August is here! Time for the big send-off! Parents and students: you are all probably feeling excited for what the next 4 years will hold, and anxious about getting everything done and ready for the big day. Hopefully you are feeling well prepared and confident in where you’ll be headed! However, if you’re looking for some last minute reassurance on if you've selected the right school, or that you can succeed in your chosen major, here are 5 of our favorite reading recommendations about the college journey.

Just For Students

The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College
By Harlan Cohen
When your roommate sleeps through their 8am, 10am, AND 12pm classes, should you wake them up? What if they leave their clothes all over the bathroom floor, can you just throw them in the trash? (No!) How many student organizations is too many to join? You will be faced with dozens of new situations like these next year. Take some advice from those who have made the journey ahead of you, and learn how they successfully (or sometimes unsuccessfully) navigated their way through the first year ups and downs. [Recommended by Amy]

Just For Parents

You're on Your Own (But I'm Here if You Need Me): Mentoring Your Child During the College Years
By Marjorie Savage
This is a practical, realistic book on how to parent your child. I like to say it's the college-age equivalent of the “What to Expect When You're Expecting: series. It’s full of advice and guidance, helping parents figure out when to step in and when to step back. [Recommended by Kim]

For Everyone

Choose Your Own Adulthood
By Hal Runkel
This is a very quick read that presents choices a student will be faced with as they strike out on their own. Chapters like “respond more, react less” and “produce more, consume less” are really great reminders for all of us, no matter where we are in life. [Recommended by Lara]

There Is Life After College
By Jeffrey Selingo
This read is appropriate for students with a year or two of college under their belt, as well as parents. It’s a fascinating look at how the job market has evolved, and what students can do to prepare for the transition to the workforce while they are in college. There are very practical tips about looking for skills beyond the normal college curriculum. [Recommended by Lara]

Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania
By Frank Bruni
A healthy and refreshing look at college admissions through statistics and interesting stories of successful people. While mainstream culture insists that more prestige equates to more superior outcomes, Frank Bruni provides comprehensive evidence to the contrary. Truly, there are many, many colleges out there that can lead to outcomes equal to those achieved by students at top-ranked universities. Ultimately, success in college is determined by how students choose to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them in and outside of the classroom. An encouragement to both students and parents, this book is a great read before heading into senior year. [Recommended by Laura]