How To Play & Win The College Game is based on the curriculum for the award-winning Freshman Seminar Sharon Padilla-Alvarado designed at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, California (which has been identified as one of the top 10 most diverse public two-year colleges in the U.S.). Students are invited to pull up a chair and sit down with a seasoned academic advisor who explains in an easy-to-read, conversational tone both what to expect in college, and how to make the most of the college or university experience. Rather than lecturing students on how to succeed in college, Sharon draws students into the book through a series of exercises designed to help them understand the behaviors of successful college students. The book includes 35 articles outlining key information that normally could take years for new college students to learn, 30 exercises on topics such as Time Management and Money Management that can be done individually, in small groups in class, or as homework assignments, journal writing prompts, 9 Case Studies, 8 Self Assessments, and assorted "FAQ's" with answers to questions that are frequently asked by new college students, as well as numerous tips related to College Success. Both new and continuing College Success and Freshman Seminar instructors, and directors and counselors of programs for new, first generation, and at-risk students will find this book easy to use, and a great tool for generating discussion about how to avoid the obstacles to success many new students encounter, as well as how to establish a foundation for academic success early on in college.
About the Author: Sharon Padilla-Alvarado has worked more than 30 years in Higher Education. As the first person in her family to attend a university, she keenly understands the first generation college student experience. Having completed her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology & Spanish, and her Master's Degree in Education (Administration & Policy Analysis) at Stanford University, she is familiar with the demands on students attending selective private universities. She is also familiar with the needs of students enrolled in Basic Skills and ESL courses, and transfer students, having worked at four California Community Colleges and two California State Universities. Sharon has extensive experience in the area of university transfer and authored The Insider's Guide To Transferring (Bedford/St. Martin's, 2014). She has motivated thousands of high school and college students to set high goals for themselves through fun, hands-on workshops. "How To Play & Win The College Game is 'a game-changer' for new college students - especially those who know little about the challenges they are about to face. Author Padilla-Alvarado does a masterful job of speaking directly to students with practical advice on knowing their faculty members, attending class, managing time and money, staying healthy and succeeding in college. Many of the lessons in this book are too often learned by students only as they are completing college. How To Play & Win The College Game allows the new student to learn the ways of successfully navigating the college environment before the end of the first semester. If you want to succeed in college, read How To Play & Win The College Game!" - Dr. Brice W. Harris, Chancellor of the California Community Colleges