How to (Not) Fall Flat on Your Face In College
Where the Nose Meets the Grindstone or the Face Hits the Floor © 2006
ROBERT D. ENGELKEN Ph.D., P.E.
rde@flatfacebooks.com
http://www.flatfacebooks.com
Trafford Publishing, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
516 Pages, Paperback
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT SO MANY STUDENTS FALL FLAT ON THEIR FACES IN COLLEGE?
What can be done to avoid these pitfalls and catapult aspiring students to a diploma, career success, and a happy and meaningful life?
The answers are pivotal, even life-defining, but may not be what typical students or parents think. A successful college experience requires not only responsible use of time, energy, attention, and money through good choices, balance, and working and studying both hard and wisely, but also attention to numerous other details and strategies, some subtle. Some are based upon standard habits such as going to class, taking good notes, reading the textbook, and completing homework, but many involve removing unprofitable influences and commitments, accentuating talents and character, and coming to proper self-definition, life purpose, priorities, and goals. Most are based upon cause and effect, return-on-investment, good ethics and morals, and starting one's dominoes tumbling in the correct direction.
In this candid, hard-hitting book, Dr. Robert Engelken, a college professor with over three decades of experience in a college environment, provides frank opinions regarding common mistakes that propel some students to failure or mediocrity in college and life, and habits and strategies that superstar students use to invest time, energy, attention, and money to be highly successful. He also presents pointers for high school students preparing for college, and their parents and teachers. The entertaining, thought-provoking book's discussions are sometimes surprising, compelling, and tongue-in-cheek, but get to the bottom of relevant issues with no holds barred. It should serve as an insightful guidebook, not only for prospective and current college students, but also for parents, instructors, and administrators seeking to understand and nurture today's students toward success and purpose, and help them to avoid stumbling and falling flat on their faces in college, career, and life.