College Success Concise

Reviewed by Erica Giles, Lecturer III, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on 12/18/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This book covers topics for succeeding in college: time management, study strategies, mental health, building relationships, and financial planning. A more concise and shorter version of the original College Success, key topics are presented in a way that feels manageable and not overwhelming. I appreciate this updated version which also includes more emphasis on well-being, mental health, and stress associated with social media. The topics are outlined in a logical flow that is flexible and appropriate for first year experience courses. The summaries and outlines make it easy to follow for both students and instructors.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

This book aligns with what I know works from my own experience helping first year students adjust to college. Topics like growth mindset, study techniques, and time management are explained well and grounded in proven strategies. The content stays neutral while still feeling encouraging and relatable for students.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The topics are relevant for today’s students. Challenges that students face like managing stress, avoiding procrastination, and dealing with social media are covered. The content feels current, but it’s written in a way that will stay useful for years to come with future updates as needed.

Clarity rating: 5

The writing is clear, conversational, and avoids overwhelming students with jargon. When technical terms are used (like “metacognition”), they’re explained in a way that is easy to understand. The student-centered examples make the content feel relatable and engaging.

Consistency rating: 5

The book’s structure stays consistent throughout. Every chapter starts with a quick survey to get students thinking about the topic, followed by smaller, easy-to-digest sections. Chapter reflection questions and activities are included and allow for adaptability for active learning strategies to reinforce concepts in the classroom.

Modularity rating: 5

Each chapter works as a standalone unit, so it’s easy to assign just the parts you need. This flexibility allows you to supplement with your own institution’s resources and information.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The book is laid out in a way that makes sense for first year students. It starts with foundational topics, like understanding college expectations, and then moves into deeper areas, like career planning and personal well-being.

Interface rating: 5

I read the digital version which is clean and user-friendly, with no navigation issues or distracting visuals. Charts, tables, and student profiles break up the text and make key points stand out.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I didn’t find any grammar or editing mistakes.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The book is culturally inclusive and highlights diverse perspectives through examples and student profiles. These examples reflect a variety of backgrounds and diverse perspectives.

Reviewed by Jay Rader, Associate Director, Center for Student Success, Marshall University on 4/25/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

As the name suggests, this is a concise version of material meant to present to students who are new to college or struggling to adapt to the changes once they arrive. As a concise edition, it is not meant to cover all material that could be presented to these groups. There is a separate edition of this open textbook written by the same author (College Success, not "Concise) that is more comprehensive of all material if additional material would be needed.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The textbook presents as accurate and unbiased in presenting the material. It is error free and presented in a standard "textbook verbiage". All information is presented in a professional manner and matches, while sometimes noting, other relevant literature

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The information is updated and relevant for the student groups this is intended. In addition to new college students, this book would be extremely helpful to students in academic recovery.

Clarity rating: 5

Clear and concise, yet is noted above is written in expected textbook verbiage. Language is on par with what would be expected for a textbook that is for first year college students and is easy to follow. Terminology is defined well and in detail, often drawing from other literature to assist with explanations if students would need further assistance or literature.

Consistency rating: 5

The framework of the book is laid out and consistent through each chapter. Reading through, everything is laid out as expected and makes for an easy understanding and quick access to material when skimming to review topics.

Modularity rating: 5

Perhaps the greatest strength of this book, each chapter consists of several much shorter sections that are subdivide into extremely manageable and readable portions. The sections are laid out with headings that are well-defined and explanatory, which allows for quick review and access of the material.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The flow of the book is logical, clear, and presented in a manner that makes sense. Book can be used without having to jump from section to section if you wish, but is organized in a way that could be modulated and presented custom depending on your workflow.

Interface rating: 5

No issues were presented here with the text and all charts and images display well. Book reads well in a browser, a downloaded PDF, or printable document. Additionally reviewed on an iPad Pro (12.9" screen) and Mac and it had no issues.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammar or other syntax errors were for found during review.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

Text is appropriate and is not insensitive or offensive. Examples are inclusive and many diverse student experiences are noted throughout the book. One caveat is that the text reads much more appropriately for full-time students than part-time students.

Comments

Having used a separate textbook by the authors previously, I had high expectations for this book. It did not disappoint - it is well written and extremely relatable for students in our academic recovery programs. I really like the section on knowing why you are in college, as we spend much time with academic recovery students and "knowing your why." This book would be a positive edition to an academic preparation course, and the concise version isn't intimidating to a new or struggling student.

Reviewed by Dagoberto Ramirez, Lecturer III, University College, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on 3/24/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This is a comprehensive first-year experience textbook, designed to help students transition from high school to college. Its comprehensive nature is evident with its 8 relevant chapters that address important topics helpful to first-year students (including, transitioning to college, managing your time, note-taking, and building relationships). The table of contents guides the professor and student in an easy-to-access manner.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The textbook is accurate, error-free and unbiased. It is clearly a publication written in student-accessible language, yet professional.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The textbook's first-year experience topics are relevant and quite timely. Any future updates will easily be incorporated due to its format.

Clarity rating: 5

The textbook is written in accessible format and language, clearly with first-year students in mind.

Consistency rating: 5

The professional layout and chapter-design provides the necessary consistent format that first-year students will find easy to use and simple to understand. Language is treated in a jargon-free style, beneficial to both the student and the professor.

Modularity rating: 5

The chapter design and layout makes for an easy-to-implement course textbook. The chapter sections can facilitate a logical sequencing of course study for first-year students.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The textbook's topics are relevant and presented in a logical sequence that builds from basic introductions to more detailed in-depth study.

Interface rating: 5

The textbook is a concise standalone inclusive first-year experience manual that is easy to navigate.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The textbook is free of any grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The textbook reads in a culturally sustaining manner, inclusive of all first-year college experiences and backgrounds.

Comments

This is definitely a keeper for my first-year experience students.

Reviewed by Bridget Arend, Associate Director of Teaching and Learning, Metropolitan State University of Denver on 2/23/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Those interested in adopting this book should know there is a full version of the text, College Success, also available in OpenStax, which includes additional details and chapters/topics. This Concise volume covers approximately 8 of the 12 chapters in the full text. In considering this text for adoption, it may be useful to review the fuller text as the additional chapters may be useful to some students even if they are not required readings. I was a bit surprised to see that that chapters about thinking skills and diversity were not included in the Concise version as they seem to be vital for college success. Overall, the text is extremely well organized and each chapter provides a good balance of background knowledge, resources and references, and practical application.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The text is written in a very readable and friendly writing style for students. It includes many popular study strategies and methods for common academic success issues such as time management, reading, taking notes, studying, participating in groups, etc..

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The information is put into a student's perspective and takes different student situations into account, providing scenarios throughout for comparison and relevant examples. There are many comparisons between K-12 and college in each chapter that could prove to be very useful for those students who are new to college. The text does appear to be focused on more traditional teaching methods such as lecture, exams, office hours, and could benefit from some information about success in active learning classrooms as many faculty are moving towards these practices. Future revisions could include a nod to strategies for online, hybrid, flipped, problem-based, etc. course methods.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is extremely readable and avoids excessive use of jargon while still addressing complex issues and topics.

Consistency rating: 5

The text has a very organized format that is consistent throughout the book. Each chapter begins with questions to relate the content to students' personal situations. All of the topics provide rationale and evidence for the issues being discussed and offers strategies and advice. Interactive questions and activities are included that could benefit students and act as classroom activities. Additional resources are provided for many topics.

Modularity rating: 5

The text is easily divisible into smaller reading sections and could be easily adopted in many different types of college courses and programs across disciplines.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The topics are logically organized and clearly formatted.

Interface rating: 5

There are no interface issues. The use of many clear, relevant and useful visuals add to the usability of the text.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text contains no grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The information is provided in ways that would be useful for many types of students. The authors attempt to take all student situations into account, however, some of the advice suggested may be more appropriate for full-time students rather than part-time or non-traditional students.

Comments

I will be adopting sections of the full-text version of College Success for a class I teach about learning theory in college. This seems to be an excellent resource.

Reviewed by Kellie Schmidt, Associate Dean for Student Success, Franklin College on 1/22/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

I like that this book looks at the college student as a whole person, from someone navigating the transition to college and the hidden curriculum on college campuses, to mental health, building relationships, and forming community--alongside addressing common academic challenges that students will likely face. The content goes beyond the classroom experience to cover many of the topics that are critical to success at the college level and addresses barriers that are not always academic that can impact student success.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Content is accurate and unbiased. The text is written in such a way that students will understand that they are not experts in these areas, nor are they expected to be. The structure encourages students to reflect throughout with the goal being for students to incorporate strategies into their daily routines while also understanding the "how" and "why" behind these areas that are important to success.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The content of the book speaks to so many elements that are critical to student success at the college level. All are relevant to our college students, and these areas will continue to be applicable to future students. The topics align with topics we introduce in our first semester FYE, and this book takes those topics in greater depth for continued study in semester two.

Clarity rating: 5

Each section lists estimated completion time, along with a preview, questions to consider, and a summary. All of this makes the text extremely accessible to students. The accessibility of the text will translate to more application of these skills as well.

Consistency rating: 5

Structure, terminology, and framework is consistent throughout.

Modularity rating: 5

Chapters are brief, but they are also broken up into smaller sections, allowing instructors to pick and choose the content they want to use in the classroom. Modules are all set up the same, which keeps things consistent. I love the analysis questions and questions to consider, which help instructors invite students into a discussion about what/how they currently think and then reflect on how they may need to change that thinking or their behaviors.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Chapters are presented in a logical order, in a way that makes the most sense to me for a student progressing through stages in their first year of college.

Interface rating: 5

No issues or problems in this area

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical errors

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The content of the book is not offensive, and students from a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds would find the book helpful and applicable.

Comments

I am looking forward to using many sections of this book in an academic skills course that I will be teaching in the spring semester.

Reviewed by Rhinehart Heidi, Director of Advising, Clarke University on 1/3/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This book is amazing for a first-year seminar course. It has great content and is very easy and accessible for students.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

I was impressed with the details about time management and estimates of time. Between myself and my colleagues, we felt it was very accurate.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Extremely well-written and addressing many of the things I am looking to cover with my students.

Clarity rating: 5

Very easy to read and follow.

Consistency rating: 5

Extremely well-done.

Modularity rating: 5

I enjoy the modules and units of the book--it makes it easy to pick and choose what content to use.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The content builds very appropriately.

Interface rating: 5

I particularly enjoy all of the charts and drafts in this book.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I did not notice any errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

I felt it was very inclusive, particularly for first-generation students.

Comments

I am very impressed with this book and I am excited to integrate this content in our first-year course.

Reviewed by Brenda Williams, Part-time Faculty, Lane Community College on 12/8/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This book covers all the first-time essentials students need to know about coming to college. I appreciated that the author addressed the mindset.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The book is accurate, error-free and unbiased.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The content can easily be updated and still flow very well together

Clarity rating: 5

It is easy to read and some chapter text is broken up with images or tables. Links to other websites are used appropriately.

Consistency rating: 5

I like that each chapter has a small introduction. Each subchapter is set up identically, starting with questions to consider. I like that piece.

Modularity rating: 5

I like the flow of the book but it can easily be put into a different order and still make sense.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

It flows very well.

Interface rating: 5

It was easy to navigate and find the buttons to go to the next page. It can a good use of charts and pictures which supported the text.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I didn't find any errors

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

I didn't read anything that may be offensive. Use of pictures were diverse.

Reviewed by Steve Custer, Professor, Oakland City University on 11/22/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This text covers all of the major aspects of transitioning to college life and in becoming successful in that journey. Time management concepts and strategies were explored at the outset and in an effective and efficient manner. Multiple elements from reading, note taking, financial literacy, test taking tips, and relationship building were featured in a meaningful way. Particularly, the section on mental health was particularly noteworthy and necessary in this day and age. The table of contents, index, and chapter summaries enhanced the accessibility of the content.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The content was extremely accurate, unbiased, and timely and this reader did not find any errors.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Certain issues in college success simply must be addressed. The "big ticket items" are all on display in this text and these areas are absolutely essential to cover in a first year college course.

Clarity rating: 5

The content was very easy to read and communicated the subject manner in a clearly understandable way.

Consistency rating: 5

The terminology was clear and consistent throughout the chapters covered in this text.

Modularity rating: 5

This reviewer found this text to be very adaptive to a variety of college course delivery methods. Additionally, I appreciated the inclusion of the concise version which would be very beneficial to practical considerations and/or alongside experiential learning activities.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The text materials were presented in a very logical fashion. As a reviewer who has taught first year students for a number of years, I greatly appreciated the strong organization of this resource and also that the importance of time management was mentioned near the very beginning.

Interface rating: 5

I found the text to be well constructed and the use of charts/tables/images enhanced the material throughout.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical errors were observed by this reviewer.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

This reader did not find any offensive material in the reviewed text.

Reviewed by Summer Baber, Human Development Instructor, Mt. Hood Community College on 9/4/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The book does an excellent job of including the essential/critical topics for students new to college. It has a comprehensive table of contents, index, and glossary.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The material is current and error-free.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The stories, graphics, and suggested websites/apps are interesting and relevant. Some sections, such as personal finance, will become outdated but can be easily changed as needed.

Clarity rating: 5

The book is written to be accessible by new students and jargon/terminology is explained using plain language.

Consistency rating: 5

Consistent terminology and framework.

Modularity rating: 4

There are heavy text sections throughout the book that might be due to condensing the full version into a concise version. This area could be improved to make the book more useful for 1-2 credit college success courses and/or for use by faculty who want to incorporate college success into their courses.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Easy to follow, logical format.

Interface rating: 5

There are no significant issues with the interface or navigation in the online and pdf formats.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical errors were found.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The text is not culturally insensitive; however, it could be more inclusive of a wider variety of backgrounds and experiences.

Comments

I have been looking for a shorter/condensed book for my 1-credit college success course. I plan to use this book for my online course this year. The topics are relevant, particularly the chapter on maintaining mental health and managing stress.

Pros: Has essential/critical topics for new students, well organized, written from the student perspective, and provides useful graphics and apps.
Needs Improvement: More graphics and stories that represent a wider variety of backgrounds/experiences.

Reviewed by Kile Behrends, Faculty, Minnesota West Community & Technical College on 5/25/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The book is filled with a comprehensive overview of what it takes to be successful in college.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Accurate and very up to date on college today.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The updated information, topics and data is relevant.

Clarity rating: 5

Clear and easy to read, learn and teach from.

Consistency rating: 5

Orderly

Modularity rating: 5

In order and can be broken down by topic/subject easily.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Excellent flow and order.

Interface rating: 5

Clean and easy to navigate from one chapter/topic to the next. Not flashy or busy.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammar errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Appropriate and updated.

Comments

This book was excellent and jammed full of useful charts, subject, talking points and data that can be used in the classroom or online teaching. I have taught in this subject area for years and was impressed.

Reviewed by Christine Pauly, SDV Adjunct Instructor, Tidewater Community College on 4/24/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The “College Success” textbook is comprehensive and covers relevant topics such as Time Management, Planning Your Academic Pathway, Campus Resources, Studying, Notetaking, Test Taking, Understanding Civility and Cultural Competencies, Financial Literacy, Healthy Lifestyle as well as Planning Your Future. The textbook teaches students about navigating college and how to be successful.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The “College Success” textbook is Accurate and unbiased.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The content is relevant to college success and includes emotional and mental health which seems to be more relevant since the pandemic. The textbook can easily be updated to include emerging trends and technology.

Clarity rating: 5

The textbook is well written and user-friendly. Students can easily understand the content, samples, graphics, and pictures.

Consistency rating: 5

The structure is consistent and easy to follow throughout the textbook. The chapters are not overwhelming and easy to follow with consistent terminology.

Modularity rating: 5

The textbook is broken into sections that are easy to read with student profiles, examples, charts/graphics and pictures.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The chapters are arranged logically, clearly and flow. The textbook is well organized. As with most college success career planning is near the end. Some colleges, want career planning taught earlier in the semester and this chapter could easily be taught earlier and the material would still flow.

Interface rating: 5

I saw no issues with the interface. The textbook is consistent, user-friendly, and easy to navigate.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The “College Success” textbook has no or few grammatical errors. The textbook was well written.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The textbook provides pictures, context, application, surveys, examples, and profiles embracing diversity. Diverse student experiences are highlighted throughout the textbook. Within the Understanding Civility and Cultural Competence chapter, students gain the understanding that they will interact with individuals from different backgrounds and ages.

Comments

I found that the “College Success” textbook is comprehensive and covers the relevant topics you find in most college success courses. The textbooks also provide students with useful links to apps that help them set goals, be organized, keep track of assignments and due dates; as well as other apps to be successful in college and beyond. I really liked the Develop Your “Why” segment which would go great with a video I currently use in my Student Development Courses. I will be looking at ways to change my online course to incorporate parts if not the textbook into my online course and eliminate the need for students to purchase a textbook.