Major in Success: Make College Easier, Beat the System and Get a Very Cool Job (Paperback)

by Patrick Combs (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Major in Success won a NY Public Library 'Best Book' award.

"Major in Success is as energetic as its exceptionally successful author. I wish I'd read it back in 1960 when I headed off, clueless, to college. Great stuff!"
Tom Peters, co-author of In Search of Excellence

"Every parent should buy this book for her or his college child - every college should give a free copy to entering freshlings; every college bookstore should offer it on a neon display rack that speaks with Patrick's voice when a customer passes by; & faculty should use it in courses... etc."
Linda Barnes, Director of Career Services, Southern Oregon State College

"Major in Success should be added to the ambitious college students' required reading list. The books' tone is friendly. Unlike other success books, the college-aged reader is not overwhelmed with business catch-phrases or new terminology, nor does the reader feel he/she is being talked down to. Far from far-fetched and time consuming, the book's tips are practical bits of advice needed to achieve success in all areas of life."
Christina Chang, Daily Forty-Niner newspaper

"The book is a gold mine of experience and ideas. It should be read by any student in college... we take that back - it should be read by any student even thinking about going to college. First off, it puts your mind at a comfortable level, where you can deal with things that are facing you. This isn't a rush trip. It is a detailed journey with some phenomenal quotes, some great hot tips and some inspiring words of wisdom."
Campus Activities Today magazine

"A fantastic resource for ALL students and educators alike. I have this book in my office and am constantly referring to it when advising students. Thanks for writing such a fantastic, USEFUL, book!"
Beth Willetts

"I did not see how your book would benefit me at my stage of life, but I loved it! It was inspirational, practical and full or resources. Congratulations - Well Done!"
Sandi Hanson, 48

"This book is so incredible that it made feel I had the power to reach the dream job I want. Don't change a single thing. This book is very insightful."
Denise Lord, New York NY

"This book was very inspiring. For the first time I read a book from cover to cover with no breaks. I just couldn't put it down."
Eric Zach, Lincoln NE

"The best few hours of reading I've experienced in years. Thank you for such a wonderful, inspirational, and informative book!"
Carla Miller, East Bethel MN

"GREAT book, highly recommend it. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in taking control of their life/career, regardless of age."
David Jesse, Charleston SC

"This is the first book that I can honestly say inspired me about my future. After reading it, I was excited about my future. I can relate to you!! More "Hot Tips!!" : ), otherwise, keep up the good work!! Good luck in the future Patrick!!"
Michelle Nava, Vallejo CA -- Reader Reviews

Product Description
Combs goes into the tough territory facing many young people heading into (or out of) college, offering the recent graduate's perspective and the experience of extensive lecturing on campus as he discusses planning goals, enthusiasm, and reality as a peer, not another authority figure. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 154 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press; Revised edition (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898159989
• ISBN-13: 978-0898159981
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,698,800 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Advice About How to Build a Career While in College, May 25, 2001

By	Professor Donald Mitchell "Jesus Makes Me a P... (Boston) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Major in Success: Make College Easier, Fire up Your Dreams, and Get a Very Cool Job (Paperback)

College students need more guidance in how to turn their talents, curiosity, and passions into successful careers. Most guidance offices and books on the subject will be inadequate for these purposes. While this book has some weaknesses in helping you select the direction you should go in, it is superb in helping you pursue your goals once they are set. The book could use more material on how to learn from other students, and more on financial planning (especially now that so many students leave college with enormous debt loads). The writing style is witty and engaging, and the examples are interesting and relevant. Repetition does occur in using the examples, but it's not too bad. I recommend this book to any college student who wants to lead a more meaningful, enjoyable life during and after college. This book would be most helpful if read before the freshman year, and reread occasionally thereafter.

The book's main flaw is that it urges you to select a career direction based on your passions. That's good as far as it goes, but isn't sufficient. I remember a graduate school classmate who was passionate about dating young women. He found out that this was easiest to do as an airline executive, and that's the career he chose. He had no inherent interest in the industry, and after he married, I could see how this career and passion could lead to problems in a marriage. On the other hand, he was very curious about how people made decisions, and was very talented in that area. There are a number of careers that would have made use of those talents, and also helped him meet a reasonable number of young women to date. That's my example of why passion isn't enough for choosing a career.

You also have to think about curiousity and what the rest of your life will be like. What would you like to learn more about every day for the rest of your life? That curiousity is what will drive you to accomplish and enjoy your work the most. Even if you aren't particularly talented in that area now, curiosity will help you develop talent beyond those who have more innate ability. Most innovations come from people who do things in new ways because of limitations (in part, Jackson Pollock did drip paintings because he did not draw very well).

The book's strengths are the many useful and appropriate suggestions for how to develop the experience, knowledge, and credentials to attract a shot at developing a career you want. What he describes are the best ways to do this, based on my experience in having hired lots of college graduates over the years.

There are also lists of places to get even more information, depending on what you want to learn more about. These sources will encourage you to look around more than you otherwise would. Summer is a good time to do this kind of research.

Parents, unless your daughter or son always happily does what you suggest, I would not encourage giving this book as a gift. This book needs to be discovered by the student to do the most good. Hopefully, college students will share the book with one another. If you think your student's roommate would read it, give the book to the roommate. Then, let nature take its course.

By the way, the book is good at pointing out the trade-offs between higher grades and more activities. As a hirer, I always ask people basic questions about the subjects they have studied and test their knowledge and skill that way. I don't care whether it was learned in class or in an activity. Be prepared!

After you finish reading this book, think about how you could apply its principles to the activities you would like to do as hobbies throughout the rest of your life. You never know, those hobbies might also develop into career opportunities. In any event, you will live a richer, more enjoyable life.

Make the most out of your curiosity, your passion and your energy!

21 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Occasional Gems Scattered Among the Fluff, November 22, 2002

By	RowdyHowdy "dr_hollywood" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Major in Success: Make College Easier, Fire up Your Dreams, and Get a Very Cool Job (Paperback)

I see the same word appearing in many of these reviews: FLUFF.

True. It's "fluffy." A lot of gunk. Many paragraphs could have been omitted entirely. Actually, perhaps a chapter or two didn't help me AT ALL and I can't imagine them helping anyone. Those are the BAD points.

The good points: Interesting quotes and "hot tips" in the margins, inspirational and fascinating success stories, funny anecdotes, an interesting author, and little bits you can interest people with in dinner conversations: for instance, the many publishers who are now kicking themselves for having turned down the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books when it fell into their laps.

This book will do the most for people who are actually BUMMED to be going to college: it will be a pick-me-up and really inspire you to a point where you jump headfirst into the entire college/internship/career scene and follow almost all the advice in the book. If you already have a good college philosophy and are a motivated person, there's not much this book can tell you--save your money.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MUST READ FOR ALL !!, August 18, 2004

By	T. Desloover "kismet" (Huntington Beach, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Major in Success, 4th Ed: Make College Easier, Fire up Your Dreams, and Get a Very Cool Job (Paperback)

If you have already made it, then pass it on. Fed up at my possibilities at age 50 and fed up with the system I was introduced in my college years, I have spent thousands of dollars in the past couple of years for the information in this book. This is an absolute MUST READ for every person stuck in a dead end rut, as well as the young person thinking about life after high school. All the answers are here for the proper mind set, which is tantamount for harnessing passion for life after high school. This author has it all together in terms of offering proper advice speaking to passion and not academics!! I can't say enough about how refreshing this read is.........Go for all he has to share. So many websites and phone referrals..get your highlighter out. You will have plenty of action to follow up on.......FABULOUS book for the young person and reiteration for the already entrepreneur......GREAT BOOK! It will not disappoint!