Doing College Right
A Guide to Student Success

Joe O'Shea (Author)

9780807764831

Hardback, published 23 October 2020

216 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.4 cm, 0.428 kg

“In our national obsession with getting into a particular college, Joe O’Shea’s book presents a new and welcome approach to the process. A terrific new resource that I highly recommend!” —Robert S. Clagett, coordinator of the Gap Year Research Consortium at Colorado College

“A reader-friendly treasure trove of research-based insights about what matters to a high quality undergraduate experience and the information needed to determine a promising fit.” —George D. Kuh, chancellor’s professor emeritus of higher education, Indiana University

How do you know which college is right for you? And what should you do during college to make the most of your time there? In Doing College Right, dean of undergraduate studies Joe O’Shea helps readers to both choose a college and make key decisions throughout their higher education journey. O’Shea harnesses the latest research on how students develop and showcases award-winning programs from across the United States that are making a difference in the lives of students. Doing College Right is filled with helpful case examples, practical rubrics, and guiding questions to help readers evaluate colleges based on key dimensions of student success, both before and during college. This guide is important reading for prospective students and their families, as well as college admissions staff and high school counselors.

• Contents
• Acknowledgments 
  xi
• Introduction: Getting In Is Not Enough 
  1
• The Changing College Landscape 
  3
• How to Use This Book 
  6
• The Book’
  s Structure 
  7
• PART I: PRIORITIZING STUDENT SUCCESS 
  9
• 1. 
   
  Changing Expectations: The Student Success Movement 
  11
• What Is Student Success? 
  12
• What Should Define Student Success? 
  15
• Making Sure a College Prioritizes Student Success 
  16
• 2. 
   
  Seeing Beyond the Rankings 
  21
• What Are the Different Kinds of Colleges? 
  21
• Understanding Rankings 
  25
• Connecting Rankings to Graduation Rates 
  26
• Examining Graduation Rates and More 
  27
• Acceptance Rates, Selectivity, and Outcomes 
  29
• Criticism of Rankings 
  30
• Finding Data in the College Search 
  32
• PART II: EXCELLING ACADEMICALLY 
  37
• 3. 
   
  The Curriculum: What Happens in the Classroom Matters 
  39
• Developing a Learning Perspective 
  40
• What Is a Good Course? 
  41
• Components of a Course: Tests, Group Projects, and More 
  47
• How Many Classes Should You Take? 
  49
• Are There Enough Courses? 
  51
• Is Class Size Important? 
  52
• Guided Pathways: Structure and Guidance Matters 
  54
• General Education Courses 
  56
• Capstone Courses and Senior Projects 
  56
• What About Online Courses? 
  57
• Academic Offerings and Major Selection 
  59
• Double Majors and Combined Bachelor’
  s + Master’
  s Programs 
  62
• What About Undecided Majors? 
  64
• Limited Access and Restricted Majors 
  64
• Changing Majors 
  65
• Earning College Credit in High School 
  66
• What Students Can Do Before College to Prepare 
  67
• 4. 
   
  Staying on Track: Academic and Student Support 
  69
• Advising and Mentoring 
  72
• Forms of Advising and Mentoring 
  74
• Support for Underrepresented and Underserved Students 
  77
• Support During Emergency, Non-Academic Life Events 
  79
• Parental and Family Support and Engagement 
  80
• Student Engagement with Faculty 
  83
• Academic Support: Libraries, Tutoring, and Study Skills 
  85
• Support During the First Year: Orientation, Onboarding, and Transitions 
  86
• What Students Can Do Before College to Prepare 
  88
• PART III: DEVELOPING FULLY 
  91
• 5. 
   
  Beyond the Classroom: Applied and Experiential Learning 
  93
• Work-Based Learning: Internships and Co-ops 
  96
• Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity 
  98
• Service Learning 
  101
• Study Abroad 
  102
• Assessing a College’
  s Applied and Experiential Learning 
  105
• What Students Can Do Before College to Prepare 
  106
• 6. 
   
  Does It Matter Who Your Friends Are? Engagement and Leadership Development 
  108
• Culture and Fit 
  111
• Sense of Belonging and Imposter Syndrome 
  112
• Learning Communities: Making College Feel Smaller 
  114
• Honors Programs 
  115
• Residential Life 
  116
• Roommates 
  118
• Student Clubs 
  119
• Volunteering and Community Engagement 
  120
• Fraternities and Sororities 
  122
• Student Government 
  123
• What Students Can Do Before College to Prepare 
  124
• 7. 
   
  Mental Health, Safety, and Wellness 
  126
• College Students’
  Mental Health 
  127
• Preventative Practices in Mental Health 
  129
• Case Management 
  130
• Family, Guardians, and Student Well-Being 
  131
• Safety and Policing 
  132
• Food and Dining 
  134
• Campus Healthcare 
  136
• Recreation and Personal Fitness 
  136
• Spiritual Wellness 
  137
• What Students Can Do Before College to Prepare 
  138
• PART IV: FUNDING AND LAUNCHING FROM COLLEGE 
  141
• 8. 
   
  Money Matters: Costs and Financial Aid 
  143
• Understanding the Costs of College 
  144
• Return on Investment in Higher Education 
  147
• What Is Financial Aid? 
  148
• What Are the Different Forms of Financial Aid? 
  149
• How Is Aid Presented by the College? 
  153
• Should You Take Loans? 
  154
• Working During College 
  155
• Factoring in Graduate School 
  157
• Colleges’
  Resources for Student Financial Wellness 
  158
• What Students Can Do Before College to Prepare 
  159
• 9. 
   
  Success After College: Employment, Further Education, and Beyond 
  161
• How to Approach and Evaluate Colleges’
  Career Services 
  162
• Matching Qualifications to Postgraduation Outcomes 
  165
• What Do Employers Look for in Students? 
  167
• Civic Development: Making Contributions After College 
  168
• Concluding Thoughts 
  170
• Brief Glossary of Student Success Terms 
  171
• References 
  177
• Index 
  191
• About the Author 
  204