Customer Reviews

The College Woman's Handbook (Educating Ourselves)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As someone who is considering the college experience for the first time in this country, I have to admit that investing in this book was one of the best decisions I've recently made. Written by two Barnard College graduates, it is the only and most excellent reference book out there for young women who are considering college right after high school. This should not, by any means, serve as an indication of its uselessness for older women. Being myself at my early thirtys I found, to my surprise, an innumerable amount of handy information that I first thought I wouldn't, the problem being that I was letting myself be convinced of the book's usefulness judging by the table of contents. Titles such as "Managing your personal finances", "Staying healthy: prevention and remedies", "Contraception and safer sex" and "Community and Identity: finding your place" can have misdirecting interpretation for the women who've "been there, done that". All these issues - and others directly implicated with college are, however, discussed from the collegiate point of view. Make that the collegiate woman's point of view. And here the book sets a standard all its own, starting with the basic aspects; such as how to apply both for admission to your favorite college and for financial aid, how to register for classes and deal with professors, etc. It even gives suggestions on how to study more productively for the time management challenged. There are also important chapters on mental and physical health (including eating disorders and the use of both legal and illegal drugs, both so common among today's students), how to develop a sense of community, how to forge new relationships and keep established ones and, one of my personal favorites, sexual education and sexually transmitted diseases. Even at my age and having been married for over 4 years, until I read the latter, I couldn't believe how much ignorance there still is in fact about sex and all its implications when it is practiced irresponsibly. On another line, who can resist but to read the chapter on "Housing how-to's" with a complete check list for an apartment being considered for rent. Try it and watch your prospective landlord awe in astonishment. When applying for a job, go over "Working women: jobs, internships and careers". The excellent suggestions for résumé writing and the pre-interview checklist will make you feel more comfortable than ever in order to be relaxed and 'get that job'. At the end of each chapter there are ideas for activism and long lists of resources covering from quality and affordable healthcare to places to look for jobs or even obtain public information directly from the government on grants, scholarships and so on.

Because this guide was published six years ago, some of the resources are indeed a bit outdated; which calls for a very loud claim to the publishers asking them: when will we have an updated version? A further addition for future editions should also include a more thorough explanation geared toward foreign students of the English College System, which is very different from the one used, for instance, in Latin America.

I found the most important message throughout is the way the book empowers women. There are many things that we never even thought of questioning just because no one ever dared to, places we don't dare to go or even look at for fear of being stereotyped. "The College Woman's Handbook" shows you how to open your mind to new ideas and it exudes assertiveness. Even if at times it might seem a bit towards the feminist side, it will definitely give any woman who reads it the courage and strength to fight for what she really wants to accomplish during her life. Needless to say, this is a book that you will keep coming back to for reference during the rest of your life.

Six years after I first received this book as a High School graduation present, I am still constantly pulling it off the shelf for answers to many of my health, career, and life questions. This is an excellent gift for any woman who is entering adulthood for the first time. It is very engaging, practical and informative. We are giving it to our high school senior intern as a parting gift.

The title to this book is quite misleading - it contains good advice and information not only for women attending college, but for any woman from the age of 15 up! I bought my copy nearly a year ago and have consulted it numerous times, and I will not be attending college until the fall. If you buy one guide to college, this should be it. Packed with info about school (majors, grad school, finding money), as well as personal life (relationships, health, safe sex), it is an indispensible reference book for any young woman.

I received this book when I started college in 1997, and found it to be an indispensable resource that still occupies a space on my shelf. It is packed with excellent tips for academic success, time and money management, safety, health, and self-esteem issues - most of which are timeless and still relevant today. I highly recommend it as a "life guide" to any college-bound woman.

I gave this book to a young woman I know who will be entering college in the fall of 2006, and was astonished to find that it has not been updated in the more than 10 years since its publication. When it was originally written, the internet was just making its debut on campuses. The College Woman's Handbook is sorely in need of an update on issues like online privacy, cyber-stalking, and identity theft. There have also been numerous innovations in birth control since this book was published.

The authors have long since graduated, and have probably moved on to other pursuits outside of the academic sphere. I would suggest that they hand the College Woman's Handbook off to a fresh group of capable young women who can update it for the challenges and innovations of a new decade.

This book went very in-depth into issues specifically relating to women in college, not just the token "anorexia" or "bulimia" sections that are found in most general college survival books. Much appreciated.

I bought this book for myself after checking it out of the library and enjoying it. Since then, I have bought 3 more copies to give as high school gradation gifts. It has great advice on everthing from nutritution and body image through career planning and apartment renting. This is a great book for any young college women who is looking to get the most out of her four short years. Enjoy.

This book has been really amazingly helpful to me. I'm a junior in college and I've had this book since my first day of school. It's not only informative about almost every subject, but it's fun to read. I also like how it's written by people who are our age and who don't condesend.

These days so much information is censored, like abortion, real information on drugs, anything about sex and lesbians. I didn't know that depression is a disability under the Disabilities act. When you get information it's always the same slogans totally biased even from corporate sponsors.

The lady who said she wouldn't give the book is exactly why you should buy it. Guess what. You'll run into everything imaginable in college, and her granddaughter will have no clue, and maybe get pregnant or AIDS or take bad drugs or raped & not know where to go for help. It happens all the time and it's so sad.

I lend my copy to all these girls.

I love this book and continue to refer to it though I am well beyond college age. It contains valuable information relevant to all aspects of being female, and presents the material with intelligence, respect and a delightful sense of humor.

I ordered this book after seeing it recommended in the Princeton Review Time Magazine issue. I found it expansive and highly informative, addressing issues avoided by most college guides. If you can only buy one book in preparation for college, this is it!