A.C.E.S. FOR STUDENTS

A comprehensive guide for beginning college students on what to expect and how to succeed.

A wide range of skills are needed to succeed in college, and Crump tackles them all with her “Achievement-driven,” “Capacity-informed,” “Enthusiasm-oriented,” “Skill-building-focused” (A.C.E.S.) method. The author divides the book into three parts, beginning with common emotional issues that face incoming freshmen. These include challenges like the development of self-identity: “You will also start forming and evaluating your self-image (i.e., how you see yourself), self-esteem (i.e., the value you place on yourself), and ideal self (i.e., the type of person you as­pire to be). At the same time, you will begin building your foundational understanding of your social identity...” Part 2 delves into practical advice on such topics as note-taking methods, learning strategies, and time management. The last section explores postcollege concerns and includes guidance on how to benefit from professors’ experience and prepare for a successful career. Fill-in worksheets contain reflective prompts based on their particular chapter’s material, such as “What is your life goal?”; “What resources do you use, and what resources do you need to meet this goal?”; “What motivates you to reach this goal?”; and “What current skills do you use to assist in meeting this goal?” Occasional diagrams will appeal to visual learners, and activities like a campus scavenger hunt encourage readers to physically explore their campus and resources. Crump’s advice proves to be both theoretical and practical—she offers many actionable tips in addition to research-backed information, from ideas for integrating multiple learning styles while taking notes to hacks for planning a class schedule to suggestions of pre-semester activities to help new students feel more comfortable on campus.

Crump’s voice remains clear and concise—almost clinical—throughout, lending the guide an authoritative air that further adds weight to her counsel (there is no warm and bubbly “You got this!” cheerleading). But this doesn’t mean the text is not encouraging—it’s simply good, solid advice given in a calm and knowledgeable way that will likely appeal to anyone who likes to have a game plan in place (but not so much to those who like to be coddled). Readers will likely find themselves highlighting every single one of Crump’s sentences, because everything here feels essential—even the layout is organized for maximum re-readability. The author never talks down to her audience, instead treating incoming freshmen as adults who are fully capable of forging successful lives for themselves at college: “You will likely use mul­tiple note-taking strategies to capture your knowledge of course material. As such, you may begin by outlining during the course lecture, then use the Cornell Method to write more detailed notes and summaries, and then engage in mind-mapping to synthesize the material to explain your under­standing to your professor.” Crump’s no-nonsense approach even extends to the softer topics she covers, such as tips for overcoming homesickness. She also spends some time encouraging readers to keep up with their “mental hygiene,” a phrase that delightfully captures the book’s down-to-earth approach to an often overwhelming experience.

A practical college guide that covers all the essentials with precision, respect, and reassuring authority.