Category Archives: book reviews

book reviews

8 College Books to Fill Those Christmas Stockings

 

college books

It’s that time of year when everyone is searching online and in stores for that perfect holiday gift. Reading is one way to improve your college-bound teen’s vocabulary and the best way for you to educate yourself about the college admissions process. The holidays are a perfect time to grab some books for stocking stuffers or for a friend who has a student heading off to college in the future.

Following are my “affordable” recommendations for college books to fill those stockings or be a perfect “secret” Santa!


Getting In! College Admissions and Financial Aid in the Digital Age

Zinch (a student-focused admissions site) approaches college admissions in the digital age, addressing the issues of today’s technology and how it affects the student.

Higher Education: How Colleges are Wasting our Money and Failing our Kids–and what we can do about it!

This book by Andrew Hacker and Claudia Dreifus is a MUST read for every parent and student. It presents some alternative colleges that many may not have heard about and proposes some controversial change in higher education. You can follow their blog too!

The Naked Roommate: For Parents Only

This book is the definitive companion for every parent of a student either heading to college or already in college. Harlan Cohen speaks clearly to parents in their language, making it not only an informative read but an easy-to-read resource for parents.

College Bound and Gagged

Nancy Berk takes on the lighter side of college admissions from a parent’s perspective. In order to survive the process, you need to add a little bit of humor to the mix and Nancy does just that.

Why You’re Already a Leader 

Author Paul Hemphill shows the reader how you can be a leader even without having what some might think are traditional leadership qualities. Colleges are looking for leadership qualities in their applicants and Paul shows you how to tap into that natural ability.

Getting Wasted

No parent wants to think that their student will head off to college and spend their time partying; but the sad facts indicate that the college culture encourages it. This book shows that college itself encourages these drinking patterns and is one more example of the dark side of campus life. Parents and students should read this book.

Debt-Free U

Armed with his personal knowledge, the latest data, and smart analysis, Zac Bissonnette takes on the sacred cows of the higher education establishment. He reveals why a lot of the conventional wisdom about choosing and financing college is not only wrong but hazardous to you and your child’s financial future.

Secrets of a Financial Aid Pro

With insight and humor, Jodi Okun takes you inside the often murky world of paying for college. Learn how to find and apply for every type of financial aid, including FAFSA, grants, scholarships, and loans. Find out how to give your student the financial skills they’ll need for life–it all starts in college by helping them manage expenses and money.

book reviews, Guest Posts, study tools

Beyond Brilliance: The Secrets To Better Learning

 

beyond brilliance

I am so excited to introduce Beyond Brilliance, a new book by four UC Berkeley students about how we learn and how we can do it better. You can get the ebook free or purchase a hard copy and receive a full refund if you read it and write an honest review proving you read the book. That’s a win/win for all students. Parents will love the book too! 

I sat down with Lucas Miller, the ambitious author behind the project, to learn more. Here’s a short excerpt from our conversation.

Q. Can you briefly explain the premise of Beyond Brilliance?

Lucas: Sure, the basic idea is that we were all lied to in school. We were taught harmful myths about intelligence and how our brains work that limit many of us from accessing our full potential. We were taught what to learn, but never how. The truth is, getting top grades and becoming an efficient learner is a skill that anyone can cultivate. You don’t need to be naturally “brilliant”, or pull all-nighters, or sacrifice your social life, or even give up the gym to do well in school. What you really need to do is learn how learning actually works. Then, you can use that skill to get better at anything you like.

Q. There are so many books out there. Why should someone read yours?

Lucas: Most books for students give you the same old advice: work hard, take detailed notes, use a planner, yadda yadda. Beyond Brilliance takes a brand-new approach. Chapters are 1-3 pages, illustrated, and filled with clear takeaways backed by neuroscience. In a weekend, you’ll be able to glean the main insights from about fifty books and even more papers and distill them into a body of knowledge that will change how you learn forever.

Q. Who do you want reading it?

Lucas: Engineering majors at MIT, C students, victims of tracking and standardized testing, graduate students who don’t want to starve anymore, workers taking online classes on the side, and parents whose children are either falling behind or trying to skyrocket to the top of the class. Really anyone who likes learning and wants to get better at it.

Q. What are five things students can do to immediately become better learners?

Lucas:

  1. Ditch rereading in favor of self-testing (familiarity with the material is not the same as actual understanding)
  2. Study concepts by explaining them out loud
  3. Learn throughout the semester, not just when exams hit (spacing out your review builds a much stronger foundation)
  4. Exercise a little every day (this is massively underemphasized)
  5. Get nine hours of sleep (all the magic happens at night)

Q. What is the biggest difference you see between excellent learners and average ones?

Lucas: The best students stick to their word. When they say they are going to study, they actually study. When they show up to do a problem set, they actually do the problem set. And when they sit down with a cup of coffee to write, they actually write. No email, no Buzzfeed, just work. And then when they’re done, they’re done.

Q. What are some tools you recommend for studying and scheduling?

Lucas: Evernote for taking and storing notes. Google Docs for team projects. Google Calendar and Trello for planning appointments and tasks. The Pomodoro technique for building rewards into your study schedule.

____________________________

Lucas Miller is a Phi Beta Kappa, Leadership Scholar, and senior in the top 1.5% of students at the University of California, Berkeley. After spending three semesters in engineering, he now studies cognitive science and entrepreneurship and has served as a mentor for multiple undergraduate courses. He also conducts research in memory and performance psychology. Learning, teaching, and sharing ideas are by far his greatest passions. Check out the Beyond Brilliance website here.

book reviews, parenting

10 Books for Parents of Soon-to-Be College Students

 

books for parentsIt’s graduation gift time. High school students are graduating with aspirations of college in the fall. Graduation gift guides are dominating the online world. But why not treat yourself to a few gifts that will help you with the transition from high school to college?

These books for parents should provide great summer reading and future reference as your teen heads to college in the fall:

Naked Roommate: For Parents Only

If your child is starting life in college, there’s a surprise around every corner…But that doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared! This book is a witty and wise guide to everything you need to know about the college experience. Harlan Cohen, America’s most trusted college life expert, delivers the best advice, facts, stats, tips, and stories from parents, students, and experts across the country to ensure that you and your child will have an incredible and meaningful college experience.

 

Parents of College Students Survival Stories

Wendy David-Gaines, the author, is famous for exposing the cliches about college. After giving the cliche, she gives you the “POCS reality”. In her book, Wendy does this effectively by compiling actual parent stories. The stories (both from pre-POCS and POCS) are simple, light-hearted, often humorous and an easy read. But here’s the clincher–they provide parents with added insight into each individual situation.

 

University Parent Guide to Supporting Your Student’s Freshman Year

This guide is divided into time segments throughout your student’s first year of college: summer, early fall, late fall, and spring. Each division provides parents with all the information they need help their student through each segment of the first year of college.

The summer segment (Get Ready), deals with topics related to the changes you will face as your role changes, what to expect at orientation, roommates, budgeting, and campus culture. The fall segment (Settling In), discusses topics like move-in day, greek life, parent visits, and how to deal with struggling students. The late fall segment (Adjusting), deals with care packages, holidays, diet and exercise, studying abroad. The spring segment (Looking Forward), talks about sophomore topics like housing, student stress, transferring and student loans. The final chapter gives you areas to write down phone numbers, important dates and a typical 4-year checklist.

 

Secrets of a Financial Aid Pro

Jodi Okun’s book launched today and the presales put it on the Amazon #1 Best Seller list. This book is more than help for financial aid questions. In it you can find out how to give your student the financial skills they’ll need for life, with talking points and scripts to help you with important conversations you need to have before college. Jodi provides parents with expert advice and in this book shares her experiences of helping parents pay for college.

 

Letting Go: A Parents’ Guide to Understanding the College Years

This bestselling guide has already helped hundreds of thousands of parents over the past decade, and it remains one of the best guides for parents of new college students. Now in its fourth edition, this guide is based on the real-world experiences of students and parents. It’s filled with practical, compassionate, and timely college tips for parents going through the college experience.

 

Don’t Tell Me What to Do, Just Send Money: The Essential Parenting Guide to the College Years

This book offers a whimsical, humorous, but also practical guide for parents with college-bound children. Featuring real-life examples and dialogues, the author provides parents with need-to-know fundamentals as their student goes off to college.

 

You’re On Your Own (But I’m Here if You Need Me)

Many parents struggle with setting the appropriate boundaries for their college students and this book can be a big help. Marjorie Savage has some of the best college tips for parents on how to respect a student’s boundaries while still providing emotional support.

 

From Mom to Me Again

When her children left for college, Melissa Shultz was certain that she had prepared them well for their new lives-but her own life was a different matter entirely. Her house was empty, her purpose unclear. If her life was no longer dominated by the day-to-day demands of being “Mom,” then who exactly was she? And how would she ever move forward? Shultz’s struggle with the empty nest and the transformation of her marriage, friendships, career, and ultimately herself, is part memoir and part self-help guide.

 

How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success

In this book, Julie Lythcott-Haims draws on research, on conversations with admissions officers, educators, and employers, and on her own insights as a mother and as a student dean to highlight the ways in which overparenting harms children, their stressed-out parents, and society at large. While empathizing with the parental hopes and, especially, fears that lead to overhelping, Lythcott-Haims offers practical alternative strategies that underline the importance of allowing children to make their own mistakes and develop the resilience, resourcefulness, and inner determination necessary for success.

 

Debt Free U

Zac Bissonnette has seen the currently flawed system first hand. He’s a contrarian, and his book is packed with studies and statistics to back up his analysis. It’s a magical combination that college-bound students and their parents should read, even if there’s plenty of money set aside to pay the tuition tab. There’s no harm in learning ways to get the biggest bang for your buck and the best education available at the same time.

admissions, book reviews, essays

A Book to Help with the Admissions Essay

 

Periodically, I review books for authors who write about the college prep process. Today’s review is on Admissions Essay BootCamp (How to Write Your Way into the Elite College of Your Dreams). If your student needs some help with the essay, check it out.

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admissions essay“From the founder of elite college prep agency Mint Tutors comes this hard‐hitting essay‐writing advice manual tailored to each student’s strengths and potential pitfalls, inspiring students to write as if guided by their own personal college admissions tutor.”

The book begins by helping students identify what type of applicant they are and then helps them think through the essay process.

According to Ashley Wellington, the book’s author:

By nurturing the voice of the student as an individual [it] gives tailored advice that empowers real students to craft higher‐quality essays that will get them into Ivy‐level institutions. Admissions Essay Boot Camp replicates an editing session with a private tutor who knows how to dish out both encouragement and tough love—and get results.

What I like about the book

  • It outlines the five prompts on the Common app essay and pairs them with the student’s personality type
  • It helps you organize your thoughts and get them down on paper
  • There’s a much-needed grammar lesson
  • It helps the student craft their own version of the essay prompts by giving examples and analyzing the good and bad points
  • It helps students recognize the “red flag” topics and how to tackle them

Why can this book help student’s with the essay?

If you student needs help brainstorming and recognizing the strong aspects of their essay along with the negative ones, this book will help. Sometimes, a little brainstorming and some examples of how to handle topics is all a student needs to begin crafting an amazing essay.

 

book reviews, parenting

Mom-Approved Tips: Supporting Your College Freshman

 

college freshmanWhether you have a high school graduate heading to college in the fall, or you are working toward that eventual inevitability in the future, you need information about college life and how to support your new college freshman.

University Parent, as it has done in the past, recognized the need that parents have when their student’s head off to college. Knowing how frustrating it can be for parents with questions, concerns and generally uneasiness, they brought experts together to create the University Parent Guide to Supporting your Student’s Freshman Year. You could also call it the “everything you need to know but didn’t know where to ask” guide for parents.

Why create this guide?

Sarah Schupp, University Parent’s Founder and CEO, wanted to sort through issues of parenting college students and created this helpful go-to guide to make parenting afar easier. According to Ms. Schupp, “Studies consistently show that students with engaged parents have far better college outcomes than those that don’t or than those with overly-involved parents. There is a delicate balance between acting as a coach and acting in place of the student.”

Realizing that most parents questions are universal, University Parent published this guide to help parents best support their son or daughter.

What’s in the guide?

The guide is divided into time segments throughout your student’s first year of college: summer, early fall, late fall, and spring. Each division provides parents with all the information they need help their student through each segment of the first year of college.

The summer segment (Get Ready), deals with topics related to the changes you will face as your role changes, what to expect at orientation, roommates, budgeting, and campus culture. The fall segment (Settling In), discusses topics like move-in day, greek life, parent visits, and how to deal with struggling students. The late fall segment (Adjusting), deals with care packages, holidays, diet and exercise, and studying abroad. The spring segment (Looking Forward), talks about sophomore topics like housing, student stress, transferring and student loans. The final chapter gives you areas to write down phone numbers, important dates and a typical 4-year checklist.

Why do I recommend this guide?

I can’t tell you the number of parents who have asked me questions about the first year of college, especially dealing with these specific topics. If you know what to expect and how to plan, the first year will go much more smoothly. This guide gives parents all the information they need in one simple, easy-to-read guide.

Even if your student isn’t going to college in the fall, this guide will help you prepare for that day. As always, I advise parents to be prepared; because preparation prevents panic.

book reviews

Carpe College! A Review and a Giveaway

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Review and Book Giveaway: Carpe College!It is graduation time and every parent and relative are looking for gifts for graduates. I know, I know. No teenager likes to receive a book for graduation. But, if you’re smart, you can stuff it in a backpack, add it to a duffle bag or stick it in a laptop case or messenger bag. However you choose to gift it, you MUST get them a copy of this book: Carpe College!

It’s not just a gift, it’s an investment in the graduate’s future. And when I say that, I mean this is the BEST book for soon-to-be college students. They may not read it right away, but I guarantee there will be some point in the first few months of college that they will pick it up. Because this book is more than just a book—it’s a guidebook to making the most of a college education. It’s a book written for college students in a language they can understand.

I don’t write in-depth reviews because most of us have little time to read those. What I do like to do is tell you what I liked about the book and what stood out to me. That way, you can easily see its value over other graduation gift books. I mean, “Oh the Places You’ll Go” is great but it’s going to sit on a shelf after they read it once. This book won’t. They will use it as a reference book over the next four years when they feel like they are spinning their wheels, or are frustrated with the major they have chosen, or they can’t seem to fit in, or they have a horrific roommate that is driving them crazy. That’s right, this book covers these topics and so much more!

What I like about Carpe College!

Here it is. A simple list of why I like this book so much:

  • It’s easy to read. So many books go on for page after page discussing one topic.
  • It’s broken up into sections, which makes it easier to find what you are looking for.
  • It’s filled with quotes for inspiration. Who doesn’t like quotes?
  • The section and chapter headings cracked me up: Swinging from the Trapeze at the Country Club, Tempus Fugit (More Latin! You’re Killing Me, Smalls!), The Famous Formula (aka Smells Like Teen Freedom to name a few.
  • It addresses every aspect of college life in a way that students can relate to.
  • The illustrations are cute. Who doesn’t like illustrations?
  • There’s an appendix filled with charts, and planners, and advice from students who have “been there and done that.”
  • The information in it is relevant to today’s college student.

All kidding aside . . . if you just get one book for your graduate, I would recommend this book. And before you pass it along (or after) read it yourself. Or better yet, get your own copy!

Giveaway

If you like what you read and think you might like a copy for your graduate (or another graduate you know) I’ve got good news for you. I’m giving a copy away here on my blog. That’s right—FREE. Your very own copy of Carpe College! by Mike Metzler: a great book by an even greater parent.

All you have to do is follow the directions in the giveaway below. Enter as many times as you want every day. Pass the URL along to your family and friends. And it the end of the giveaway we will draw a winner!

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book reviews, extracurricular activities, Sponsored posts, Uncategorized

The benefits of participating in a high school debate team

 

high school debate teamThe education you have during high school can benefit you in college.  This is especially true if you plan to pursue a law degree.  There are reasons to make a high school debate team a part of your education.

A Debate Team Will Help You Learn Communication Skills

When you work in the legal field, you need to know how to communicate effectively.  The best way to prepare for success is to learn these skills in high school.  There is no better way to learn effective communication skills than by participating on a debate team.

Debate requires you to think clearly and carefully before you speak.  You will learn to formulate your thoughts, and know in advance what you want to say.  You will learn to be logical and rational.  These skills will help you communicate in an effective manner.

Your Education Can Help You Learn To Focus On Facts

When debate is part of your education, you will learn to separate emotions and opinions from facts.  You will be able to approach each topic you debate from a logical perspective.  These skills will be useful in the classroom, and in your future career.

Debate Will Help You Gain Confidence In Yourself

Confidence is an important part of your education.  Not only is confidence essential to a successful career, it can also make your life better when you are in college.

A person who has confidence in himself is more likely to resist negative peer pressure.  If your fellow students drink, use drugs, or engage in other harmful activities, the self-confidence you develop from participating in the debate team can make it easier for you to make the right choices.  You will know you do not have to follow the crowd, or engage in behaviors that are not in your best interest.

When debate is included in your education, it can also help your social life.  As socializing is an important part of the college experience, self-confidence can help you make friends.  When you are self-assured, you will be the kind of person other students will like.

You Can Become Goal-Oriented From Your Debate Team Experiences

Even if you are still in high school, gaining the most from your education requires you to be goal-oriented.  When you practice for a debate, you will have goals in mind.  When you know what you want to accomplish, it is the first step toward accomplishing the goal.  This is a habit you can carry with you into college, and into your future.

Debate Makes Education Fun

While debate is serious, it is something you will enjoy.  From learning about new topics to interacting with other students, it will be an enjoyable part of your overall education.

However, you will also find an activity can be fun and serious at the same time.  While you will take many classes and participate in other activities in high school, the debate team is one in which you will have a good time.

Your education is your foundation for the future.  Nearly every decision you make today will affect your future in some way.  When you are planning the courses you will take, and the extra-curricular activities you want to participate in, make sure the debate team is on your list.

The debate team can provide a head-start to a successful career.  It can benefit you throughout your college years, and when you enter the workforce.  Equally important, it is something you will thoroughly enjoy.  It can provide many benefits and opportunities that you cannot afford to miss.  The debate team should definitely be part of your high school plans.

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Author Bio

Ryan Ayers is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he describes the benefits of being involved with a debate team and aims to encourage further study with a Champlain College Masters in Criminal Law.

book reviews, giveaways

Saturday Giveaway: Getting In-The Zinch Guide to College Admissions

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This week’s giveaway is one of my favorite books on college admissions: Getting In-The Zinch Guide to College Admissions.

Getting InI’ve read plenty of books on college admissions. Some are so scholarly heavy that you need a degree to figure them out. Others are so shallow you can find most of the material in your teen’s high school handouts. Zinch’s book is neither of the above. It’s geared toward the student, but is also extremely valuable from a parent’s perspective. Zinch reminds the student that while the college process often involves the entire family, the final choice must be their own. I agree with this whole heartedly. Every parent should grasp this truth.

Since this book is jam-packed with information, it would be difficult to speak about all of it. Suffice it to say that Zinch covers EVERYTHING from beginning to end. It’s an invaluable resource to have for your student (especially at the beginning of the process), because it walks them through admissions step by step.

Following are some of the highlights (and my favorite parts):

  • The Truth About College Admissions-This chapter alone is worth the cost of the book. They debunk the myths about college, college rankings, and tell you the things colleges don’t want you to know. Superb!
  • Behind the Scenes-This chapter goes into great detail about what goes on in a college admissions office. As a parent, this chapter will be an eye opener. If you’ve ever wondered what goes on, Zinch spells it out!
  • College Input-One of the impressive components in the book is the input Zinch includes from actual specific college admissions officers. It helps you see how they think and how they view the process.
  • Social Media-Zinch recognizes the importance of social media and how it can affect the college admissions process. The book talks about your student’s online presence and reminds them that Google never forgets.
  • The Hook-This is the first book that I’ve seen that talks about “marketing” the student to the colleges. Zinch explains how important this is in order for your student to stand out.
  • The Application process-Since this is the most important part of college admissions, the book goes into specific detail about every aspect of the application with step-by-step guides and tips.
  • Three Case Studies-This is my favorite part of the book. Zinch takes three college applicants of different backgrounds and academics and presents their entire application to various colleges for review. The colleges then give their recommendations for acceptance, wait listing or rejection, giving you insight into the “whys” of the decision, along with how they came to their decision. It’s a wealth of information for both students and parents.

Wouldn’t this be a great book to add to your college collection? It’s easy to enter this giveaway. Just follow the directions below and you will be all set for a chance to win this great book.

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admissions, book reviews, Uncategorized

How to Prepare a Standout College Application–Book Review and Giveaway

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standout college applicationRecently I received a book to review about how to create an application that stands out from the others. The book, How to Prepare a Standout College Application: Expert Advice That Takes You From LMO (like many others) to Admit, is written by Allison Cooper Chisolm and Anna Ivey, both former admissions officers at top universities. They have drawn from their experiences and given parents and students a step by step process on how to complete a stellar college application that makes an impression on admissions officers.

According to Chisholm and Ivey,

Stellar credentials are great, but without a standout application, they are not enough. It really is as simple as that. So when people ask us, “What’s the secret?” our answer is always the same: The application is the secret.

The authors remind applicants that a stellar application requires time and effort. It’s not something you can complete in an afternoon. They believe there are 7 proven strategies that work:

  1. Work Smarter, Not Harder
  2. Think Like an Admissions Officer
  3. Tell Your Story
  4. Focus on the Core Four: Passion, Talent, Initiative and Impact
  5. Sweat the Details
  6. Make the Form Work for You
  7. Show, Don’t Tell

Using these strategies, their book is a DIY guide to help your student produce a standout application. All of the stories and examples in the book are from personal experiences with real-life applicants and their families. The book covers all aspects of the application process from start to finish: how to get started; how to complete the application; and how to submit it and follow up.

What I liked about the book

It’s hard to summarize such a wealth of information in a review, but as I read the book, I thought about the things that I liked from a parent and a college coach standpoint:

  • The book gives easy to understand parent tips throughout, giving parents the information they need to help their student with the application process.
  • Seeing the application through the eyes of an admissions officer is invaluable.
  • The book walks the student through each step of telling their story and how it helps them stand out from other applicants.
  • The insider tips on how to get the application in the right pile by answering questions related to your student’s admissions chances.
  • Sample resumes and other application components.
  • They address the nuances of home school applicants.
  • The book addresses the issues of following up, handling questions, and dealing with deferred admission.

This book is an invaluable tool for parents who are helping their student navigate the college maze. You can purchase it on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/How-Prepare-Standout-College-Application/dp/1118414403). But, if you’re lucky, you might just win a FREE copy of the book provided by the authors. Just enter my Book Giveway below, win, and it could be on its way to you when the giveaway ends on September 26, 2013.

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book reviews

“Now What?”-Conversations about College, Graduation, and the Next Step

 

I’m always happy to promote books about college and the college process. “Now What?”, a book by Ari King, gives a unique perspective by using more than 60 interviews with new and established college graduates about adjust to college, preparing for graduation, and figuring out what to do next. Here’s some info about the book and how you can purchase a copy. 

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now whatNow What?! Conversations about College, Graduation, and the Next Step (June 2013) shares the highs and lows of the transition from college to the “real world” and shows the breadth of roadmaps college graduates use to make their way in the world after commencement. From the budding marine biologist who studied abroad in St. Croix to the theater director who started out driving actors around, each interview in Now What?! shares honest, practical, and often humorous advice about navigating every aspect of college, coping with graduation, and moving forward in the “real world.”

Now What?! features interviews with Bobbito García, a writer and Renaissance man put on academic probation twice; Kathy Keeler, a job-hopping rower and Olympic gold medalist; Will & Grace creator/producer David Kohan, who got his first break from Sydney Pollack; U.S. Attorney Tristram Coffin, who went building to building in Lower Manhattan to get his first paralegal job; Peapod, Inc. founders Andrew and Thomas Parkinson, whose entrepreneurial streaks started in college; Jane Eisner, editor-in-chief of The Forward, who graduated early to take a newspaper job; actor Bradley Whitford, who lived off ramen and peanut butter after graduation; travel photographer Michael Yamashita, who discovered his passion while unloading cargo in Japan; Daniel Handler, also known as Lemony Snicket, who worked as a dance class pianist, laundry assistant, and bartender while starting his writing career; Kathleen Clyde, a state representative who contemplated fashion instead of politics; author Sebastian Junger, who started out working in construction; Dina Kaplan, who contemplated TV reporting and ballet and later founded Blip; former Ethicist columnist Randy Cohen, who was studying music when he realized he had no musical talent; and Peter Schube, President and COO of The Jim Henson Company, who reluctantly lived with his mother after college while working as a paralegal.

“Everyone has a story to tell about college and the first year out. For some, it was a struggle capped with anxiety, doubt, questions, and feelings of failure. For others, it was a year spent traveling, preparing for graduate school, working a random job, and dealing with the unknown,” King said. “I wrote this book after thinking about how there are guidebooks to cities, and that there should be something comparable for those who are finishing college.”

Now What?! Conversations about College, Graduation, and the Next Step is now available for purchase online at www.amazon.com. Even though Amazon says “temporarily out of stock”, you may still go through with the ordering process and purchase the book and it will be shipped next week. For more information about the book, visit www.ariking.com or e-mail info@ariking.com.