Making College Count: A Real World Look at How to Succeed in and After College Paperback – 1 Sept. 2010

I recently purchased Pat's book for my college freshman son. I was planning on sticking it in his stocking for Christmas, but gave it to him early after we got in a long conversation about his future. He told me he didn't want to read it right away (he needed a break from "work" after finals), but I brought it along to an appointment we were waiting for and asked him to at least read the "So Who is This Guy?" section. Once he read about Pat, realized it was an easy and entertaining read, he was hooked! He stayed up and finished the book that night. It immediately made a difference in the way he is thinking about his college experience and his future. Even though he's a very good student, he knows now that a job isn't going to magically fall into his lap after college unless he takes some steps to make himself more marketable. He told me the book was filled with a lot of common sense things he already knew, but Pat put them all together in a way that made so much sense and caused him to want to take action. I'm relieved because I no longer feel the need to "nag" him about doing well and getting into activities and holding leadership positions. He's taking the lead because he took Pat's advice to heart. I'm telling all my friends about this book and it's going to be my "Go To" high school graduation gift from here on out! EVERY graduate will benefit from it!!!

"Making College Count" gets to the point--when it comes to college success, there are definite winners and losers. Author Patrick O'Brien is frank in explaining this reality and stresses that it is up to the student to define his own college experience. In a time with increasing tuition costs and low labor demand, it is more important than ever for students to create value from their college experience. O'Brien shows students how to create such value in and out of the classroom.As a current college student, I have found O'Brien's framework for success invaluable. His steps are easy to follow and result-oriented. Upon reading this book, I most importantly learned how to define success. I learned that the end goal is not a high grade point average. A high GPA, summer internships, and leadership experience are all steps towards the end goal--launching a successful career.This book is an essential resource for graduating high school students and college freshmen. "Making College Count" serves as a unique and necessary wake-up call--it is up to the student to take ownership of their college experience. They can do so by following the steps defined by Patrick O'Brien in this book. O'Brien details how to develop the skills employers are looking for and gain experiences that will prepare students for life beyond college.

I purchased this book for my younger sister as an early graduation gift. She is a senior who is graduating from high school in a few months and will be starting college next fall. She is a great student, but I asked her to read "Making College Count" because I was really inspired by it myself, and I thought that she might be too. Caitlin finished reading the book in just one day, and we both agreed that its conversational style really made it a joy to pick up. She is anxious to start applying some of the advice in the book to her own life and see the impact that it is going to have. She has a whole new outlook on the way that she is going to approach college, and I really think that she will find herself to be successful! I myself have followed the advice outlined in the book, and I am about to graduate from college in the next few months, with a job lined up with a professional services firm. "Making College Count" outlines simple but effective ways to become successful in and after college. Following the advice definitely makes a difference!

So what I did get out of this book is the importance getting involved in activities on campus and time management. There are some typos but its a good read. Its a motivating book and the earlier you read it in your college career the better because then you will have time to use these tips.

I started reading this book my second semester of my freshman year in college. I had gotten a good start into college, but hadn't thought much about my future or what my goals were. This book really hit me hard when I started reading it. I didn't fully understand how important even your freshman year in college was. Now that I have read the book, I have started setting goals for myself and I will strive to be the best student that I can be throughout the remainder of my college career. Pat gives great advice on how to find a college, how to get started, what you should do in college to get to the top, and how to set yourself up for success in your future career. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is preparing for college and college students themselves. It is very helpful, easy to read, and gets right to the point. It helps having someone to tell you what to expect, especially when it comes to college which is arguably one of the most critical times in your life.