How to Win at College | Book Review and Notes
Cal Newport’s succinct must-read
Like most aspiring freshmen, I wanted to make sure I got everything right when starting out — make most out of my new blank slate, and all that. While what I wanted out of college consisted of the oh-so-expected vague, cliche goals, I had a hard time fathoming how on Earth I’d fit all that into 24 hours! Based on recommendations in Thomas Frank’s blog, I promptly picked up Cal Newport’s aptly-named book, How to Win at College. And that, my friends, is the best decision I made that summer.
Newport’s widely acclaimed debut piece is founded on patterns he noticed while interviewing top students across the States. These people “embodied a unique brand of multi-faceted success, ” according to the author. Newport had just graduated from Dartmouth when he first published in 2005, and his years of fame as a popular author, self-help guru, and scholar were still ahead of him.
The ambitious book is divided into 75 concise chapters, ranging from social to academic, aimed at helping you avoid common pitfalls and pick-up good habits — tips you’d otherwise figure out too late, if at all. It is an amalgamation of popular literature in the respective fields, but Newport cuts straight to the chase and manages to cramp all the “lessons learnt” into an easily manageable masterpiece for the target audience.
“Start small and start immediately.” — Cal Newport
Most of the chapters in the book seem fairly obvious at first glance, especially if you’re into self-dev. However, every ex-frosh will testify about how easy it is to lose sight of your plans. Having these “principles”, if you will, in a written form has been absolutely crucial for me — I’ve referred back to the book multiple times.
Newport advocates for a well-balanced college experience — where you set your own goals — while making sure you are not consumed by them. In order to do so, Newport argues that we need to build relaxation, reflection, planning, and organization into our routines to facilitate physical and emotional well-being. It is super easy to get fixed on the small picture during a hectic semester, and that is a very tough rut to get out of. So Newport asks you to work smarter, not harder: budget your most valuable resources — time, energy and money — carefully.
As all books go, merely reading the book will not give you success, nor does it contain some magic formula. Make sure you note down the actionable advice most relevant to you, and think about how to integrate them into your daily life. As you implement the advice, pay heed to adjusting based on effectiveness and retention. You can find my personal notes below:
> Sundays Set the Tone
>> Exercise, Groom, Treat yourself
>> Catch up with Family and Friends
>> Hit the Library
>> Prepare for the week
>> See what needs to be done
>> Contemplate on the last> Start Projects the day they are assigned
>> Psychology will allow you to Snowball
>> Overview work> Organized Room = Organized Life> Apply to 10 programs a year
>> Research Early, Apply promptly> Follow your complex study system
>> Breaks work into formidable chunks
>> Study smart!> Befriend professors
>> LoR + Opportunities + Wisdom
>> Academic advice
>> Listen to advice
>> Keep in touch after class> Run a club org
>> Creep into leadership/make one
>> No loose commitments> Read Newspapers daily
>> Balanced world view> Develop a Skill you can be known for
>> Builds self-confidence
>> Do things out of the ordinary> Take control of your happiness> To-do lists out, Time-blocks in> Learn to give up
>> Tactical skill
>> Not a weakness
>> Utility theory for productivity
>> reduce commitments slowly over time> DO NOT nap
>> Light excercise
>> Fruits/Ice Cold Water
>> Turn to lighter tasks and chores (Productive Procrastination)
> Get involved ASAP
>> Don't be obsessive
>> Don't avoid events
>> Happy and ambitious
>> More new people to meet> Always work on Grand Project
>> develops can-do attitude
>> Stray from commonly taken path
>> Plan ahead> Read wide> Blow the curve once a term
>> Pick your battles
>> Go above and beyond the call of duty
>> Easy to add bells and whistles> Ask a question every lecture
>> prepare beforehand with questions
>> Helps you stay alert> Research ASAP
>> Seek out oppotunities before Sem 3
>> Nag, and mention specifics of their project to impress
>> Ramp up slowly; don't be brash
>> "If you think I can handle this, I'd be happy to help."> Pomodoro and Deep work> Dress nicely for class> Begin preparing for exams two weeks in advance> Decorate room to be relaxing> Schedule free time> Write outside class> Eat twice a day alone, once with others> Some escape once a week> Less intro courses, more higher level ones> Don't study in dorm room> Don't study in groups> Some school work daily> Attend at least two guest talks every month> Exercise regularly> Stay in touch with people you love> Tack an extra minor
>> Impressive, yet easy> meet often with advisor> Job = asset> Write papers in 3 days
>> Brain dump
>> Logic
>> Edit> Consistent sleep> Rest before exams
>> imagine victory
>> Keep mind active doing light, unrelated work
>> Write down fears on a paper before starting> HELP friends when needed> Ignore others' marks> Network with phenomenal achievers> Learn to listen
>> Your opnion doesn't matter
>> Don't attack or insult
>> Reiterate
>> Mirror person in front> Laugh everyday!> Progress journal for long term projects
>> ego feeding
>> Motivational> Learn for Learning> ALWAYS go to class> Set arbitrary, premature deadlines> Eat Healthy> Have something to show for your summer> Choose goals, explore routes> No breaks between classes> Antinetwork
>> Impress without imploring
>> Don't talk about a job
>> Never ask for favours
>> Show interest in learning
>> Don't come off as arrogant
>> Forget the name> maximize surrounding> Reinforced learning> Treat mail as filing cabinet> Relax before sleep> Start fast, end slow> Study abroad in SERIOUS courses
>> Talk to alumniDon't have no regrets!
This book has been essential to my college success (in terms of personal metrics) and I hope it will help you too. So what are you waiting for?
Pick it up here!
Finally, make sure you cherish the best years of your life. Good luck in college!
