An invaluable guide for every step of the college experience, from deciding if and where to go to maximizing academic, social, personal, and professional opportunities The College Handbook shows how college is a journey rather than simply a destination, guiding undergraduates and their families through each phase of student life using a proven approach that is clear, practical, and effective. Rachel Gable shares bite-sized tips for cultivating a mindset that empowers students to navigate the thicket of choices they will make before, during, outside of, and after college. Rather than focusing on things like rankings and GPAs, she takes a customizable "you centered" approach uniquely designed to help each student make the most of their time inside and outside the classroom, regardless of their personal history, socioeconomic background, or the type of college they attend. Gable provides questions and exercises that enable students to identify and capitalize on the critical activities, habits, and attitudes that make college a transformative experience. Along the way, she covers topics such as identifying the best college for you, preparing to matriculate, leaving home and arriving on campus, making friends, orienting oneself, mastering effective academic habits, maximizing social and personal opportunities, developing professional skills and habits, deciding when and how to leave college, and charting a path through today's rapidly changing academic landscape. Blending the latest research with Gable's invaluable personal insights as a mentor, teacher, scholar, and parent, The College Handbook is the ultimate guide to college success, putting the goals, strengths, needs, and interests of students at the center of their choices.