A Catholic Youth's Guide To College Life

[Thy Geekdom Come]

Okay, so I've been juggling this idea around in my head for a while now. I wanted to give the kids in my youth group who are graduating and going on to college a gift that would help them in their college lives. I thought about coming here and asking for questions from the youth here, getting various bits of advice from current and past college students relating to Catholicism, and compiling those posts into a book I could have printed and bound for my kids.

Anyway, the added bonus is that I will make the file of the book completely free and available here on Phatmass or to anyone who emails me requesting it. If we all pitch in, there's a chance we could make a great, free resource for Catholic students who could use a little guidance through their college lives.

Any questions or answers I receive will cite the first name, age, school, major, etc. (or however much of this is relevant) of those providing information or questions.

After thinking about the major areas of college life and adjustment, I've come up with these. If you wish to contribute, list the section you are submitting to and then post your submission (or send it to me at tobiasmurphy@gmail.com). Now, the sections:

[u]The Sentimental Stuff[/u]
[i]Packing Up and Heading Out: A Checklist
The Long Drive from Home
Keeping in Touch with Parents and Family[/i]

[u]The Religious Stuff[/u]
[i]Finding a Catholic Parish
Making Sure You Get to Mass
Making Time for Prayer
Continuing to Your Catholic Education: A Booklist
Staying Sober, Chaste, and Responsible[/i]

[u]The Practical Stuff[/u]
[i]Meeting the Roommates
Unpacking
Starting Your Classes
Finding a Job
Fixing Your Schedule
Picking a Major[/i]

[u]The Stuff You Don’t Think You Need Now,
but Will Go Scrambling Through Your Laundry Hamper
to Find this Book Later For[/u]
[i]Making New Friends
Dealing with Roommates and Peer Pressure
Fraternities, Sororities, and Other Ities
Getting All Your Work Done
Term Papers and Your Senior Thesis
How to Figure Out What You Want to Do With Your Life
How to Face What God Wants You to Do With Your Life
How to React When Your Parents Start Treating You Like an Adult[/i]

[u]Graduation, Job Search, and Student Loans[/u]
[i]Job Search
Graduation
Those Darn Student Loans[/i]

Anyone who wishes to add information, suggest a new section, etc. is more than willing to do so. This is an open project which I hope will have numerous authors. I will just take on the editing.

Just so everyone knows: we want the best we can get, so don't let it stop you if someone else has already picked a topic you want. I'm going to use the best.

Lastly, let's make this a humorous approach to such a book. Reflect on your own experiences, mistakes, etc., be a little sarcastic, etc.

God bless,

Micah

[cathoholic_anonymous]

I can send you something on making time for prayer.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

Thanks.

I've updated the original post with a bit more info.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

I'll also be adding appendices for typical prayers, common patron saints, etc.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Raphael' post='1495016' date='Apr 8 2008, 01:57 PM'][i]Staying Sober, Chaste, and Responsible[/i][/quote]
+J.M.J.+
i would make this it's own section, only because it encompasses a lot of information. maybe with chapters of:

Staying Sober
Staying Chaste
Being Responsible

that's just my measly penny of thought.

[prose]

Cool. I will think about it and get back to you

[CatherineM]

You might want to put some practical stuff for people who have gone off to college without learning how to do some things like laundry. I'd love to see something on dealing with credit because college kids get nailed with card offers the second they get there. Also some basics about your legal rights in case you do get into some kind of trouble, either academically, criminally, or even things like getting a stalker, or having your dorm room burglarized. For instance, most kids don't know that their parent's house insurance will often cover their dorm room possessions, or that immediately asking for an attorney isn't just for guilty people.

All I received was a college student's prayer book with Notre Dame on the cover.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='CatherineM' post='1495031' date='Apr 8 2008, 04:21 PM']You might want to put some practical stuff for people who have gone off to college without learning how to do some things like laundry. I'd love to see something on dealing with credit because college kids get nailed with card offers the second they get there. Also some basics about your legal rights in case you do get into some kind of trouble, either academically, criminally, or even things like getting a stalker, or having your dorm room burglarized. For instance, most kids don't know that their parent's house insurance will often cover their dorm room possessions, or that immediately asking for an attorney isn't just for guilty people.

All I received was a college student's prayer book with Notre Dame on the cover.[/quote]
Good ideas. I think we should stay clear of too much legal stuff, though. It would be wise only to state those things that cannot be misinterpreted.

I like the idea of dealing with credit. You're absolutely right on that one.

[fides quarens intellectum]

Great idea! i will keep it in my prayers. If you haven't already, you may want to open a thread in the yoot section as well. Good luck!

[fides quarens intellectum]

[quote name='fides quarens intellectum' post='1495097' date='Apr 8 2008, 04:44 PM']Great idea! i will keep it in my prayers. If you haven't already, you may want to open a thread in the yoot section as well. Good luck![/quote]

Sorry - couldn't think of the name - the Creepy Aliens section.

[franciscanheart]

i second the laundry section and would be more than willing to throw in your "i wish i'd listened to mom when she told me how to get XYZ out of the carpert!" section of the book. ive learned a lot of handy things from my peers at school about how to avoid this that or the other staining my clothes, purse, backpack, carpet, etc.

what about the section about book exchange?

i'd like to write for you but im afraid im a non-trad student and probably couldn't offer you much more than ive already offered in the way of talking about dorm/college life...

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='hugheyforlife' post='1495109' date='Apr 8 2008, 05:57 PM']i second the laundry section and would be more than willing to throw in your "i wish i'd listened to mom when she told me how to get XYZ out of the carpert!" section of the book. ive learned a lot of handy things from my peers at school about how to avoid this that or the other staining my clothes, purse, backpack, carpet, etc.

what about the section about book exchange?

i'd like to write for you but im afraid im a non-trad student and probably couldn't offer you much more than ive already offered in the way of talking about dorm/college life...[/quote]
Give me whatever you can!

[Old_Joe]

I'd also recommend this book:

[url="http://www.amazon.com/Newman-Guide-Choosing-Catholic-College/dp/0978650212/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207697561&sr=8-1"]Newman Guide to Catholic Colleges[/url]

[farglefeezlebut]

I think you should have a chapter on dealing with stress.

[goldbug16]

[quote name='Raphael' post='1495016' date='Apr 8 2008, 02:57 PM']Okay, so I've been juggling this idea around in my head for a while now. I wanted to give the kids in my youth group who are graduating and going on to college a gift that would help them in their college lives. I thought about coming here and asking for questions from the youth here, getting various bits of advice from current and past college students relating to Catholicism, and compiling those posts into a book I could have printed and bound for my kids.

Anyway, the added bonus is that I will make the file of the book completely free and available here on Phatmass or to anyone who emails me requesting it. If we all pitch in, there's a chance we could make a great, free resource for Catholic students who could use a little guidance through their college lives.

Any questions or answers I receive will cite the first name, age, school, major, etc. (or however much of this is relevant) of those providing information or questions.

After thinking about the major areas of college life and adjustment, I've come up with these. If you wish to contribute, list the section you are submitting to and then post your submission (or send it to me at tobiasmurphy@gmail.com). Now, the sections:

[u]The Sentimental Stuff[/u]
[i]Packing Up and Heading Out: A Checklist
The Long Drive from Home
Keeping in Touch with Parents and Family[/i]

[u]The Religious Stuff[/u]
[i]Finding a Catholic Parish
Making Sure You Get to Mass
Making Time for Prayer
Continuing to Your Catholic Education: A Booklist
Staying Sober, Chaste, and Responsible[/i]

[u]The Practical Stuff[/u]
[i]Meeting the Roommates
Unpacking
Starting Your Classes
Finding a Job
Fixing Your Schedule
Picking a Major[/i]

[u]The Stuff You Don’t Think You Need Now,
but Will Go Scrambling Through Your Laundry Hamper
to Find this Book Later For[/u]
[i]Making New Friends
Dealing with Roommates and Peer Pressure
Fraternities, Sororities, and Other Ities
Getting All Your Work Done
Term Papers and Your Senior Thesis
How to Figure Out What You Want to Do With Your Life
How to Face What God Wants You to Do With Your Life
How to React When Your Parents Start Treating You Like an Adult[/i]

[u]Graduation, Job Search, and Student Loans[/u]
[i]Job Search
Graduation
Those Darn Student Loans[/i]

Anyone who wishes to add information, suggest a new section, etc. is more than willing to do so. This is an open project which I hope will have numerous authors. I will just take on the editing.

Just so everyone knows: we want the best we can get, so don't let it stop you if someone else has already picked a topic you want. I'm going to use the best.

Lastly, let's make this a humorous approach to such a book. Reflect on your own experiences, mistakes, etc., be a little sarcastic, etc.

God bless,

Micah[/quote]

Dude, I'd get one....totally.

[quote name='Old_Joe' post='1495200' date='Apr 8 2008, 06:33 PM']I'd also recommend this book:

[url="http://www.amazon.com/Newman-Guide-Choosing-Catholic-College/dp/0978650212/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207697561&sr=8-1"]Newman Guide to Catholic Colleges[/url][/quote]

Yeah, very good book. It helped me to narrow down my college choices.

[quote name='farglefeezlebut' post='1495427' date='Apr 9 2008, 07:41 AM']I think you should have a chapter on dealing with stress.[/quote]

Yeah, I think that that would be great as well. Kids need to be reminded that they're NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING IT.