1. Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck, this book help students figure out what they truly want to do with their lives and how to work towards their goals. This is a great read for young adults that are unsure of what career to pursue.

2. 50 Best Jobs For Your Personality by Laurence Shatkin and J. Michael Farr, this book is a very unique resource that helps college students choose a future career, based on their personality type.

4. Your Best Year Yet by Jinny Ditzler, will help motivate students to work toward their goals and make this year their best one yet.

5. Get Your Degree Online by Matthew Helm and April Helm, this book will help students discover what classes to take, degrees to pursue, and how to earn their degree online.

9. Career Wisdom for College Students: Insights You Won’t Get in Class, on the Internet, or from Your Parents by Peter Vogt. Sometimes college can’t teach you everything that you need to know. Fortunately, this book will help fill in the gaps.

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1. Focus on Your Strengths

By Beth Campbell Duke, Career Expert 

What ARE your strengths? What passions, personality characteristics and personal values make you excel? What is the main area in which you excel?

Many of us leave high school more able to list our short-comings than our strengths. Further, we don’t have a clear understanding of the kinds of employment we can find or create using these strengths and passions, and as a result we often find ourselves without work we LOVE. We get a short-list of ‘careers’ as we go through school — doctor, lawyer, plumber, teacher…. without ever really knowing the wide variety of ways that our strengths can be used to contribute value to our communities. 

It’s more important that we know our strengths than it is to know ‘what we want to be when we grow up.’ (See Book Review StrengthsFinder 2.0 for more info on strengths.) What we really want to be is who we are, and to be recognized for being ourselves. 

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This textbook costs $187. Photo: Christine Keating

1. Chegg.com has been recognized as the #1 source of college textbook rentals (Student Monitor LifeStyle & Media report, Spring 2010). One student said that it was 80% cheaper than his college bookstore.
2. If your school doesn’t carry a particular book, eCampus.com will be your new best friend. They also have the option to customize the book rental length depending on your needs. Their site says, “We know you’re broke. We’ll make you less broke.” 
3. TextbookStop.com actually gives students an option of renting new or used textbooks. If you don’t want a book with highlighting and notes all over the page, renting new will give you a fresh slate to learn from.

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While you know the library can be used for check out books and finding scholarly articles, your college library can be so much more. Here are a few suggestions to help you make the most of your campus library:

Image from My name’s axel on Flickr

1. Check out Movies and Music. While most of the movies  and music in your library may be for educational purposes, that doesn’t mean they all lack entertainment value. If you’ve exhausted your personal collections head here for a wider selection.

2. Use Expensive Software. If you’re like many college students, your personal computer may be pretty bare bones. Software is expensive, especially if you’re going into a digital design field. Save yourself some money and hop on a school computer. You’ll also be more productive as you won’t be distracted by yourroommates.

3. Practice your presentations. Many libraries have rooms that are soundproof. Take advantage of this by working on your speeches. You’ll get a chance to read out loud without roommates considering your sanity. Hearing your speech will also allow you to realize things you may not have noticed by just reading it.

4. Go to the stacks. Bring a special friend. Do something educational. *wink wink*

5. Print your papers. We all know that ink is ridiculously expensive and chances are you got a printing allotment with your tuition. Take advantage of that and pop into the library to print your papers before class.

6. Get a date. Seriously, don’t study in your dorm room and wonder why you never go on dates. Your next boyfriend/ girlfriend doesn’t know where you live. Make yourself available! Sit at a large table alone and wait for the hotties to take the bait.

7. Arrange Study Groups. Don’t want the crazies in your class to know where you live? The library is wonderful for study groups because everyone knows where it is and no one has to straighten up before or after your study session.

Monty the Therapy Dog. Photo from Yale University

8. Read a Magazine. Most colleges subscribe to a wide variety of magazines. Check out the latest news, fashions, or recipes on the college’s dime.

9. Check out a dog.Students at Yale Law School are able to check out Monty- a therapy dog, for 30 minutes to help the relieve stress.

10. Check out Electronics.Libraries aren’t just for checking out books these days. You’ll likely be able to check out a video camera or projector for a few days.