6 Books That Accurately Depict The College Experience

By Alexandra Brown on March 12, 2015

Reading books about the college experience before you actually enter into it can either be helpful and reassuring, or give you the completely wrong idea about how college is going to go. It can be scary, or really exciting to read about the next chapter in your life.

If you’re already in college, it can be fun to read these types of books just to be able to escape into different peoples’ experiences of the same life you’ve been experiencing.

Here are six books that accurately and entertainingly depict the college experience.

1. “Psych Major Syndrome” by Alicia Thompson

Centered on the character of Leigh, a college psychology major, this book deals with her general college experience, including her struggle to take things to the next level with her yearlong boyfriend, the constant anxiety she faces with her competitive psych major peers, bad professors, and a potential new love interest.

With what seem like relatively common college problems and situations, this book seems like a great read for someone looking to read about college life.

2. “Fangirl” by Rainbow Rowell

In this coming-of-age novel, main character Cath, along with her twin sister Wren, is a fanatic of Simon Snow, and has made it her entire life. Reading, and rereading the entire Simon Snow series, attending Simon Snow forums, writing fan fiction and dressing up as the fictional characters was always something she did to bond with her sister.

Once the twins begin to embark on college, Wren decides she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath must learn to make it on her own, dealing with a new roommate and her clingy boyfriend, tricky professors, cute classmates and family problems.

“Fangirl” would be the perfect read for an incoming college freshman.

3. “Roomies” by Sara Zarr

With a title that sounds exactly like what you’d expect, “Roomies” is about an incoming freshman, Elizabeth, who develops an extremely close relationship with a girl to whom she’s assigned to live with her freshman year in college.

Upon receiving her roommate assignment in the beginning of the summer, Elizabeth immediately begins coordinating the basics, but ends up forming a friendship before she and her roommate even meet.

This book makes for a great read about the transition period between high school and college, and all the complicated things that come along with it: meeting new friends, finding yourself and letting go of home.

4. “The Ivy” (Series) by Lauren Kunze

This series, which follows Callie Andrews, centers on her acceptance into one of the most prestigious universities in the world, and everything that comes along with it.

Being accepted into Harvard, she realizes, was the easiest part. Now she has to deal with the stresses of attending elite parties, gaining social connections for potential job opportunities post graduation, and not to mention, boys.

More on the dramatic side, you’ll most likely get lost in Callie’s college drama by following this series, and you most certainly won’t get bored.

5. “Love Story” by Jennifer Echols

In this novel, Erin Blackwell, a creative writing major at the New York City college of her dreams uses being away at college to escape from traumatic memories back home in Kentucky.

When Erin refuses to become a business major and take over her family’s racehorse farm back home, her grandmother rescinds her college tuition and inheritance and instead gives it to a family friend who has always showed signs of one day being extremely successful. The real issue though is that he ends up joining one of Erin’s classes.

He ends up reading about himself in one of Erin’s short stories, and her private feelings for him begin to become uncovered.

This novel may indulge in a tad more of a dramatic college life than the usual incoming freshmen, but it will keep you on the edge of your seat, and you’ll never get bored.

6. “A Little Something Different” by Sandy Hall

This novel may seem a little cliché, but nonetheless, if you’re a hopeless romantic, it’s the choice for you. The story follows the characters of Lea and Gabe who are in the same creative writing class (sound familiar?). They have a lot in common, ranging from their interest in pop culture, their takeout choices, and hangouts around campus.

The story is basically a love story throughout, following the two characters and their constant connection, even when nothing is really happening between them at all. You’ll be rooting for one or the other as you’re reading, hoping that they will eventually work out their differences and issues and finally get together.

If you enjoy romantic comedies, and anything involving love in general, this novel is definitely for you, especially if you’re maybe not having any luck with your current college love life, and want to escape …

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format