Welcome to College by Jonathan Morrow (Book Review!)

Welcome to College: A Christ-followers Guide for the Journey

by Jonathan Morrow

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Nonfiction / Religion / Christian Life / Social Issues

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2017

Number of pages- 416

Age Group- Young Adult (those ready for college)

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $21.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-4488-3

Welcome to College is filled with helpful information for those who are headed to college.  College is full of freedom, new friends, and other experiences which can affect a young adults future.  This book covers everything from A to Z dealing with life at college:

• eating right
• dating
• being more like Jesus
• how to read the Bible
• true tolerance
• and more

In this second edition each chapter has been updated and there is a new chapter of Christianity, homosexuality, and the Bible.  There are also discussion questions, a section called “The Big Ideas” at the end of each chapter, and each chapter has a list of resources for more information.

About the Author-

Jonathan Morrow (DMin, MDiv) is the directoror cultural engagement at Impact 360 Institute.  He is also an adjunct professor of apologetics at Biola University.  He has written several other books and is married with three children.  His website is www.jonathanmorrow.org.

My thoughts-

I was very impressed when I opened the package and began skimming through this book.  What I first noticed was the short chapters and each chapter had a “The Big Ideas” section and “For Further Discovery” (long list of resources).  At the end of the book was a section that held the discussion questions from each chapter.  The one thing that was missing, and I thought it needed to be there, was an index.  It would be very helpful to have an index to look up topics, rather than relying on the table of contents.

As I read this book I thought of what I would think of the book as a student going to college and as a parent of one who would be going to college soon.  I thought the information was current and very helpful.  It gave me a lot to think about as a Christian and how I want to raise my children.

Welcome to College is:

• worth the price.
• great for small study groups at home, school, or church.
• very full of information, so it needs to be read slowly and carefully.
• needed in the hands of high school students, so pass it along.

I highly recommend this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Welcome to Collge, by Jonathan Morrow, for free from Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

College Common Sense (Schoolhouse Review Crew)

 Product: Going to College and Paying for it Online Video and Workbook

Vendor Contact Information: College Common Sense

Age Appeal: ages 6 and up

Format: DVD and Workbook or Online Video and PDF Workbook

Price: DVD and Workbook- $50 plus $5 shipping and handling, Online Video and PDF Workbook- $25 for 12 months

Denise Ames, a financial aid counselor at a university, has developed College Common Sense.  College Common Sense is a program which helps students and parents learn how to find and get financial age for those who are college bound. 

There are six videos and a downloadable PDF workbook (around 30 pages).  The videos and PDF contain information about:

• Writing essays and how to remember when to fill out scholarship forms 
• What the FAFSA is and how to fill it out.
• How to know which college is right for you.
• What financial aid is and how it helps you.

Our Experience:

This was a review I knew that I wanted to be a part of.  I remember what my mom did for me when it came to finding scholarships, visiting colleges, and making sure I got everything done.  I want to make sure that my children have the same advantages that I did.  College Common Sense will help us make sure we don’t forget anything.

As B and C are only 9 and 7, we are not quite to the FAFSA and specific college search so our focus was a little different.  I watched the videos and studied the workbook.  I had the children watch Video V, “You in the Process” and Video VI, “Pull it All Together.”  These two videos helped B and C realize how much they are in control, what it will take, what they need to do, and how to get there.

What I Liked:

• How complete the videos and worksheets are.  It covers everything for going to college; the FAFSA, scholarships and essays.
• The “All About Me” Spiral was a big help for involving the children with the videos.
• How much effort Denise Ames has put into the videos and College Common Sense.

What I Disliked:

• Nothing!

What B (boy, age nine, officially in third grade) Liked and Disliked: The “All About Me” spiral was really fun.  Some of the activities in the videos didn’t apply to us.  I think some of College Common Sense would be good for children my age.

What C (girl, age seven, officially in first grade) Liked and Disliked:  I didn’t like the videos.  The videos didn’t apply to children my age.

Dad's Call: College Common Sense is worth your time. Whether your child starts college next year or in the next decade now is a good time to find ways to fund that college education. There are many resources available from loans to grants to cover the costs. The fewer the loans and the more  the grants the better start in life your child will have. Who wants to be saddled with student loans right after graduating college? And since tuition rates are increasing at double the rate of inflation the more financial tools you have the better you can build your house of education.

This program is just what we parents need for our children. I recommend that you review all of her materials and videos to be well informed before you need to start looking at colleges for your child.

Momma would definitely recommend.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of College Common Sense through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review.  I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.  All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.  All links were current when posted.