Louisville, Kentucky  — Dr. Scotty Dunlap of Eastern Kentucky University and Dr. Brian Dudak of Middle Tennessee State University have published How to Become a Successful College Student through Routledge (Prufrock Press), an imprint of Taylor & Francis, New York, NY. The book is intended to provide specific tools and habits that will aid in making the transition to college a successful experience.

The book addresses 21 topics to include basic issues such as organizational skills to more challenging topics such as financial literacy to lessen exposure to student loan debt. The book is written in a conversational tone allowing the authors to speak to readers from their experiences as first-generation college students and as college professors. Brief reflective exercises are provided at the end of each chapter that allow the reader to create a strategy to ensure success related to the material that was presented.

Skills and habits are provided to go beyond things that might have proved successful in high school. Dr. Dunlap said, “I appeared on paper as having all the indicators of being successful in college when I graduated from high school. I graduated in the top 10% of my senior class, was the editor of our senior yearbook, was a member of the National Honor Society, and was a member of our local volunteer fire department. But I was not fully prepared for what awaited me when I arrived on campus for my freshman year of college.”

This work follows Dr. Dunlap’s Emmy-nominated mini documentary Frametown that presents the story of the predominantly female Frametown Volunteer Fire Department in central West Virginia.

Positive Impact

Dr. Brian Dudak has been teaching college English for the last 20 years and has extensive experience working with students making the transition from high school to college. He has taught at community colleges, prestigious private universities, and major public universities. Dr. Dudak said, “Most students come to college with the necessary intelligence to earn a college degree. In my experience, the number one reason most college students don’t earn a degree is due to poor time management and study skills. My hope is that this book can identify struggling students before they set foot on a college campus and teach them the necessary skills to be successful.”

National studies report that as many as 75% of high school graduates do not feel prepared for college. How to Become a Successful College Student bridges the gap that can exist between high school and higher education. The authors share their own trials and errors as first-generation college students along with success factors they have identified as college professors.

The book is designed to be used individually, as a family planning tool, or as a discussion tool in high school or college first year experience programs. The material is approachable and written in a conversational tone that will be engaging for teen and adult readers. The target audience of the book ranges from high school students to non-traditional students returning to college to complete a degree.

This article was also featured on the Coal Valley News website

Availability
The book can be ordered online at a mass market price through Routledge or major online retailers that include Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million.

For more information:
Dr. Scotty Dunlap
Scotty.Dunlap@eku.edu

Dr. Brian Dudak
Brian.Dudak@mtsu.edu

For more information on the book:
Routledge – www.routledge.com  |   Amazon – https://www.amazon.com