You Got In! Now What? A Practical Guide for New College Students by James T. Hamilton
Starting college can be a challenging experience filled with academic pressure, social adjustments, and important life decisions. James T. Hamilton’s You Got In! Now What?: 100 Insights into Finding Your Best Life in College provides clear, concise lessons to help incoming students tackle these challenges head-on.
The book breaks down key topics such as time management, mental and physical health, choosing courses and majors, building meaningful relationships, and developing a growth mindset. Hamilton combines research-backed advice with years of experience in undergraduate education to give students a realistic and practical roadmap.
The book offers 100 concise lessons aimed at helping new college students navigate the many challenges of college life and beyond. Hamilton draws on research, reflections from students, alumni, and professors, plus his experience as Stanford’s vice provost for undergraduate education.
Key themes and topics include:
- Finding purpose and developing a clear approach to college
- Managing time effectively and establishing priorities
- Maintaining friendships and healthy family relationships
- Staying physically and mentally healthy and resilient
- Making smart decisions about classes, majors, and future careers
- Developing critical thinking skills as a basis for lifelong learning
- Encouraging a growth mindset, embracing challenges, and learning from setbacks
- Navigating social life with honesty and authenticity
- Preparing for life beyond college by focusing on education, not just a degree
- Addressing common pitfalls such as perfectionism, overwork, and fear of failure
Each lesson is paired with essays that provide deeper context and insights, often citing well-known alumni and faculty.
The book aims to offer realistic guidance to empower students to make confident choices about their academic and personal lives, going beyond textbook advice to embrace the full college experience.
Coming Soon To Your Partner In Success Radio
James T. Hamilton will join me on Your Partner In Success Radio in early October, 2025 to dive deeper into these lessons and discuss how students can approach college with greater confidence and clarity. Keep an eye out for this episode if you want insights that cut through the noise and focus on what really matters.
If you or someone in your life is about to start college, this book is a strong resource for navigating those first critical years.
This book can be found on Amazon.