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biological sciencesThe transition to college is one of the most exciting and challenging times in a young adult's life. In the freshman year, students must learn how to adjust academically, socially, and physically to their new environment, balancing newfound freedoms with responsibilities. No two college experiences are exactly alike; therefore, the best advice for each student will vary. This is perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of the college transition-sorting through the advice and finding those pieces which serve as the best guide for the individual. In How to Survive Your Freshman Year, editors Scott Silverman and Frances Northcutt compiled quotations and pieces of advice from current college students, recent graduates, and student affairs professionals. This collaborative work provides a variety of perspectives on topics relevant to college freshmen including leaving home, residence hall life, and roommates, classes and studying, socializing and extracurricular activities, finances, and communicating with friends and family. From these many viewpoints, readers can select the information most pertinent to their college life.Overall, the book has an objective and unbiased tone largely due to the inclusion of advice from a variety of sources. The student contributors come from an array of ethnic backgrounds and represent public and private institutions from all regions of the country. Participating institutions also varied with respect to religious or secular affiliation and the size of the student body. While the majority of the book is comprised of student quotations, each chapter begins with a "Headlines" section which details main points and themes. Interspersed are subsections of expert advice written by the editors and others involved in student affairs. While we would not have found all advice pertinent or helpful to our own freshman experiences, we, the reviewers, have grouped chapters with similar themes and highlighted what we believe to be the most useful sections for incoming students and student affairs professionals.The book begins by discussing the challenges associated with leaving home and learning to live in a college environment. Packing-a daunting task for any BOOK REVIEWS