The Thinking Student's Guide to College: 75 Tips for Getting a Better Education

by Andrew Roberts

Each fall, thousands of eager freshmen descend on college and university campuses expecting the best education imaginable: inspiring classes taught by top-ranked professors, academic advisors who will guide them to a prestigious job or graduate school, and an environment where learning flourishes outside the classroom as much as it does in lecture halls. Unfortunately, most of these freshmen soon learn that academic life is not what they imagined. Classes are taught by overworked graduate students and adjuncts rather than seasoned faculty members, undergrads receive minimal attention from advisors or administrators, and potentially valuable campus resources remain outside their grasp.

Andrew Roberts’ Thinking Student’s Guide to College helps students take charge of their university experience by providing a blueprint they can follow to achieve their educational goals—whether at public or private schools, large research universities or small liberal arts colleges. An inside look penned by a professor at Northwestern University, this book offers concrete tips on choosing a college, selecting classes, deciding on a major, interacting with faculty, and applying to graduate school. Here, Roberts exposes the secrets of the ivory tower to reveal what motivates professors, where to find loopholes in university bureaucracy, and most importantly, how to get a personalized education. Based on interviews with faculty and cutting-edge educational research, The Thinking Student’s Guide to College is a necessary handbook for students striving to excel academically, creatively, and personally during their undergraduate years.

Genres: College, Nonfiction, Education, School, Academic

184 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2010

Reviews

[aili]

from a professor’s perspective (it’s all about research)
some tips i want to ‘bookmark’ for later:
- study abroad!!
- manage your time
- ask for help
- visit all your professors during office hours at least once —> greater interaction and individualized feedback between students and professors
- more small seminars, less large lectures
- choose a major you love 💕
- join a small study group
- self care
- make friends either people who have different beliefs and experiences
williams book award 2023
university of delaware!

[Anh Dao]

The little motive for the young to pursue higher education and follow their dreams

[Duchess_Nimue]

I picked up this book because I still like reading on learning, although I finished college. I was expecting a book on time management and study tips. I was surprised to learn it was about choosing the right college and getting the best you can from it. It is a great look into the college experience for the prospecting students from an academic role. It would be invaluable for high-schoolers preparing for college.

[Brooke]

I plan to get this for M before she goes to college, but the first few chapters were helpful in thinking about choosing a college.

[Noah Hart]

Got the book from the Williams College Book Award years ago, and only just now read it. Solid advice, and good at what it sets out to do, though obviously not a page-turner.

[Henry Barry]

The author goes beyond the standard college advice: take a wide variety of classes, get to know professors, do extracurriculars, and actually makes compelling cases to do so. However, the most important aspect of the book was the perspective it brings by explaining how the whole teaching system works and the dynamics between undergrads, grad students, untenured professors, and tenured professors to explain why things are how they are. Being able to understand what makes professors tick is definitely worthwhile. He also has some helpful reading suggestions in the book. I'm excited to read "The Professors' guide to getting Good Grades in College."

[Christie]

Used this as a resource for the workshops I'm developing, and I loved it. There is a lot of good information from before college, during college, and after graduation. I especially liked the information about interacting with professors and how to write an acceptable email. Working with a lot of first-generation students has made it obvious that we need to do more to educate the students on these nuances of college life--not just the course material.

[Pei-Yao]

It's a quick read. I find some of the tips useful even if I already graduate from college and I am a graduate student now.

[Eden]

This book is very well written and full of useful tips rooted in research and history; a must-read for those about to begin the college search or just starting off as college freshmen.

[Shamsa]

I’m sorry but I’ll have to give up on reading the book (due to finding other ways of getting advices and tips on colleges)