Baggage Claims: Attitudes and Skills to Pack for College combines the knowledge, academic backgrounds, and life experiences of five educators to help first-year university students appreciate what college has to offer and acquire the skills needed for academic success. It addresses the intangibles that impact this success, and prepares students for the university experience.

The readings provide opportunities to engage in analysis and academic discourse, and become comfortable with sociological language and college-level reading and research. The material poses questions, gives examples of how to think and respond clearly, and provides guidance on writing about research.

The unique organization of the text approaches the first-year college experience as a journey. Each chapter advises students on what to pack and what to leave at home. Topics include the excess baggage of previous academic experience, the cosmetic, surface projection of oneself, what to carry on in terms of personal moral codes, and the usefulness of repacking with wise choices and new tools. This new edition features even more knowledge and perspective from the authors on topics such as defining one’s identity, projecting oneself to others, and expanding personal views.

Baggage Claims can be used in communication and sociology classes. It is also a useful supplemental reader for any course designed to encourage critical thinking.