Books Every First-Year College Student Should Read

by Emily Quintanilla ‘24

Navigating your first few months in college is not an easy task. Take it from me – as a freshman, I struggled to stay motivated in classes and fully engage in university life (not to mention that my first year was 100% online). As an English major, it’s unsurprising that I turned to books for some solace. Whether it be self-help guides, literary classics, or new fiction, books have the power to inspire every era of your life. 

To guide you in the right direction and set the mood for your college experience, I’ve compiled a list of a few books I believe every first-year should read.

For Becoming an Academic Weapon

How to Win at College: Surprising Secrets for Success from the Country's Top Students by Cal Newport

Academics-wise, I struggled in my first semester of college (evidenced by my lowest-its-ever-been GPA). After reading this book, however, I felt more prepared than ever to tackle a full-time course load. In his book, Cal Newport provides tips for college students that go beyond academics – Newport emphasizes the importance of socializing and taking care of yourself as part of a “successful” college routine. This book is short and to the point but is still extremely effective in delivering the knowledge you need. It certainly set me up for a comeback in semester two. 

Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy

Honestly, who doesn’t struggle with procrastination? The good news: college is an opportunity to start fresh. So break old habits and strive to make better ones. According to Brian Tracy, “There's an old saying that if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that it's probably the worst thing you'll do all day.” Tracy suggests that prioritizing these daunting tasks (ie. our frogs) leads to a more productive lifestyle. College has a lot of frogs, and this book helped me approach daunting tasks with less fear.

For the College Experience

The Secret History by Donna Tartt 

Also known as, “What NOT to do in college” (IYKYK). Somebody once told me that the best way to read The Secret History is to know nothing about it beforehand. As an English major, I can’t avoid recommending Donna Tartt’s dark academia classic. You’re going to have to trust me on this one. I guarantee this book will at least help you romanticize studying and learning.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Ms. Sally Rooney is one of my favorite contemporary authors, so I may be a little biased here. But Normal People is a beautifully written story about the complex relationship between its two main characters: Marianne and Connell. The book tracks the couple’s ups and downs throughout their university years. Rooney builds on the college setting by tackling the transition from high school, class divisions between other students, and good ol’ situationships. I devoured Normal People on my first read and it's one I hope to reread again and again. 

For Embracing New Beginnings

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

I believe some books are meant to find you at a certain point in your life, and I think Into the Wild was meant to find me when it did. The summer before moving to USC, my anxiety about leaving my family grew with each passing day. Like many current first-years, this would be the first time I lived away from home. Reading Jon Krakauer’s account of Christopher McCandless’s fatal Alaskan journey oddly inspired me to embrace the adventure of starting a new chapter in my life. While I would be alone, I was excited to learn more about myself through new challenges.

Writing Los Angeles: A Literary Anthology edited by David L. Ulin

If you’re a USC student, then you’re going to school in one of the most diverse, historic cities in the world: Los Angeles. Whether you’re originally from LA or living here for the first time, I highly recommend picking up Writing Los Angeles to learn more about the city through the words of famous writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ray Bradbury, and Jack Kerouac. Admittedly, I myself haven’t gotten through all 880 pages of this collection, which was edited by USC’s very own Professor Ulin. Still, I think it's important to learn about the city you’ll call home for the next four years. (Don’t know where to start? I’m partial to all of Joan Didion’s pieces.)

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