U Chic College girls' real advice for your first year (and beyond!) College girls' real advice for your first year (and beyond!) /

Review by Library Journal Review

This handy but somewhat hefty guide covers a wide range of subjects of interest to girls planning to attend and thrive at college. Garton is the founder of UChic -(www.UChic.com), and her product line and book series are geared toward helping college-bound women succeed academically, socially, and later in life as they pursue meaningful careers. The volume touches on the ins and outs of living on campus, including juggling coursework and academic schedules, handling financial matters, establishing a social life, staying healthy and safe, maximizing internship and study abroad program opportunities, and planning for life after graduation. The content is derived from 53 female college students or graduates who offer practical insights into college experience. This work is an ideal gift for a female high school student planning to attend university in the near future and will remain an important reference tool as the semesters and years unfold. Features a detailed table of contents, helpful tips, and an index (not seen). VERDICT Recommended for collections that focus on college readiness and for individuals interested in preparing for college.-Elizabeth Connor, Daniel Lib., The Citadel, Military Coll. of South Carolina, Charleston © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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GETTING STARTED

COLLEGE MAY SEEM FAR off (even for you recent high school graduates with a summer ahead of you), but it's closer than you think! No matter where you are in your preparations for the exciting transition to college, this chapter has you covered. You probably are already well aware that the transition to college is a major stress. Besides maybe summer camp, when else have you packed up your entire life's belongings into several boxes and suitcases to head off to an unknown place to live with some random stranger? To help you find your path, this chapter is filled with insider advice on making this transition with confidence and style...and even a little bit of chutzpah!

GETTING READY FOR THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

From the moment I got my acceptance letter to college, I couldn't stop thinking about my new life that was about to begin. The end of high school could not come fast enough. As excited as I was, I was also a bit anxious. This would be the first time in four years that boys would be in the same classroom with me. This would be my first time ever wearing normal clothes to class. And on top of that, thinking about the new experience of living with three girls I had never met before and being away from my family made me a bundle of nerves. I did my best to hide my anxiety behind my excitement to start a new chapter in my life.

I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I cried hysterically when my mom drove away from my dorm. It was then that I realized I wouldn't be seeing her the next day. I was being a bit dramatic, but I couldn't repress how I felt any longer. I had this fantasy that college was going to be a perfect place, and a chance for a new beginning. I think if I had spent more time appreciating my senior year of high school, instead of building up pretend scenarios about college in my mind, I would not have freaked out as much. I learned that the most important expectation you can have about college is that you have to be flexible.

WHEN YOU'RE NOT GOING TO YOUR FIRST-CHOICE SCHOOL

Allison Davis, Barnard College

I had known from the age of twelve that I was destined to attend Brown University. This had been decided before I had even visited the campus. I knew I was going to Brown to study theater and to be a free spirit under a requirement-free curriculum. And maybe join a naked protest or two.

Six years and a seventy-dollar application fee later, my hopes were dashed. I didn't get in.

Honestly, the rejection letter stung. A lot. You spend four-plus years slaving over SATs, GPAs, APs, extracurriculars, and enough community service to be on par with a Peace Corps member just to qualify for consideration at your dream school-the only university or college that you fervently believe matches who you are and, more importantly, who you want to become. It is disappointing to be so brusquely rejected by what was your collegiate soul mate. So even though I got accepted into and decided to attend Barnard College, which I knew was a great school, I was still feeling hung up on Brown. I wasn't convinced I was going to have the college experience I'd always wanted.

I had always considered myself the quirky, alternative-theater girl, and I had always intended to go to school for theater-something that I had done almost my entire life-so I thought Brown would be perfect for me. I thought I wanted to be in a small town where most of your life revolved around the campus. I also wanted a campus with a strong academic history and, yes, with ivy-covered buildings. At Barnard, I have my ivy-covered buildings. I'm involved on campus and have made great friends, but campus life is not the focal point of my social activities. I've always been an active writer, so I decided to check out Barnard's strong writing program. It turns out I love writing even more than I love theater. Truly, Barnard helped me discover my real passion and develop into a person I didn't even know I could be.

If you are in this situation, don't expect the worst or assume that you're not going to enjoy college just because you aren't going to your dream school. You have to keep an open mind. Take a tabula rasa approach. In high school, it is so easy to be pushed into a neat little box with a concise label. I'm sure you can hear it now: you are "the really athletic girl" or "the really brainy girl." But maybe there is another girl inside you that you need to explore. College gives you that opportunity, no matter where you go. There will be so many new possibilities open to you to explore.

After three years at Barnard, I knew that I loved where I was, but I always wondered, "What if I had gone to Brown?" Well, I went to visit a friend of mine who attends Brown last year. The campus was as beautiful as I had remembered. Providence is a great town, and I really liked the people. But there was something missing for me this time. If I had gone to Brown, I never would have been able to take a writing class where Rachel Weiss made an appearance so we could learn the art of interviewing. I would never have been able to spend my semesters interning at the New York Times, and I would not have been able to hop on a subway and see a Tony-winning play and then come back to campus and hang out at a dorm party later in the evening. I would have missed out on so many different and wonderful opportunities.

And the funny part of this story is that my friend who goes to Brown chose it because she hadn't gotten into Columbia University in New York City. After I had been going on and on about how much I loved going to school in the city and how much I love Barnard, she said, "If I had gone to Columbia, I would have been lost. Brown was such a better fit."

I know it's cheesy to remind you of the old saying that you'll end up where you were meant to be, but it's kind of true. Somehow, even if the school you end up going to isn't the one you thought you wanted, it may end up being the best fit.

WHEN THINGS DON'T GO AS PLANNED

My freshman year I had a set schedule. I was a cheerleader and worked part time on top of taking a full courseload. It was perfect for my type-A personality. Even to this day, I thrive on routines. This routine turned out to be critical in helping me get used to my new life in college.

However, even with a set schedule and routine, you can't plan for everything. Life happens and you can either go with it or fight against it. I started at Manhattan College as a business management major. I never would have expected this to happen, but the spring semester of my freshman year, I failed a math class that I needed for my major! I was devastated. I had never gotten a grade lower than a B+, let alone failed a class. I called my mom and she told me I'd have to pay my own way in order to retake the class. So I got a job on campus that summer. I worked full time and saved enough to retake the class. But guess what happened. Even though I had enough money to retake the class, my gut was telling me not to register for it. Was I scared I would fail again? Or was there an even bigger issue? Was this major not right for me?

BEING FLEXIBLE WITH EXPECTATIONS

I spent that fall semester miserable with my classes, but comfortable with my routine. I still had that uneasy feeling in my gut that I may have picked the wrong major.

A friend told me how he was minoring in communications, and that he was loving it; I was instantly intrigued. I made an appointment with the School of Arts advisor and brought up the question of switching majors. I would still have to make up the credit, but it would be a science class. And I was more interested in science than math. Even after talking with the advisor I was hesitant to change the "plan" I had made for myself during my senior year of high school. It took some time, but I realized I was a different person than I had been two years ago. In a matter of months, I had changed. A few signatures later, I was in the School of Arts, majoring in communications with a public relations concentration.

Excerpted from U Chic: College Girls' Real Advice for Your First Year (and Beyond!) by Christie Garton All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

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