Most parents and college professors can give endless advice about college, but many high-school graduates just won't understand until they learn the lessons for themselves. Besides learning from experience, here are some books that might get the graduate in your life started on the right path.
"What Color is Your Parachute? For Teens" by Carol Christen and Richard N. Bolles (Ten Speed Press, 2nd edition, 2010, $15.99)
If the graduate in your life is uncertain about what career path to pursue in college, help them be proactive about clarifying their dreams and goals early in the college experience. "What Color is Your Parachute?" can help teens focus their career goals and avoid costly changes to majors late in the game. Having specific career goals early in college can help students to maximize their experience with the best resume-building classes, internships and the like.
"What now?" by Ann Patchett (Harper, 2008, $14.95)
Ann Patchett's "What now?" is an essay modified from a stirring commencement address she recently gave at Sarah Lawrence College. This book gives excellent advice to any student who finds himself at a crossroads in his life, but it is specifically tailored to address questions that college graduates may have after completing their degrees and beginning to make their way in the real world.
"Colleges that Change Lives: 40 Schools that Will Change the Way You Think about Colleges" by Loren Pope (Penguin, 2006, $16)
If the graduate in your life has not yet made a decision about college or finds themselves feeling unhappy about their attendance at the same large college as all of their friends, this handbook can serve as an excellent guide to colleges that will help them to see the world in new ways. "Colleges that Change Lives" even has a local connection: it features liberal-arts college Millsaps College.
"Oh, the Places You'll Go!" by Dr. Seuss (Random House, 1990, $17.99)
This Dr. Seuss classic is a favorite classic graduation gift for graduates of all ages. But don't just give the graduate in your life an unsigned copy of "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" Be certain to write a long inscription in the book to give hope to your graduate and create a treasured personal heirloom for years to come. It might even make its way into the must-take-to-college pile for inspiration during difficult freshman-year moments.
"The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College" by Harlan Cohen (Source Books, 4th edition 2011, $14.99)
This practical guide offers excellent advice for many common college situations that graduates may be unprepared for. Roommate's dirty dishes piled high above the sink? Loud hall mates partying the night before the big history exam? "The Naked Roommate" offers reassurance and common-sense advice to help new college students best navigate the halls of academia.
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