Updated: Jun 5, 2025
By Sarah Abrahamsen | Posted June 4, 2025
After all the SATs, college tours, essays, and late nights studying, high school seniors are finally getting ready for the next big step — college. It’s uncharted territory and rising college freshmen aren’t looking for a cumbersome guidebook to help them get through their first year.
Karen Dentler has over 20 years of experience in higher education. She has held positions in student life and academic administration at Rutgers University, Princeton University, and Carnegie Mellon University. Dentler has her MA in higher education from the University of Michigan and a BA in philosophy from Colgate University.
Karen Dentler knows this well. That’s why she wrote Go to Class: How to Succeed at College — a quick, down-to-earth book filled with smart advice and real-life tips for new college students.
Dentler’s advice isn’t random — it comes from an over 20-year career in higher education in advising and student life roles at top universities including Carnegie Mellon, Princeton and Rutgers.
Dentler calls her own undergraduate college experience “brain training.” As a philosophy major at Colgate University, she didn’t know where her studies would take her. She explored different options, but her role as a Residence Assistant (RA) was what shaped her career path in higher education.
Across every campus and role, Dentler made it a point to truly connect with her students and understand their frustrations. She saw it all — from emergencies and breakdowns over organic chemistry to resume building and even students “throwing TVs out the window to test gravity.” She helped them through the struggles and celebrated their successes.
The idea for Go to Class came when her daughter Rachel was a senior at Montgomery High School. “I was sick of gifting Oh, the Places You’ll Go. I wanted to give something practical. Something real.” That’s when she decided to write the kind of book she wished she’d had — and wished she could give.
Go to Class has resonated. “This isn’t just for students,” Dentler adds. “It’s for anyone who wants to support them.”
The book doesn’t just dole out advice — it’s a collection of insights built on years of conversations, mentoring, and lived experience, featuring playful graphics and bite-sized advice on every page. The book covers everything from tips on getting the best housing and registering for classes to finding a job and handling unexpected situations.
Today, Dentler continues mentoring students as she works with interns at The Montgomery News — myself included. On a personal note, she’s been a great mentor to me during my years writing for the paper, and I’ll definitely be taking Go to Class with me to college next year!
Gift-givers can get a copy of Go to Class: How to Succeed at College on Amazon, Target.com, or any online bookstore.
