The things you really want to know

College: 101

Proposal Fall 2014

College: 101 will have a broad overview of chapters ranging from the very beginning of the college selection process all the way through graduation. This book will include chapters on universities and colleges and their minimum requirements to make for easy planning, how to prepare for dorm or commuter life, how to organize yourself once you’re in college, fun and interesting chapters like the “Top Ten Spring Break Getaways,” and a closing chapter on the commencement ceremony and where to go from there titled, “HOLY CRAP I’M GRADUATING… Now What?”

“…use the humor to illustrate a concept just taught. This way, the humor helps students remember the material, and material can’t be learned unless it is remembered. And one thing about humor and learning is well-supported by the research: Humor positively affects levels of attention and interest. It’s a way to keep students engaged and involved with the course material. So if the concept is an important one, consider incorporating some humor.”

Reference: Banas, J. A., Dunbar, N., Rodriguez, D., and Liu, S. (2011). A review of humor in education settings: Four decades of research. Communication Education, 60 (1), 115-144.

Brief Overview

• Over 25,000 students apply to Hofstra University each year.

• The Los Angeles campus of the University of California has over 70,000 applications per year.

• New York University has over 55,000 applications per year.

• As of Fall 2014 there were upwards of 2.1 million college bound freshmen.

Market Analysis

College Planning for Dummies –July 1997Cons:• Doesn’t include

popular college’s minimum requirements.

• No teen appealPros:• Broad coverage• “…hints, tips,

and facts…”• “…disproved

many myths…”

Get It Together for College: A Planner to Help You Get Organized and Get In – June 2011

Cons:• Not enough informationPros:• Check list and calendar/deadline based information

College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step – August 2011

Cons:• Only handles college

admissionPros:• “Written by industry

experts…”• “…real-life advice…”

*Proves success with humor*

Book Content—

• The content will cover all aspects of the beginning steps to getting into college through acceptance and culminating with graduation.

Structure—

• The structure of the book will be chapters and sub-chapters.

• The book will be roughly three hundred pages. College Planning for Dummies – 322 pages College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step – 432

pages Get It Together for College: A Planner to Help You Get Organized and Get In

– 240 pages

• The trim size will be 7.5” x 9.2” College Planning for Dummies – 7.4” x 9.2” College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step – 7.4” x

9.2” Get It Together for College: A Planner to Help You Get Organized and Get In

– 7.5” x 9.2”

Book Specifications

Design—

• The design of the book will be chapters and sub-chapters.

• The chapter titles will be ALL CAPS and bolded in order to catch the READER’S ATTENTION.

• Sub-chapters will be italicized and set in Title Case to inform the reader that there is some sort of topic change occurring within The Chapter.

Illustrations—

• The illustrations in the book, if any, will not necessarily be for informational purposes but to merely keep the reader’s attention.

Electronic Media—

• It is not anticipated that this book will be released in any form of electronic media.

Price – $14.99

• College Planning for Dummies –

• Can no longer be bought directly from Dummies (http://www.dummies.com/)

• Amazon – Prices ranging from $52.53 - $221.24

• Get It Together for College: A Planner to Help You Get Organized and Get In –

• Amazon - $14.29

• College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step –

• Amazon - $15.48

Book Specifications

Eric Kester graduated from Harvard University in 2008 where he wrote a bi-weekly, humorous column for the Crimson. He is best known for his memoir, That Book About Harvard which was published by Sourcebooks in 2012 and made the Boston Globe Best-Seller list. He’s currently attending Columbia University and working toward a degree in Creative Writing; he is expected to graduate in 2015. Kester is also a featured writer for the well-known CollegeHumor (http://www.collegehumor.com/).

About his memoir, Kester said, “… I hope anyone reading the book, someone going into college, or an alumnus, can relate to the anxieties we all have about college.“ Kester is humorous, young (twenty-six), a former teacher, a successful writer, and a Harvard Alumnus.

Reviews:

"Even if you didn't go to an ultra-competitive school, you will still enjoy this book. Eric does a great job of poking fun at himself, his school and just about everything, without being offensive. It's a great humor book that would be perfect for any kid who is just entering college. " - Second Bookshelf on the Right

Potential Author

Kester is already successful and a best-selling non-fiction author. Being that his first book was about his, sometimes humiliating and anxiety inducing, time at Harvard, I believe potential consumers will be excited to read what he comes out with next. His personal humor will amplify the humor in the chapter titles and throughout the content. Additionally, being that he is only twenty-six, he is still relatable to the younger students who are just entering college.

That Book About Harvard

1. Introduction

2. Universities/Colleges and Their Requirements

3. How to: Admissions Essays

4. Keep Your Options Open!

5. Selecting a University/College

6. What to Bring, What Not to Bring. That is the question.

7. Recommended Supplies

8. Transitioning and Saying Goodbye: Parents and Students

9. Fact or Fiction: The Freshman Fifteen

Table of Contents 10. Midterms: Do’s and Don’ts

11. Finals: Do’s and Don’ts

12. You Failed a Class, Now What?

13. Choosing Your Life… I Mean, Major

14. Registration and the Dreaded Degree Audit

Report

15. Ballroom Dancing Or Financial Skills for

Life?

16. Top Ten Spring Break Getaways

17. I hereby pledge my allegiance to…

18. How many absences are we allowed?

19. How many Credits do I need to graduate?

20. HOLY CRAP, I’M GRADUATING… Now

What ?

Cover Concept

Front Cover:•Over-lain images•Students walking up to a college campus•Students at a graduation ceremony•Author name – bottom right corner•Title – top, centered

Back Cover:•United States outline with college/university mascots in place of states•Tagline at the bottom•Company logo – bottom left corner

Spine:•Title•Author•Company logo