It is the beginning of the academic year for many colleges around the country and when we think of the first week of college, we often think of move in day and freshmen.  Being a freshman can be an over-whelming experience.  That is why it is often good to have resources for freshman to read about what college is like, how to make good decisions, and how to turn a so-so year into a great year.  Here are three books that can be given to freshman (or even better to high-school seniors) to help the freshman year be the best God wants for them.

Freshman:  The College Student’s Guide to Developing Wisdom by Mark Matlock

As you can tell by the subtitle, this book is about wisdom.  That is a quality that freshmen certainly need considering just how easy it is to get caught up in the novelty of college life.  Freshman has two main parts:  the first is about general wisdom from a Christian perspective, while the second part stresses applying wisdom in the college setting.   For a study of wisdom, Mr. Matlock goes to Proverbs, Solomon, and other wisdom passages in the Old Testament.  In both sections, there are questions at the end of each section which make this book great not only for individual study, but also for group discussion. The book ends with a suggested reading list for further engagement.  I really like this book for the content and the possibility it has for expanded studies with both high-school seniors and college freshmen.

Mark Matlock’s Bio at Barna:  https://www.barna.com/about/mark-matlock/

 

How to Stay Christian in College by J. Budziszewski

This book, now in its second edition, was written by a college philosophy professor and has a bit of a more academic edge to it, though it is not difficult to read.  Rather, the structure of the book is topical covering both practical and philosophical issues.  For example, Dr. Budziszewski has three main sections entitled “Worldviews,” “Campus Myths,” and “How to Cope.”  As a professor who has written numerous books and teaches courses on the great books, he has a keen understanding of the campus culture of both students and faculty.  How to Stay Christian in College is about the same length as Freshman, but lacks both end of chapter questions and suggestions for further reading.  I was surprised that an academic would not include either, and it also disappointed me.  However, the book is still a good read and covers the important issues a student will face in college.

J. Budziszewki’s website: http://undergroundthomist.org/

 

Welcome to College: A Christ’s Followers Guide to the Journey by Jonathan Morrow

Recently updated (2017) and coming in at over 400 pages (including the appendices, notes, and author bio) this book covers numerous issues in 43 chapters.  Because it has 43 chapters, the material is broken up into small portions.  Each chapter also has a section called “Big Ideas” which lists the main points that were covered.  Each chapter also has suggestions for further reading.  This book covers much of the same material as the other two, though its chapters are a bit more loosely connected.  What I liked about it was the recap and the “For Further Discover” section at the end of each chapter.  There is also an appendix with questions for each chapter, as well as an appendix with a list of book for further reading on philosophy.

Jonathan Morrow’s website: http://www.jonathanmorrow.org/

I think all these book are great helps to anyone preparing for college or already in college.  The title Freshman may put off an upperclassman, but the content is still just as useful.  If you, or your student, like to follow up with more reading, Welcome to College is the book for you.  I suggest that before you buy any of these books, check your church or local library to see if you can read a copy first before making a decision.  If you can’t find one in a library, go to Amazon and click on the “look inside” link of the books for a quick peek.  A few minutes of preview may help you know which one is the best for you.  Even if your student has already left for college it is not too late to send him or her one.  Do you have a rising senior in high school?  Don’t delay, go ahead and do your research now and present it as a Christmas present.