College Success - includes Test Taking Skills

OpenStax College Success is a comprehensive and contemporary resource that serves First Year Experience, Student Success, and College Transition courses. Developed with the support of hundreds of faculty and coordinators, the book addresses the evolving challenges and opportunities of today’s diverse students. Engagement, self-analysis, personal responsibility, and student support are reflected throughout the material. College Success also includes an array of student surveys and opinion polls, and OpenStax will regularly provide the results to adopting faculty.  

Senior Contributing Authors
Amy Baldwin, University of Central Arkansas

Contributing Authors
Lisa August, Canisius College
James Bennett, Herzing University
Sabrina Mathues, Brookdale Community College
Susan Monroe, Northern Virginia Community College
MJ O’Leary, WellnessMultiplied
Ann Pearson, San Jacinto College
Joshua Troesh, El Camino College
Margit Watts, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Key words: SAT, ACT, GRE, GED, TOFEL, LSAT, MCAT, DAT

Chapter 1 Exploring College
• Introduction
• 1.1 Why College?
• 1.2 The First Year of College Will Be an Experience
• 1.3 College Culture and Expectations
• 1.4 How Can This Book And This Course Help?
• Summary
• Rethinking
• Where do you go from here?

Chapter 2 The Truth About Learning Styles
• Introduction
• 2.1 The Power to Learn
• 2.2 The Motivated Learner
• 2.3 It's All in the Mindset
• 2.4 Learning Preferences
• 2.5 Personality Types and Learning
• 2.6 Applying What You Know about Learning
• 2.7 The Hidden Curriculum
• Summary
• Career Connection
• Rethinking
• Where do you go from here?

Chapter 3 Managing Your Time and Priorities
• Introduction
• 3.1 The Benefits of Time Management
• 3.2 Time Management in College
• 3.3 Procrastination: The Enemy Within
• 3.4 How to Manage Time
• 3.5 Prioritization: Self-Management of What You Do and When You Do It
• 3.6 Goal Setting and Motivation
• 3.7 Enhanced Strategies for Time and Task Management
• Summary
• Career Connection
• Rethinking
• Where do you go from here?

Chapter 4 Planning Your Academic Pathways
• Introduction
• 4.1 Defining Values and Setting Goals
• 4.2 Planning Your Degree Path
• 4.3 Making a Plan
• 4.4 Managing Change and the Unexpected
• Summary
• Career Connection
• Rethinking
• Where do you go from here?
Chapter 5 Reading and Note-Taking
• Introduction
• 5.1 The Nature and Types of Reading
• 5.2 Effective Reading Strategies
• 5.3 Taking Notes
• Summary
• Career Connection
• Rethinking
• Where do you go from here?

Chapter 6 Studying, Memory, and Test Taking
• Introduction
• 6.1 Memory
• 6.2 Studying
• 6.3 Test Taking
• Summary
• Career Connection
• Rethinking
• Where do you go from here?

Chapter 7 Thinking
• Introduction
• 7.1 What Thinking Means
• 7.2 Creative Thinking
• 7.3 Analytical Thinking
• 7.4 Critical Thinking
• 7.5 Problem-Solving
• 7.6 Metacognition
• 7.7 Information Literacy
• Career Connection
• Rethinking
• Where do you go from here?

Chapter 8 Communicating
• Introduction
• 8.1 An Overview of Communication
• 8.2 Purpose of Communication
• 8.3 Communication and Technology
• 8.4 The Context of Communication
• 8.5 Barriers to Effective Communication
• Summary
• Career Connection
• Rethinking
• Where do you go from here?

Chapter 9 Understanding Civility and Cultural Competence
• Introduction
• 9.1 What Is Diversity, and Why Is Everybody Talking About It?
• 9.2 Categories of Diversity
• 9.3 Navigating the Diversity Landscape
• 9.4 Inclusivity and Civility: What Role Can I Play?
• Summary
• Career Connection
• Rethinking
• Where do you go from here?

Chapter 10 Understanding Financial Literacy
• Introduction
• 10.1 Personal Financial Planning
• 10.2 Savings, Expenses, and Budgeting
• 10.3 Banking and Emergency Funds
• 10.4 Credit Cards and Other Debt
• 10.5 Education Debt: Paying for College
• 10.6 Defending against Attack: Securing Your Identity and Accounts
• Summary
• Career Connection
• Rethinking
• Where do you go from here?

Chapter 11 Engaging in a Healthy Lifestyle
• Introduction
• 11.1 Taking Care of Your Physical Health
• 11.2 Sleep
• 11.3 Taking Care of Your Emotional Health
• 11.4 Taking Care of Your Mental Health
• 11.5 Maintaining Healthy Relationships
• 11.6 Your Safety
• Summary
• Career Connection
• Rethinking
• Where do you go from here?

Chapter 12 Planning for Your Future
• Introduction
• 12.1 Why Worry about a Career While I'm in College?
• 12.2 Your Map to Success: The Career Planning Cycle
• 12.3 Where Can You Go from Here?

Appendix A Conducting and Presenting Research
Appendix B Recommended Readings
Appendix C Activities and Artifacts From the Book
Index