Whenever I start to talk about life after college, my two older sisters always give me a look of humor and sadness. They tell me to enjoy college while it lasts and that the first months out of college will be the worst of my life. So with some interest, and a little fear, I sat down to read Dorm Rooms to Boardrooms by Victoria Pilate, just to understand more about the transition.

The transition itself never actually comes up. Dorm Rooms to Boardrooms: A Guide for All Majors in Making the Transition from College to the Real World is not centered on what to expect from life after college, but how to do what you need to do (find a roommate, get a job, etc.) The book divulges how the real world really works. For example, instead of saying, “Never gossip at work,” page 154 gives a whole description on the right and wrong ways to gossip about coworkers to get ahead and do well. It identifies the different types of workers, from the “Idea Thief” to the “Office Slut” to the “Opinionated Jerk.”

The only chapter that really applies to the life of the undergraduate is the first one, which advises the reader to start early. It gives some tips for what to do as an undergraduate to prepare for the real world, such as volunteering and getting involved in school groups.

The rest of the book reads like a Dos and Don’ts of the job world. It’s not incredibly interesting, but it does give a lot of tips, no matter how trivial they seem – remember to place the knife across the top of the plate horizontally, like a hat, while eating.

The table manners and interview hints give way to a whole chapter on just your image (don’t be obese, and drink water to get rid of acne). This is not the book I would read over Spring Break to relax from school, but it does include everything you need to know for surviving in the workplace, from the realistic (how to ask for a raise) to the ridiculous (don’t disclose racial pet names).

– Emmet Sullivan