Everything You Need to Know Before College by Matthew Paul Turner

Entering college can be both a fantastic and frightening experience. Matthew Paul Turner’s Everything You Need to know Before College uses a Christian perspective to show students what to expect during this life-changing journey. Class registration, dating, health, extracurricular activities, budgeting, volunteering, safety, time management and a multitude of other topics are all addressed in this book. Turner interlaces his serious information with humorous tidbits, irrelevant ramblings, and even silly poems.

Having already graduated from college, I can honestly say Turner’s book accurately reflects my own college experience. As Turner explains, it is sometimes difficult to strike a balance between fun time and studying—too much of either can make college unbearable. The book also explores some of the important things that college students may not consider first off. For example, the importance of buying flip flops to wear in communal showers and journaling on a regular basis.

In addition to being informative, Turner is truly funny in an odd and random way. For example, during one of his concluding lists of important points from the chapter, Turner decides to throw in one completely off topic point for humor: “Watch My Name is Earl on NBC.” This has absolutely nothing to do with the chapter on wellness, but it makes for a random chuckle. Everything you Need to Know Before College is a entertaining enough to keep the attention of a high school senior or college freshman and would make a great graduation gift.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review 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 Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”