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Thriving at College: Make Great Friends, Keep Your Faith, and Get Ready for the Real World!
 
 
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Thriving at College: Make Great Friends, Keep Your Faith, and Get Ready for the Real World! [Paperback]

Alex Chediak (Author), Alex Harris (Foreword), Brett Harris (Foreword)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)

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Book Description

April 1, 2011
Going to college can be exciting, anxiety inducing, and expensive! You want your child to get the most out of their college experience--what advice do you give? Thriving at College by Alex Chediak is the perfect gift for a college student or a soon-to-be college student. Filled with wisdom and practical advice from a seasoned college professor and student mentor, Thriving at College covers the ten most common mistakes that college students make--and how to avoid them! Alex leaves no stone unturned--he discusses everything from choosing a major and discerning one's vocation to balancing academics and fun, from cultivating relationships with peers and professors to helping students figure out what to do with their summers. Most importantly, this book will help students not only keep their faith but build a vibrant faith and become the person God created them to be.

In a nutshell, Thriving at College is about how college students can launch into responsible, fruitful adulthood for the glory of God against the backdrop of a young adult culture that often values perpetual adolescence and the avoidance of responsibility. It explores topics such as embracing responsibility, loving God with all your mind, growing in character and maturity, striving for academic excellence, balancing work and recreation, finding your calling, establishing godly friendships, handling the transition from high school to college, time management, financial discipline, and honoring parents while pursuing functional/economic independence.

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Editorial Reviews

Review



"There is no better guide to college than this."
Alex and Brett Harris, best-selling authors of Do Hard Things

"Alex has written an insightful and useful book to help college-bound people know what to expect, how to prepare for it, and what to do to avoid the pitfalls."
Randy Alcorn, best-selling author of Heaven

"Written by an 'insider'--a former student, now a professor, this book addresses all the issues a student might face. An excellent gift for all high school seniors."
Jerry Bridges
, best-selling author of The Pursuit of Holiness

Review

Most Christian young people go to college without specific goals and are unprepared for the challenges that await them. While some prosper spiritually, most get derailed, and an alarming number abandon their faith. Alex has written an insightful and useful book to help college-bound people know what to expect, how to prepare for it, and what to do to avoid the pitfalls. (Randy Alcorn, bestselling author of Heaven )

Product Details

  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (April 1, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1414339631
  • ISBN-13: 978-1414339634
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Alex Chediak earned a B.S. Degree at Alfred University in Ceramic Engineering and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Material Science & Engineering from U.C. Berkeley. He worked as an engineer for IBM for three years (1996-1999). From 2005-2007 he was an apprentice at The Bethlehem Institute (now Bethlehem College and Seminary), a masters-level theological training program overseen by Pastors John Piper and Tom Steller. During those years, Alex got his start in Christian higher education at Northwestern College. As of 2007, he's been a professor of engineering and physics at California Baptist University.

He enjoys writing to young adult audiences (mid-teens through twenties), having written many articles for Boundless (Focus on the Family) since 2006 and now contributing monthly to Trak (God's World News). As a professor, he wants to help students and young adults develop their God-given potential so that in all things Jesus Christ might be magnified in them. That passion gave rise to his most recent book, Thriving at College. He has also written to pastors and parents in magazines such as Christianity Today, Tabletalk, and Modern Reformation, and been featured on Christian radio programs such as Focus on the Family, Family Life Today, and Moody Radio's Midday Connection (samples here). He enjoys speaking at conferences and churches about issues that impact young adults as they grow up, leave the home, and take on the mantle of adulthood.

Alex and his wife Marni have three children, Karis, Jonathan, and Abigail. He enjoys reading, tennis, swimming, and spending time with his family.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Thriving at College is exactly what the title sounds like: a book about how to do well in college. It is divided into four parts, covering faith, relationships, personal character, and academics. Within each section, author Alex Chediak breaks down common mistakes which college students make. These chapters include, "Treating College as if It Were High School," "Refusing to Grow Up," "Being a Flake," and "Living For Grades."

As a junior in college, I feel that Chediak gives excellent advice. He truly understands problems that college students face, whether they're freshman or seniors. He addresses head on the problem of students seeing college as a time to have fun and goof off, explaining how academics should be the priority over video games and Facebook, as well as how to stand firm in Christian faith even in a secular college. He also strikes a balance in his views. While he may start a chapter explaining why students should put more time towards classes and less time gaming, he may end it by reaching out to students that do nothing but sit with a textbook in their nose all day and who only strive to make that 4.0 GPA.

Beyond this, he also hits on issues that some might avoid. He reminds students that their college years are the years when they become full adults. You start thinking for yourself and start making your own decisions. For this reason, he recommends that students not call their parents to confer on every issue that comes up. He cautions against parents bailing their children out of credit card debt. While he acknowledges there are times to seek parental advice, and certainly doesn't recommend making every decision alone, he currently sees a world where students too often call home to escape responsibility.

The thing which really makes Thriving at College work is that Chediak is a current college professor, teaching engineering and physicals at California Baptist. He sees all of the problems that he describes. He is also able to describe proper ways to interact with professors - especially when students start feeling a sense of entitlement.

This is a great read for high school graduates who are preparing for their first year at college. It is also something that current students could learn from as well.

4/5 stars

I received this book free from Tyndale. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Kennedy
Format:Paperback
By Alex Chediak (Tyndale House Publishers, 2011)

This 327-page book is filled with helpful advice, wise words, and useful insight on how to successfully perform well in college and beyond. This book is divided into four sections that include emphasis on college, relationships, character, and academics. Drizzled with facts, common mistakes and how to avoid them, and Biblical wisdom, this book is a valuable tool and a wealth of knowledge for soon to be college students, current students, or recently graduated students. There are discussion starter questions at the end of each chapter, which enable the reader to spur their mind regarding their thoughts on these inquiries. This book is sprinkled with letters from college students that express their concerns and perspectives about the college experience, followed by thorough responses penned by the author.

The author highlights that the goal isn't just to get through college, but to embrace the right opportunities while developing yourself into who God want you to be and about working to fulfill God's purpose for your life. This book touches on the imperativeness of efficient time management and prioritizing, in addition to how it relates to your academic and personal goals. Thoughts and information about relationships and dating is presented in this book, which is provided with a godly perspective in tune with effective use of time. This book goes past advising the reader, but also making the reader ponder their own lives and what they aim to achieve according to God's purpose for their life. With this book's ability to greatly impact the reader and teach them to develop healthy habits early into their college life, it would make an exceptional gift that would give the reader a great advantage as they delve into college classes.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Tyndale House Publishers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255vf: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Book of Wisdom April 8, 2011
Format:Paperback
I wish I had read this book before I went to College. In many ways the author try to stress the importance of holding up with our faith. In a light an easy written style, Mr. Chediak shows in a Christian perspective which are the common errors that the student should avoid when entering into a College life, in order to succeed and live the best experience of his/her life, while getting ready for the real world.

The book is divided in four main sections: College Matters, Relationships Matters, Character Matters and Academics Matter. On each one Alex goes deep in the analysis of the common mistakes, giving guidance and suggesting different approaches to overcome common situations. He speaks with the authority of being a professor and living in a daily basis observing the struggle of his students.

I have a fifteen and a thirteen year old daughters. The older is only talking about colleges now and definetely I will make her read this book. And the type of wisdom that is presented in this book can be applied not only for College situations as well as for many other situations in life, at any age we are. I definitely recommend this book to any Christian that wants to keep his/her standards according to the Word of God. It deserves to be in the permanent library of any serious reader.

Thanks, Mr. Alex Chediak, for such a masterpiece.

This book was written by Mr. Alex Chediak and published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. in 2011 and they were kind enough to send me a copy for reviewing through their blogger book review program.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great Book for Students Heading to College
If you know someone heading to college, let me suggest that you get that young person a copy of this book. Read more
Published 2 months ago by James
Want to Thrive at College?
Since I am currently attending college, I thought that this particular book, Thriving At College, would be very practical and relevant. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Kandace
I Wish I Had This Book When i Was In School!
I just got through reading, "Thriving at College," by Alex Chediak with the subtitle, "Make great friends, keep your faith, and get ready for the real world! Read more
Published 7 months ago by William K Stegemueller
Great book!
This book is practical, and fun to read. It has advice on just about anything one might encounter in college, and looks at things from a biblical perspective. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Elizabeth Luehring
Thriving College
If you could give a college freshman any one piece of advice what would it be?

My little sister starts her freshman year on Monday and I've been thinking about that... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Playful Professional
Worth Sharing and Giving
My review of Thriving at College by Alex Chediak is way overdue, as I got this book last spring before school was out. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Ksudoc93
Thriving At College Review
I have a son who plans on going to college in 2 more years. I have heard so many horror stories from friends who went to college or have kids now in college that I was making... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Miss Daphne
Assuming Responsibility
As an instructor in a technical/community college, I ordered this book for my Kindle hoping to find some tidbits to help in motivating my students. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Jayne P. Bowers
A Superb Resource for Christian Students Preparing for College
Author Alex Chediak, in his book Thriving at College, contends that many if not most Christian High School students are ill prepared for College life. Read more
Published 9 months ago by mholst
Thriving at college review
Thriving at College by Alex Chediak is decent guide to prepare for college. It consists of four parts including college, relational, character, and academic tips each giving us a... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Ashabutterflys
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