Most students struggle making the transition to life in college...

Best First Year saves you time, money, and emotional energy. Learn how to be successful in college and beyond. This self-paced program for students and parents is here when you need it!

Course curriculum

Includes LIVE Monthly Q&A Sessions With Harlan

    1. REQUIRED: BEST FIRST YEAR ORIENTATION

      FREE PREVIEW
    1. REPLAY (1/8/25) WIN or LEARN in 2025 - Step 1: WANT SOMETHING

    2. REPLAY (1/22/25) WIN OR LEARN in '25 - Step 2. GET COMFORTABLE WITH THE UNCOMFORTABLE

    3. REPLAY (2/4/25) WIN OR LEARN in '25 - Step 3. THINK PEOPLE, PLACES, PATIENCE

    4. REPLAY (2/19/25) WIN OR LEARN in '25 - Step 4: TELL YOUR STORY AS IF IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED

    5. REPLAY (3/5/2025) WIN OR LEARN in '25 - Step 5. CELEBRATE, REFLECT, REPEAT

    6. REPLAY (3/20/2025) WIN OR LEARN in '25 - Your LONG-TERM Risk-Taking Experiment

    7. REPLAY (4/2/25) - Coaching: Social media accounts and pages new students and parents should follow

    8. REPLAY (4/16/2025) - The BIG 6 Experiences That Lead to College Success

    9. REPLAY (4/24/2025) - May 1st Deadline Final Checklist

    10. REPLAY (5/7/2025) - Living on Campus (Roommates, Singles, RAs, and more)

    11. REPLAY 5/22/2025) - Shopping for College

    1. CLASS OF 2025 EVENT - Admitted, Committed, or Waitlisted: What Parents and Students NEED To Do Next (REPLAY Class of 2025 Event)

    2. CLASS OF 2025 EVENT - 7 Money Must Do's for Parents and Students (REPLAY)

    3. CLASS OF 2025 EVENT - 15 Things Parents of Soon-To-Be College Students Should NEVER Do

    1. (Jan 9 REPLAY) WIN or LEARN in '24 - Step 1. WANT SOMETHING

    2. (January 17 REPLAY) CLASS OF 2024 SENIOR & PARENT PROGRAM: GETTING IN. NOT GETTING IN. WHAT TO DO NEXT...

    3. (Jan 23 REPLAY) WIN OR LEARN in '24 - Step 2. GET COMFORTABLE WITH THE UNCOMFORTABLE

    4. (Feb 6th REPLAY) WIN OR LEARN in '24 - Step 3. THINK PEOPLE, PLACES, PATIENCE

    5. (Feb 20 REPLAY) WIN OR LEARN in '24 - Step 4: TELL YOUR STORY AS IF IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED

    6. (February 29 REPLAY) CLASS OF 2024 EVENT - Financial Do's and Dont's for High School Grads

    7. (Mar 5 REPLAY) WIN OR LEARN in '24 - Step 5. CELEBRATE, REFLECT, REPEAT

    8. (Mar 19 REPLAY) WIN OR LEARN in '24 - Your LONG-TERM Risk-Taking Experiment

    9. (March 28 REPLAY) CLASS OF 2024 EVENT: 5 SIMPLE RULES FOR PARENTS: Help your Student Navigate The Changes Ahead

    10. (April 3 REPLAY) TOPIC: 5 GREAT QUESTIONS TO ASK...

    11. (April 16 REPLAY) TOPIC: 5 Study Skills That Are Proven To Work

    12. (April 18th REPLAY) Committing to a College: Final Checklist & Next Steps

    13. (April 30th REPLAY) TOPIC: Things I Learned at Newly Admitted Student Day

    14. (May 7th REPLAY) 17 Things You Need to Do Before College

    15. (May 14th REPLAY) Topic: Campus Housing Essentials

    16. (May 28th REPLAY) Topic: Favorite Clubs and Activities

    17. (June 11th REPLAY): Money Questions (loans, budgets, jobs, scholarships, tuition)

    18. (June 25th REPLAY) Topic: Creating Your Social Transition Plan

    19. (July 9th REPLAY) Topic: Creating Your Emotional Transition Plan

    20. (July 11th REPLAY) 15 Things New College Parents Should NEVER Do

    21. (July 23rd REPLAY) Topic: Creating Your Physical Transition Plan

    22. (August 5th REPLAY) 17 Things You NEED to Do Before Starting College

    23. (August 6th REPLAY) Topic: Creating Your Academic Transition Plan

    24. (August 19th) Topic: Creating Your Financial Transition Plan

    25. (August 27th REPLAY): Setting 1st Year Expectations and LIVE Q&A

    26. (September 3rd REPLAY) Making Friends & LIVE Q&A

    27. (September 11th Coaching REPLAY) Professors and Live Q&A

    28. (September 17th Coaching) Managing Time & Q&A

    29. (September 24th Coaching REPLAY) Getting Involved

    30. (October 1st REPLAY) Self-Advocacy and LIVE Q&A

    31. October 9th LIVE Coaching: Transferring, Hazing, Bad Roommates, & More

    32. (October 15th REPLAY) - Things You Need to Do

    33. (October 22nd REPLAY) - Hot Topics

    34. (October 24th REPLAY) Happy, Healthy, Almost Stress-Free College Planning

    35. (October 31st REPLAY) Coaching Session Q&A

    36. (November 7th REPLAY) Internships, Leadership, Jobs

    37. (November 14th REPLAY) Staying On Track to Graduate

    38. (November 21st REPLAY) Home for Thanksgiving

    39. Thanksgiving - No coaching session. Happy Thanksgiving!

    40. (December 3rd REPLAY) Preparing for Final Exams (managing time, planning, study in a group)

    41. (December 10th REPLAY) Being Productive Over Winter Break

    42. (December 11th Special Event REPLAY) 13 Mistakes High School Students Make When Choosing a College

    43. (December 18th REPLAY) Celebrating Our Wins

    1. (August 15 - REPLAY) Topic: Setting Expectations, Connecting to Campus, and Roommates

    2. (AUGUST 22 REPLAY) TOPIC: Making New Friends, People, Places, Patience

    3. (AUGUST 29 REPLAY) TOPIC: Staying Safe on Campus (Alcohol, Drugs, Consent, and other taboo topics)

    4. (September 5 REPLAY) TOPIC: Life Inside the Classroom (professors, study resources, time management, getting help)

    5. (September 13 REPLAY) TOPIC: Your Mental Health (homesickness, stress, anxiety, rejection, and navigating change)

    6. (September 19 REPLAY) TOPIC: Finances (making money, managing money, saving money)

    7. (September 26 REPLAY) Dating, Relationships, and Emotional Risk-Taking

    8. (October 4 REPLAY) TOPIC: Academic Check-In: Celebrate your Cs, Ds, and Fs (time to get help)

    9. (October 11 REPLAY) TOPIC: Transferring, Hazing, Not Fitting In and Other Problems

    10. (October 17 REPLAY) TOPIC: Staying on track to graduate in 4 years

    11. (November 1 REPLAY) TOPIC: Office Hours Tricks, Tips, and Questions to Ask Your Professor

    12. (November 7 REPLAY) TOPIC: The Truth About Transferring

    13. (November 14 REPLAY) Home For Holidays (things might be very different)

    14. (November 21 REPLAY) TOPIC: Job Search (looking for a job and internships)

    15. (November 28 REPLAY) Preparing for Final Exams (managing time, planning, study in a group)

    16. WEBINAR REPLAY: 17 Things To Do Before College

    17. (December 12 REPLAY) TOPIC: Home For The Holidays

    18. (December 18 REPLAY) TOPIC: Celebrating Our Wins (a year in review)

    1. WATCH: WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?

    2. DOWNLOAD AND COMPLETE: What is your dream?

    3. WATCH: Getting Comfortable

    4. DOWNLOAD & COMPLETE: Getting Comfortable Worksheet

    5. WATCH: The Big Transition

    6. DOWNLOAD & COMPLETE: The Big Transition Worksheet

    7. WATCH: The Three Ps

      FREE PREVIEW
    8. DOWNLOAD & COMPLETE: The Three Ps Worksheet

    9. WATCH: Risk-Taking 101

    10. DOWNLOAD & COMPLETE: Risk-Taking 101 Worksheet

    11. WATCH: Your College Plan

    12. DOWNLOAD & COMPLETE: Your College Plan Worksheet

About this course

  • $97.00
  • 187 lessons
  • 18 hours of video content
  • Based on the #1 Bestselling Book on College Life
  • Hosted By NY Times Bestselling Author Harlan Cohen
  • Includes LIVE Monthly Group Zoom Sessions With Harlan

LIVE MONTHLY Q&A DISCUSSIONS WITH HARLAN

Get access to New York Times bestselling author Harlan Cohen during LIVE Zoom sessions throughout the year. Bring your questions. Students and parents are welcome to participate.


BFY members get access to monthly LIVE conversations with Harlan. Dates and times will be shared with members!


AMERICA'S TOP COLLEGE LIFE EXPERT IS YOUR INSTRUCTOR!

Harlan Cohen is the bestselling author of 7 books including The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College. His titles have over 1 million copies in print. He is also a speaker who has presented at over 400 high schools and college campuses.


"High school gets you into college, but most students aren't prepared  for what happens next.  That's where I come in. Whether you're still in high school, getting ready for college, or already in college, Best First Year will help you prepare, plan, and navigate all the changes ahead. It's everything I wish I knew before I went to college.  - Harlan Cohen


Harlan has been featured in:

CNN
The Washington Post
TODAY

Payment Details:

Includes LIVE monthly group ZOOM calls with Harlan Cohen for students and parents. If cost is a problem, email [email protected] and let us know what you can handle paying. We NEVER want money to stand in the way of your success!

  • $97.00

    12 month subscription (30 day money-back guarantee). Institutional pricing available.

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