College Life begins with The Freshman 40: everything you need to know about your first 40 days in college

Why are you going to college? You could probably give a long list of why you are going to college. But in all these reasons for going to college, you are going with the intention of graduating, right? It would be ridiculous to think that you are going to college with so much as even a thought of dropping out. But, did you know that according to the Department of Education over 30% of college students drop out during, or immediately after, their freshman year? The study goes on to say that 50% of these new college freshmen NEVER graduate. Did you catch that? One out of every three students who go to college drop out in their first year. Moreover, many drop out in just the first six weeks of school. When all is said and done, nearly half of all freshmen will either drop out before getting their degree or transfer and complete their college education elsewhere. So what gives? Why is this happening? Is it just that the rigors of the college classroom are too difficult? Unfortunately the answer is a bit more complicated than this. You see incoming college freshman are unaware and unprepared for what their transition from high school to college will be like. In fact, few are even aware of the fact that there will be a transition at all. Going to college is not as simple as having the intellect to withstand the college curriculum. For many of these 18-year olds, they are now on their own for the very first time in their lives. Being on your own is a really big deal, a huge deal. But there is still more to this transition than being on your own. Add to this being forced to live with someone your really don t know (a complete stranger in most cases) in an extremely small space. Don't forget about strange food with lots of carbs, strange schedules with little sleep, and strange living areas with lots of people. And if that weren't enough, don't forget about your newfound freedom ... freedom that is wonderful but at the same time overwhelming and even daunting. The Freshman 40 is a guide, a map of sorts, that will help you to be fully prepared for what lies ahead. You CAN (and should) know what to expect when you arrive on campus and how to navigate the exciting, and at times, treacherous, waters known as the Freshman Year. If it is indeed true what research has shown, that the freshman year is the most vital year in college; it determines whether or not you will be there next year, we need to take it seriously ... and be seriously prepared for what to expect and how to handle it. As you read the pages that follow, get excited! Going to college is one of the most exciting events you will ever experience. And believe it or not, your 4-5 years in college will be over more quickly than you can possibly imagine. These years will be among some of the best years of your life, but be forewarned: it is not all fun and games. The transition from being a teenager to becoming an adult is difficult ... yep, even at college. Hearing a new freshman comment, "College, it's just not at all what I expected... can become a thing of the past. "The Freshman 40" will give you the information you need so that you can be fully informed and will have realistic expectations of what your Freshman Year will be like. Just so you know: it's going to be great, really great, but it's also going to be hard, really hard. But make no mistake: through it all, your college experience is going to be an incredible adventure! So, grab your things, strap on your life-jacket, and jump on-board as we push away from the dock and set sail for the adventure of a lifetime: YOUR Freshman 40!