268
Book
ReviewGetting
StartedStudying
at university: how to adapt successfully to college life. G.W. Bernard, 2003.
London: Routledge; ISBN 0 415 30312 5 paper, 132 pp. £9.99
SAGE Publications, Inc.2004DOI: 10.1177/09675507040120030405
Gill Clarke
University of Southampton
As
I started reading Studying at university, I wondered whether it could live
up to its billing as an `essential guide for anyone wanting to know how they
can make the very best of their university experi- ence'. Further, would I,
as a long serving lecturer, make more of my past and present university experience
having consulted this `down- to-earth' guide? Well, the answer was `yes' on
both counts. But to be sure I consulted two potential consumers of this study
guide: one my 17-year-old nephew, whom I had recently been helping to complete
his UCAS form, and my brother-in-law (his father), who teaches at a large
mixed comprehensive in southern England, where he is in charge of advising
sixth formers about their UCAS applica- tions. Their verdict was resoundingly
positive: the text was deemed very informative and the easy, accessible style
was welcomed. Indeed, it will now be recommended reading for all sixth formers
and their parents and copies will be added to the school library forthwith.
Their one reservation was that at first glance it may look a little dry, but
they pointed out that on closer scrutiny it was not.
269
Nevertheless,
when the time comes to update this guide, it would be worth looking at ways
of breaking down what might appear, to the less committed reader, to be large
chunks of text. George Bernard's vast experience of researching and teaching
history in higher education and also speaking to students about the nerve-racking
process of applying to university is put to good use throughout this readable
book. In the preface, he clearly sets out his aims, which are to sketch out
what modern universities are about and what being a student involves. He sees
his audience as being par- ents, sixth-form teachers and university lecturers — all of whose views have in one way or another been incorporated into this
review. Studying at university is divided into three parts, although the book
is also designed to be dipped into as, and when, the need arises. Part I looks
at how universities began; I found this whistle-stop tour fascinating but
perhaps my nephew was less enamoured by this part. Part II considers what
universities are about and in doing so asks why some universities are better
than others. The short disquisition about why university league tables are
misleading is excellent and in parti- cular the critique of performance indicators
is insightful. This book is more than just a commentary on studying at university,
for in many ways it is a biography of a history academic, where the particulars
of personal experiences are used to illuminate the changing generalities of
university life. Part III provides a useful commentary on `How to make the
most of your studies'. Specifically, Bernard writes about `Getting started'
and `Routines of study' — these should be compul- sory reading for all
students. The chapters on `Lectures and lecturers' and `Classes, seminars
and tutorials' were for me timely reminders of what it is like to be a student
on the receiving end of all this and it was good to hear Bernard exhorting
students to turn up on time. The tips and approaches to study which are offered
are useful guides to reassure students about what is expected of them, but
he also stresses that the art of learning ultimately rests with the individual
student. Hence I shall be sending my review copy post-haste to my nephew,
urging him to read the chapters on `Revising for examinations' and `Examination
technique'.