Thank you for choosing Th e Confi dent Student, Seventh Edition. Th is book is special for several reasons. It has grown with the times to refl ect pedagogical changes, technological advancements, and students’ needs. Yet Th e Confi dent Student’s core values of individual responsibility and confi dence through accomplishment remain at its forefront. Providing a solid foundation in academic skills, Th e Confi dent Student’s pragmatic approach helps both the fi rst-time college student and the older returning student make the transition to academic life and work. Most important, students tell us that they like this book, fi nd it worthwhile, and actually enjoy reading it—a plus for any instructor.

THE CONFIDENT STUDENT, Seventh Edition, provides practical and immediately applicable skills and critical-thinking strategies by emphasizing self-discovery, self-management, and self-assessment, with an underlying theme of helping first-year students to be more confident in their approach to learning. THE CONFIDENT STUDENT's core values of individual responsibility and confidence through accomplishment remain at its forefront by showing students they can succeed by applying themselves. The seventh edition pays particular attention to today's student diversity, not only in their backgrounds but also in the ways they learn. Some learn best by reading, some are more visually oriented, and some learn best through practice and assessment. The conversational writing style coupled with the variety of strategies and exercises enhances the journey students take to becoming more successful in college and life.