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College Survival Guide: You U
Perfect for Soon-To-Be Students, Current Students, & Parents
This semi-autobiographical book is filled with stories, advice, and lessons on how to avoid the top mistakes in college and set yourself up for success. Learn everything your school counselors, advisors, and parents do not tell you about college. Know which majors are regretted most by graduates and which ones lead to greatest success and satisfaction. Get advice on what you can do that will set you apart from 99% of your peers. And because we cannot talk about college without mentioning the party scene, get practical advice on topics your parents do not want to talk to you about.
The author bases all information on her personal experience, experiences of friends and family, and statistics from national collegiate studies. The conversational style talks to students, not at them, and shares both funny and scary true stories to illustrate lessons.
“I am sharing EVERYTHING I wish I knew when I was in school.”
Topics Include:
Picking Your Perfect Major
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Study Habits for Success
Preparing for Your Dream Job
Stress-Management
Making the Most of Every Experience
How to Stay Safe
Practical Party Tips
Habit & Mindset Essentials
Much More!
This semi-autobiographical book is filled with stories, advice, and lessons on how to avoid the top mistakes in college and set yourself up for success. Learn everything your school counselors, advisors, and parents do not tell you about college. Know which majors are regretted most by graduates and which ones lead to greatest success and satisfaction. Get advice on what you can do that will set you apart from 99% of your peers. And because we cannot talk about college without mentioning the party scene, get practical advice on topics your parents do not want to talk to you about.
The author bases all information on her personal experience, experiences of friends and family, and statistics from national collegiate studies. The conversational style talks to students, not at them, and shares both funny and scary true stories to illustrate lessons.
“I am sharing EVERYTHING I wish I knew when I was in school.”
Topics Include:
Picking Your Perfect Major
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Study Habits for Success
Preparing for Your Dream Job
Stress-Management
Making the Most of Every Experience
How to Stay Safe
Practical Party Tips
Habit & Mindset Essentials
Much More!
108 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 8, 2017
239 people want to read
About the author
Rachael L. Thompson
14 books35 followersI am an author and teacher/coach. I enjoy traveling and adventure as much as I enjoy relaxing with a glass of wine on the couch. I am also a very proud dog mommy (I may be a bit obsessed).
Owner of Mind Body and Spirit Entrepreneur. MA in Clinical Counseling, BA in Psychology. Last "real" job was a Wellness Counselor. Entrepreneur and determined to help others kiss societal norms goodbye and live a life that makes them happy....Here's a bit of how I ended up here:
I sat on the trolley every morning and evening commuting to and from work. To a job that required a Master’s degree. A job that took six years in school with a 4.0 GPA and six months after graduating with my M.A. to get. A job that I moved and bought a house for and was very excited to begin. A job that quickly sucked the life out of me, yet I continued to work at for over four years. So, for over four years, I sat on that trolley and looked at the fellow commuters. They all looked miserable. I would sit there every day thinking I do not want to be riding on this trolley for the remainder of my working years. Nevertheless, I sat there year after year and never made a change. Often my co-worker and I would talk about the businesses we would want to open and how fun it would be to live a life other than one where we dreaded work each day. It always seemed like a nice dream to fantasize about but one that never seemed in reach. I remember telling my supervisor in grad school I just wanted a job I looked forward to working each day and she scoffed at the seemingly naïve comment. It seemed I always had this feeling there was more out there but I did not know what it was.
It was not until I moved to a new city that a shift began. I moved for a new, happy life but soon fell back into old routines, applying for jobs I was not passionate about for salaries far beneath what I wanted. A simple discussion with my boyfriend, in which he stated there should be more pet stores in our dog-friendly area, prompted my mind shift. I love animals. I had money from selling my house and I could be the one to open this pet store!
I began to explore opening a bricks and mortar pet boutique. The neighborhood I lived in was full of dogs and I was confident it would be a success. I went to the library and started to search for books about business. They all seemed so boring and dry, until I found one that drew me in. Through reading this book, I learned that people from all walks of life, with different passions, have been successful opening their own businesses. This gave me a boost of confidence.
I found a local non-profit that offered business classes for those interested in starting their own businesses (www.score.org). I went through a 6 week course and was excited about continuing on this journey. To get experience in management, I became a manager at a coffee shop and also a dog walker while I continued to plan and look for store locations. I found out quickly, that I did not like managing. I was always on call. I remember taking a weekend trip and getting 5 calls on the way up from employees. This made me begin to question what it would be like if I opened up my own place. It made me a little uneasy to think about not having the freedom to enjoy a weekend away when I wanted. While this was happening, I was also not having any luck finding a location for a store in my area. In talking with my business mentor, I decided it would be a good idea to look into starting an online store while I continued to look for locations. I began to research this a bit further and realized it would be feasible. I had to, however, make an entirely new business plan. I began this process planning for a physical location but online was a new beast.
My online pet boutique was up and running within a few months of me making this decision. It is not initially easy to drive traffic to an online business but I began to see the potential of having a business ba
Owner of Mind Body and Spirit Entrepreneur. MA in Clinical Counseling, BA in Psychology. Last "real" job was a Wellness Counselor. Entrepreneur and determined to help others kiss societal norms goodbye and live a life that makes them happy....Here's a bit of how I ended up here:
I sat on the trolley every morning and evening commuting to and from work. To a job that required a Master’s degree. A job that took six years in school with a 4.0 GPA and six months after graduating with my M.A. to get. A job that I moved and bought a house for and was very excited to begin. A job that quickly sucked the life out of me, yet I continued to work at for over four years. So, for over four years, I sat on that trolley and looked at the fellow commuters. They all looked miserable. I would sit there every day thinking I do not want to be riding on this trolley for the remainder of my working years. Nevertheless, I sat there year after year and never made a change. Often my co-worker and I would talk about the businesses we would want to open and how fun it would be to live a life other than one where we dreaded work each day. It always seemed like a nice dream to fantasize about but one that never seemed in reach. I remember telling my supervisor in grad school I just wanted a job I looked forward to working each day and she scoffed at the seemingly naïve comment. It seemed I always had this feeling there was more out there but I did not know what it was.
It was not until I moved to a new city that a shift began. I moved for a new, happy life but soon fell back into old routines, applying for jobs I was not passionate about for salaries far beneath what I wanted. A simple discussion with my boyfriend, in which he stated there should be more pet stores in our dog-friendly area, prompted my mind shift. I love animals. I had money from selling my house and I could be the one to open this pet store!
I began to explore opening a bricks and mortar pet boutique. The neighborhood I lived in was full of dogs and I was confident it would be a success. I went to the library and started to search for books about business. They all seemed so boring and dry, until I found one that drew me in. Through reading this book, I learned that people from all walks of life, with different passions, have been successful opening their own businesses. This gave me a boost of confidence.
I found a local non-profit that offered business classes for those interested in starting their own businesses (www.score.org). I went through a 6 week course and was excited about continuing on this journey. To get experience in management, I became a manager at a coffee shop and also a dog walker while I continued to plan and look for store locations. I found out quickly, that I did not like managing. I was always on call. I remember taking a weekend trip and getting 5 calls on the way up from employees. This made me begin to question what it would be like if I opened up my own place. It made me a little uneasy to think about not having the freedom to enjoy a weekend away when I wanted. While this was happening, I was also not having any luck finding a location for a store in my area. In talking with my business mentor, I decided it would be a good idea to look into starting an online store while I continued to look for locations. I began to research this a bit further and realized it would be feasible. I had to, however, make an entirely new business plan. I began this process planning for a physical location but online was a new beast.
My online pet boutique was up and running within a few months of me making this decision. It is not initially easy to drive traffic to an online business but I began to see the potential of having a business ba
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 20, 2017
Overall:
This semi-autobiographical details tips and pointers on how to survive college and come out the other side with a degree and a meaningful career path. I was actually impressed with the list of topic covered by the author. Having graduated with multiple higher education degrees in the last decade, I can attest I experiences and saw others suffer from many of the pitfalls pointed out in this read. The author has it right, it is perfect for students (current and soon to be) and there are pieces in there that parents could impart on their children. I wasn't a fan of the thinly veiled curse words, but was overall impressed with the execution.
Rating
4 Stars
It was a pretty comprehensive coverage of college related subject matter. I felt that much of this was more of a healthy approach to life - not just school. I would have preferred if it had stayed more focused on school (especially near the end).
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This semi-autobiographical details tips and pointers on how to survive college and come out the other side with a degree and a meaningful career path. I was actually impressed with the list of topic covered by the author. Having graduated with multiple higher education degrees in the last decade, I can attest I experiences and saw others suffer from many of the pitfalls pointed out in this read. The author has it right, it is perfect for students (current and soon to be) and there are pieces in there that parents could impart on their children. I wasn't a fan of the thinly veiled curse words, but was overall impressed with the execution.
Rating
4 Stars
It was a pretty comprehensive coverage of college related subject matter. I felt that much of this was more of a healthy approach to life - not just school. I would have preferred if it had stayed more focused on school (especially near the end).
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2017
You U is a must-read guide for any young person who is just about to consider enrolling in a college or university. It should as well be considered as a mentoring guidebook for anyone who is already enrolled. Rachel Thompson takes a no-nonsense, non-sugar coating approach in You U to laying out the usually non-talked about truths to the collegiate experience.
From picking a school that is right for you, to deciding on a Major, You U brings to the reader more than just facts and statistics, but real-world examples and anecdotes (many coming from the author’s own experiences) of how these decisions can greatly affect the course of your future and even the rest of your life.
You U also lays down the heavy groundwork in asking the reader to look deep within themselves, searching out strength and weaknesses, and try to come to honest terms with what the reader’s future goals are. It’s just a fact that not everyone is cut-out for every career and every position, many people often find that the less glamorous side of a career will eventually lead to misery and regret for having stuck with it.
Rachel helps to keep the book moving by always keeping the positive in mind and sharing helpful tips to go along with the lesson, such advice topics include: study habits, finding work that won’t interfere with your learning, setting a plan to graduate on time, thereby saving on needless tuition fees, meeting with advisors to set up a game plan and make sure your goals will be met, and the list goes on…
In the second half of You U, Rachael dives into the fun stuff, sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll. No, but seriously, these things usually are not talked about much, and they are a very big part of the college experience whether you like it or not. Every student will be faced with parties, peer-pressure and substance abuse during their college years, so it is vitally important that you know the facts and what you’ll be up against. Rachel puts these hard-truths out on the table.
You U rounds itself out towards the end with discussions on stress, nutrition, staying active, money management, and, of course, making the most of your complete college experience.
My final thoughts on You U is that this is a must-read for anyone thinking of enrolling in university, especially those in the 18-25 age group. You U would have been an immensely helpful guide in keeping myself from falling into the many pitfalls I faced during my own college experience. Pick up You U for your teenager who is thinking about going away to school, you’ll be so glad you did!
From picking a school that is right for you, to deciding on a Major, You U brings to the reader more than just facts and statistics, but real-world examples and anecdotes (many coming from the author’s own experiences) of how these decisions can greatly affect the course of your future and even the rest of your life.
You U also lays down the heavy groundwork in asking the reader to look deep within themselves, searching out strength and weaknesses, and try to come to honest terms with what the reader’s future goals are. It’s just a fact that not everyone is cut-out for every career and every position, many people often find that the less glamorous side of a career will eventually lead to misery and regret for having stuck with it.
Rachel helps to keep the book moving by always keeping the positive in mind and sharing helpful tips to go along with the lesson, such advice topics include: study habits, finding work that won’t interfere with your learning, setting a plan to graduate on time, thereby saving on needless tuition fees, meeting with advisors to set up a game plan and make sure your goals will be met, and the list goes on…
In the second half of You U, Rachael dives into the fun stuff, sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll. No, but seriously, these things usually are not talked about much, and they are a very big part of the college experience whether you like it or not. Every student will be faced with parties, peer-pressure and substance abuse during their college years, so it is vitally important that you know the facts and what you’ll be up against. Rachel puts these hard-truths out on the table.
You U rounds itself out towards the end with discussions on stress, nutrition, staying active, money management, and, of course, making the most of your complete college experience.
My final thoughts on You U is that this is a must-read for anyone thinking of enrolling in university, especially those in the 18-25 age group. You U would have been an immensely helpful guide in keeping myself from falling into the many pitfalls I faced during my own college experience. Pick up You U for your teenager who is thinking about going away to school, you’ll be so glad you did!
September 4, 2017
With two high-schoolers in the house, and envelopes from prospective colleges arriving almost every day, it was indeed a pleasure to come across “You U” by Rachel Thompson. It is available for free on Kindle Unlimited, and it is definitely recommended.
Ms. Thompson has become quite a prolific author. She has penned approximately half a dozen self-help books on topics ranging from starting a business to affirmations for wealth and success. I suspect “You U” will be her most impactful and successful work.
Going to college is a big honking deal. The tuition. The academic stress. The decisions about where to go and what to major in. With so much on the table, it’s nice to come across a succinct, forthright guide to many of the thorny issues. What should I major in? Do I have the right study habits? How will I stay healthy in a permissive environment rife with alcohol and substance abuse?
Ms. Thompson covers a LOT of ground in a relatively short book. I think the primary critique of the book is that she will leave her audience craving more. I’d like to have seen deeper in-depth discussions of whether college is even a good decision for everyone (to quote the author, “the world has changed and college degrees are now a dime a dozen”) and what to look for in selecting a college.
Since the subject matter is so broad and diverse, I think most readers will find some parts more interesting and useful than others. I, for one, really enjoyed the discussions about selecting a major, and I was fascinated by the stats about salaries and “most regretted majors.”
A final minor complaint is I think the book would benefit from one more formatting scrub. For example, the numbering in “Sheree’s Story” in Chapter 3 came out very oddly on my laptop reader.
All in all, a very useful, and a very well thought out book. Five Stars!
Ms. Thompson has become quite a prolific author. She has penned approximately half a dozen self-help books on topics ranging from starting a business to affirmations for wealth and success. I suspect “You U” will be her most impactful and successful work.
Going to college is a big honking deal. The tuition. The academic stress. The decisions about where to go and what to major in. With so much on the table, it’s nice to come across a succinct, forthright guide to many of the thorny issues. What should I major in? Do I have the right study habits? How will I stay healthy in a permissive environment rife with alcohol and substance abuse?
Ms. Thompson covers a LOT of ground in a relatively short book. I think the primary critique of the book is that she will leave her audience craving more. I’d like to have seen deeper in-depth discussions of whether college is even a good decision for everyone (to quote the author, “the world has changed and college degrees are now a dime a dozen”) and what to look for in selecting a college.
Since the subject matter is so broad and diverse, I think most readers will find some parts more interesting and useful than others. I, for one, really enjoyed the discussions about selecting a major, and I was fascinated by the stats about salaries and “most regretted majors.”
A final minor complaint is I think the book would benefit from one more formatting scrub. For example, the numbering in “Sheree’s Story” in Chapter 3 came out very oddly on my laptop reader.
All in all, a very useful, and a very well thought out book. Five Stars!
September 8, 2017
It is well written and worth reading. Anybody who is an upcoming student, current student, or is considering returning to college should consider reading this book. It is the first College self-help (first self-help in general), that I have read so my opinion might not be held in the highest degree, but the author did write a decent book about certain college experiences, good and bad, that someone might have. Her suggestions on how to find the correct major, and therein career, for you make sense.
With my personality, half the book does not affect me, but everyone is different and everything in the hundred-page book will help a lot of college students out there. The important thing to remember, that this books does tell us in a way, is to find a job you will enjoy doing, even with all the stress it will definitely have, and will reward you in the way you need most.
Through others and her own experiences, Rachael L. Thompson explained how some might be taken down the wrong path either because they think they are going down the right path or because someone significant to them is guiding them down that path. She explained how one might step around this, or even figure out if you are walking down the wrong path. Anyone who is attending or considering college in any way should consider reading this book, unless you have already found a college self-help that had helped you.
With my personality, half the book does not affect me, but everyone is different and everything in the hundred-page book will help a lot of college students out there. The important thing to remember, that this books does tell us in a way, is to find a job you will enjoy doing, even with all the stress it will definitely have, and will reward you in the way you need most.
Through others and her own experiences, Rachael L. Thompson explained how some might be taken down the wrong path either because they think they are going down the right path or because someone significant to them is guiding them down that path. She explained how one might step around this, or even figure out if you are walking down the wrong path. Anyone who is attending or considering college in any way should consider reading this book, unless you have already found a college self-help that had helped you.
October 5, 2017
There is some useful advice in here in regard to how to frame college within the context of where you see your life going. Picking a concentration based on what seems fun or what you enjoy is probably not the best way to go about it. Factoring your ambitions, desires, skills and limitations are all good ideas when choosing a career.
The section on drinking, drugs, and sex provided a lot of stats but was not much different than every lecture every college makes freshmen go to.
A few quibbles: if you're going to put a word in all caps and in bold, spell it right. Actuarial science is not a kind of engineering. The author advises people to be realistic with themselves but not to let doubts get in the way of chasing your dreams. It might be just me, but this seems a little oxymoronic.
The section on drinking, drugs, and sex provided a lot of stats but was not much different than every lecture every college makes freshmen go to.
A few quibbles: if you're going to put a word in all caps and in bold, spell it right. Actuarial science is not a kind of engineering. The author advises people to be realistic with themselves but not to let doubts get in the way of chasing your dreams. It might be just me, but this seems a little oxymoronic.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews