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The Graduate Survival Guide: 5 Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make in College by Anthony Oneal and Rachel Cruze

Non-Fiction. 128 Pages. 5 Stars

33255816

Synopsis:

It’s a mission to help EVERY high school graduate. Oh, it sounds so simple but every year the cycle of pain repeats itself. This is the ultimate manual to avoid the 5 Mistakes a large majority of college students make. These mistakes may cause you years and years of pain and hardship if you too follow the path of so many others. Don’t buy the hype, buy the book! 5 Mistakes, is the must have book for every high school senior. The caliber of your future will be determined by the choices you make today.

My Review:

First of all, let me begin by noting that this book is high-quality physically. They’ve got an appealing layout; clear, concise graphs; really nice graphics; and the high-quality, glossy paper to boot! The book also comes with an online code and a DVD–I have yet to check those out; Ima wait for my sister since the book is very applicable to her.

This book was a short, super easy read. It took me between two and three hours, and it’s light reading, too. The authors wrote in simple language and explained their points clearly. The book is targeted at teens and young adults either in high school or just entering into college. Full disclosure, I am a recent college graduate, and am, consequently, a little older than the target audience. That said, I still found the book both inspiring and informational.

I think this is an excellent resource for kids who want to live their lives with intentionality, and anyone who knows me knows that’s a pretty big deal to me. I’m a kid who came from nothing, and I’ve worked my tail end off to get where I am today. I am blessed beyond measure and have been throughout my life. If I can do this, so can you!

The book provides a variety of insight on more than just money topics. Yes, while money is the central theme of the book, it wasn’t the only golden nugget I found. The book talks about everything from choosing the right school and program to saving up for your first car to watching your online presence and being aware of how the choices you make today can greatly impact your options in the future. It covered common pitfalls for college-aged kids, including student loans, first cars, budgeting, credit cards, credit scores, focusing on academics, making money, life-long friendships, exploring/choosing/switching majors/career fields, saving, giving, dating on a budget, avoiding scams, social media, and general life goals and planning. There were stories both from the two authors–one who lived the life of debt, the “normal” life, and one who didn’t–as well as from a handful of recent college graduates.

The book isn’t one-hundred-some-odd pages of pure genius, guys. Really, it’s just a book about common sense in a not-so-common world. Entering into college is a big deal, and it comes with a lot of responsibility. College years set you up for the rest of your life, and just like the stone dropped into a pond, there are a lot of ripples you have to deal with after graduation. I enjoyed this book because it was simple. It was clear. It’s designed to appeal to younger peeps and it’s written at their level. It’s full of revealing stories, practical tips, wise advice, and powerful encouragement. I’d highly recommend this to any high school, college student, recent graduate, or even middle school student who is determined to take the reigns of their future.

I will issue one warning, however: this book isn’t for those who live the lives of victims. If you’re steeped in the “impossible” mentality, turn away. If you think the world is out to get you, you can’t get ahead for whatever reason, if you think this stuff is only for the elite…you’ll never grasp the simple truth of this book. This book is a challenge. It may be easy to read, but it certainly isn’t easy to do. Only open this book if you choose to plan for the best life you can have, if you aredetermined and persistent and if you refuse to give in to the lies that say you can’t.