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There are few things scarier in life than heading off to college for the first time. Independent living, harder classes and a new environment all add up to a big challenge. While nothing can fully prepare an incoming first-year student for what lies ahead, a good book can go a long way toward making the transition easier.
Whether it’s a how-to guide or a gripping novel, plenty of books try to solve the problems of stepping onto a campus where you’ll spend the next four years. Here are a few that succeed.
The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College by Harlan Cohen
You’re going to encounter a lot of things in college you probably didn’t have to deal with before—naked roommates among them. What should you eat? Which parties should you go to? What’s the right way to email a professor? Whatever questions you have about your college experience, you can probably find an answer in this book. The Naked Roommate by Harlan Cohen contains stories and advice from students at more than 100 college campuses, so you can rest assured that someone in this book has gone through whatever you’re worried about.
Social Media Wellness: Helping Tweens and Teens Thrive in an Unbalanced Digital World by Ana Homayoun
It may not have been a big issue when I was in college, but social media is a major part of student life these days. If you’re looking to navigate social life on your new campus, you need to make sure you’re in a good place with social media first. Instagram and Twitter can have big impacts on the confidence and self-image of young women, and Ana Homayoun's book does a great job of showing how you can use social media without letting the negative parts of it get to you.
How to Make Friends with the Dark by Kathleen Glasgow
There are plenty of novels about arriving at college for the first time, but few of them truly capture how isolating the experience can be for so many people. Kathleen Glasgow’s How to Make Friends with the Dark tells a shattering story of how a young woman named Tiger learns to cope with her mother’s death and overcomes the intense loneliness and grief that follow. It’s not a play-by-play for the collegiate experience, but it’s a powerful reminder that no amount of depression or isolation is insurmountable for strong, resilient women.
Time Management Secrets for College Students: The Underground Playbook for Managing School, Work, and Fun by Dennis Stemmle
Every single college student is eventually going to run up against the same problem: so much to do, so little time. Balancing your schoolwork, social life, and sleep schedule will, at times, feel impossible, but it’s not. This book is an in-depth guide for anyone looking to get the absolute most out of her time at college—it’s not easy, but proper time management can make it a reality.
If I’m Being Honest by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
My niece recommended If I’m Being Honest because, even though it takes place at a high school, it deals with the types of people you’ll run into on campus. The book centers on Cameron, the most beautiful, popular and rudest girl at school. Over the course of the novel, we watch her redeem herself through hard work and introspection—showing that even the people who frustrate us the most always have room to grow and thrive.
The Path Made Clear: Discovering Your Life’s Direction and Purpose by Oprah Winfrey
As always, a little advice from Oprah never hurts. The Path Made Clear is part memoir, part self-help. An interview book, it contains advice from celebrities from Jay-Z to Ellen DeGeneres. Oprah uses this book to share her insights on developing a meaningful career and life in an uncertain world—insights that any incoming college student could greatly benefit from.
While no one’s time at college is the same, there are some common challenges. Whether it’s balancing work and play or cooking edible meals on a budget, there’s never one right answer. A little reading, though, can go a long way toward helping you find what works best for you.
