pivot from my previous roles at major teaching hospitals, and a decidedly mommy-track move: part-time, with summers off. I began spending my days talking to college students. I should say college kids: They’re kids. They resemble adults, but if you close your eyes and just listen, it’s easy to imagine them at the playground.
During the same years, I was spending a lot of time on playgrounds. Remember the summers off? I observed all different kinds of kids, which helped me picture the early development of my college students. I learned to imagine what they were like at ages 3, 8, 12, and 15. This perspective helped me understand what my students might be missing, and how to help them. Turns out mommy-track was an asset, not a liability.
My day job also informed my parenting: The synergy went both ways. I understood which events were true crossroads, and which were just phases. I saw how parenting trends solve certain problems, and cause others. I could picture what the kids in my neighborhood would be like at ages 12, 15, 18, and 21.
In both roles, I observed the ingredients of healthy development: accepting and available parents, joyful activities, not sweating the small stuff, sleep, personal space, trust, love. And in both roles, I observed the benefits of healthy development: emotional resilience, robust friend networks, motivation, empathy, trust, love.
I am delighted to share some of my observations about parenting, development, and mental health.
During the same years, I was spending a lot of time on playgrounds. Remember the summers off? I observed all different kinds of kids, which helped me picture the early development of my college students. I learned to imagine what they were like at ages 3, 8, 12, and 15. This perspective helped me understand what my students might be missing, and how to help them. Turns out mommy-track was an asset, not a liability.
My day job also informed my parenting: The synergy went both ways. I understood which events were true crossroads, and which were just phases. I saw how parenting trends solve certain problems, and cause others. I could picture what the kids in my neighborhood would be like at ages 12, 15, 18, and 21.
In both roles, I observed the ingredients of healthy development: accepting and available parents, joyful activities, not sweating the small stuff, sleep, personal space, trust, love. And in both roles, I observed the benefits of healthy development: emotional resilience, robust friend networks, motivation, empathy, trust, love.
I am delighted to share some of my observations about parenting, development, and mental health.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 12, 2026
As someone who works within the college mental health environment, I can say with complete certainty that this book is incredibly valuable to be read by parents, caregivers, students, university staff/faculty, really anyone with a remote connection! The book is written in an easily digestible way, and some pretty tough things are explained while keeping some lightness and humor throughout. So happy to pass this along to any and all I know!
June 10, 2026
I would actually recommend this to some students and families. It's a collection of examples of college students this therapist has seen with some overview about what the takeaways should be. I liked the middle ground of "therapy is good! go to therapy!" and "you probably don't have xyz illness, you probably need to sleep more." Solid advice for college kids.
Thanks to NetGalley for the free copy, all opinions are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley for the free copy, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is an excellent book that I would recommend to all parents of high school and university/college aged students, and to people working with these populations. It's an informative and engaging read. It's pitched as for parents and young people, but it will appeal most to parents.
Thank you to NetGalley for the audio eARC.
Thank you to NetGalley for the audio eARC.
April 25, 2026
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
April 30, 2026
Approachable for teenagers and parents alike, Dr. Ross writes a comedic and thoughtful guide filled with quiet wisdom.
May 9, 2026
Great book!!! For students and parents alike
June 5, 2026
Even if I didn’t know the author (shout out to my coworker, Thilde!) I would have really enjoyed this book! Witty, clever, and a good reminder of how we can take care of ourselves and others.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews