The Real Freshman Handbook: A Totally Honest Guide to Life on Campus

By Jennifer Hanson

Book Overview

In a guide to college life that is a little more realistic than Felicity and a little more fun than Stanley Kaplan, Jennifer Hanson charts a course through the dips and bends of freshman year. Written with the collective "wisdom" of twelve college students from across the country, THE REAL FRESHMAN HANDBOOK is the only one of its kind -- a "handy and humorous book that will fit in any first-year's backpack" (Harvard University Gazette) and that offers an inside look at the real deal on college life from those who have been there -- and survived. Hanson gives readers a crash course in avoiding freshman year follies, from filling out roommate questionnaires and evaluating putative hangover remedies to writing papers and studying for exams.
College-bound students will relish the down-to-earth advice, and parents can rest assured that they won't have to fund a new wardrobe because Junior didn't separate the colors from the whites. The advice throughout is insightful, smart, practical, entertaining, proving that "Hanson has really done her homework" (U Magazine).

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0618163425
• ISBN13: 9780618163427
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Collins Reference
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Pretty Honest Look at the Freshman Experience

I just bought this as a graduation gift for my cousin whose been like a little sister to me. After seeing this book at a used bookstore downtown I thought that it would be a great ice breaker to start up a dialogue about her upcoming experiences in College. After skimming through some of the chapters, particularly about getting your living arrangments and roommate situations taken care of, it reminded me very much of my freshman year. Although some of the advise like it's ok to slack in your first year I found to be a little unsettling. Then again going to an intensive urban setting art school is far different from her Poli-Sci curriculim at her private all girl school. I would deffinatly recomend this as a fun gift for a graduating high school senior, particularly from friends or relatives of similar age groups.

Very Humorous View of College Life

I am a high school senior and found this book in my library. This was a very comical book that gave me some good advice. Its not the best out there, but very good for the price.

Great Campus Friend.

This book is a fantastic general guide to going to college for the first time and is perfect for answering all the questions you may not want to ask. I teach at a University and suggest "Major in Success" by Patrick Combs with "The Real Freshman Handbook" as the perfect combo to college life and persuing your dream job.

Really prepares you

This book shows you thinks that I never thought about when i began packing for college. It comes from a college point of view and not a person who went to college eaons ago. It helps focus where you need to get and where to be.

"Handbook": A Fabulous Mental Preparation for Dorm Life

Sometimes, psyching yourself up for college eventually turns into psyching yourself out. With the amount of questions and uncertainty about what the next four years will be like, its easy to become overwhelmed. I should know, I'm facing the same problem going to college in less than a month. Questions like "Should I still have a relationship with my girlfriend?" and "Should I use hot water when washing my shirts?" can swim around in your head for days. Thankfully, Harvard graduate, Minnesota native, and corn fanatic Jennifer Hanson makes the upcoming experience a little easier to swallow in "The Real Freshman Handbook." Covering what's up ahead with a sense of humor and confidence that a best friend would give you, "Handbook" covers everything from getting there to first aid, laundry to study habits. It's a very quick (not to mention hilarious) read. With all of the information inside, it should also be used as a quick reference to know just how long you should keep that shirt in the dryer or how long to cook your potatoes in the microwave. Between a pillow and your Beastie Boys poster, this is a book you'll definitely want to pack for the trip.