77 Things You Absolutely Have to Do Before You Finish College

April 14, 2014
Bondy follows her babysitting guide, Don’t Sit on the Baby, with a book that urges readers to make the most of their time away at school: “College wouldn’t be college if it didn’t include a wide range of experiences,” writes Bondy in her introduction. Each of the 77 ideas gets a spread of its own, and Bondy groups her suggestions into categories revolving around the dorm (“Bring your roommate a gift”), flying solo (“Get lost in town”), being outgoing (in praise of the dance party: “Booty shaking is the almighty peacemaking universal language of fun”), preparing for the future (“The connections you make now will last a lifetime if you nurture those relationships”), and more. Sidebars, bulleted lists, and illustrations featuring a stick-figure robot contribute to a format tailor-made for skipping around. Whether readers are introverts, partiers, activists, or athletes, Bondy provides an array of opportunities to make their time in college as well-rounded as possible. And much of the advice applies to life beyond college, too: “People make the most colossal mistakes when they don’t trust their gut.” Ages 14–up.