Product Description

In 2000 alone, more than one million people in their 20's left the safe confines of their American college campuses and entered the workforce or graduate school. Many had completed internships to get real world experience, or had rented apartments during their final years of school. But the vast majority of recent grads have lived in dorms their entire college career, or otherwise have little experience in living on their own, not knowing anything about what awaited them at the end of their walk across the stage at graduation. In short, they needed the information in "Graduate! Everything You Need to Know to Succeed After College." "Graduate!" is a complete guide to not just surviving, but thriving and living well after college. It includes advice on finding and keeping a job, renting an apartment, living with a roommate, handling money issues including saving, budgeting, and credit, how to decipher health and auto insurance, and even how to decorate, cook, and dress. Chock full of checklists, questionnaires, and samples of key documents, "Graduate!" is the one source that college grads need to do well in the "real world."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #736272 in Books
• Published on: 2002-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Review
"Advice on finding a job, renting, roommates, budgeting, credit, health and auto insurance, decorating, cooking and dressing." -- Mike Pulfer, Cincinnati Enquirer

"Gustafson, herself a 20-something, wrote the book in response to a few of her own rude awakenings after college." -- Laureen Fagan, South Bend Tribune

"Gustafson’s book gives a thorough rundown of ... survival skills every young adult should know." -- Selena Ricks, Portland Press Herald

"The book discusses the emotional issues surrounding the transition, as well as such nitty-gritty problems as stocking a kitchen..." -- Mary Giunca, Winston-Salem Journal

About the Author
Kristen Gustafson is a 1998 graduate of Stonehill College, and currently works in the public relations department of a healthcare organization. She has previously worked in publishing and sales. Her writing has appeared in Young Money magazine and several online newsletters and publications. She lives in Bangor, Maine with her husband and stepdaughter, and is involved in a number of community organizations.

Customer Reviews

This book saved me!
"Graduate!" by Kristen Gustafson taught me everything that my fine liberal arts college did not - how to survive in the real world. Most people are not taught by family, friends, or school how to find an apartment, buy a car, meet friends in a new place, get a 401K and insurance, etc., but these are the most important things EVERYONE has to know BEFORE they graduate from college or even high school, in some cases. This wonderful book taught me everything I needed to know and even gave me sample apartment leases and resumes to learn from.

The most useful part of this book for me was the chapter on how to find and live with a roommate. I just moved into an apartment with someone I don't know too well yet, and we are getting along great, all because of "Graduate." Ms. Gustafson provides a roommate questionnaire with great questions to ask, so you know beforehand if you will get along with your potential roommate. I hadn't even thought to ask most of the questions she suggested. Ms. Gustafson also gives lots of great, useful tips on how to get along with your roommate and activities you can do together.

I highly recommend this book for all new and soon-to-be graduates. All parents should buy this book for their kids!

This is a nice handbook.
Kristen Gufstason has crafted a nice handbook on the unexpected pitfalls of post-college life. More than that, "Graduate..." is one of the few books in this subject that refuses to take the easy way out by telling college students how scary is the "Real World".

This is really more of a quick reference guide that covers such topics as rent, roommates, the job search and even wardrobe tips. Any college senior would do well by absorbing the information in this book.

A handy tool
I got this book for Christmas, and was able to read it quickly -- an easy read, chock-full of handy tips and time-saving advice from someone who's been there. I feel much better prepared to face the world after my college graduation this May. I felt like the author was talking to me, and seemed to anticipate issues I'm worried about already. Very common-sense stuff. I've shared it with my housemates -- I may never get it back!