What are some good general life skills I can learn which will help me succeed at college as a Freshman?

Breanna, it's really terrific (and very smart) to begin to prepare yourself now for college life. It should be a wonderful period between your teenage- and adult- selves, but it can present problems if you're not prepared. Some students, even really smart ones, find themselves in over their heads financially and socially, both areas where college students may be making decisions on their own for the first time. It's a little scary and a lot exciting! So, as a parent of two mid-20 somethings, I will share with you some of the topics my kids and I talked about, both before and during their college years. I hope you find these helpful.

My first suggestion is to think about what you want to get out of college. That may seem like a silly suggestion, since obviously you plan on getting a degree, but think about how you view your college experience. Do you want to leave with top grades and intern/work experience so you are best prepared to work? Do you view college as equal parts learning topics and learning about you? Both of these are valid, I believe, and both will require you to understand who you are and what your values are. Remember that adult choices carry adult consequences, so issues like drugs, drinking and sex need your thoughtful attention. Regardless of your current experiences, being on your own in these areas (or worse, listening to friends who may not share your values) can be challenging.

Finances are another good life skill to prepare for. If you don't already have a bank account you'll want to open one. Even if you plan on using venmo or another instant payment method, you'll need a checking account. Its good practice anyway, to assist with learning to budget and keeping/organizing your financial records. Books, living expenses, extras...where will that money come from? Credit card companies routinely visit college campuses and sign up students, who can then find themselves in over their heads. Plan your budget now and be prepared to stay on track, so you're not caught up in credit card debt before you even leave college.

Hopefully, you've learned to study effectively, but if you're worried about that, look into a course to shore up those skills. Time management is going to be critical and you can maximize your time by knowing how to study most effectively. You'll probably find next year that the time required for you to be successful in each class will be more than you expect.

Laundry, eating well, exercise and getting enough sleep are important but often overlooked. I remember doing laundry in my college dorm bathroom sink because I didn't have time to run down 4 flights of stairs to put clothes in the washer and dryer. Yikes. That was a mess. Keeping your dorm room clean may be a losing proposition, but remember, you'll be responsible for keeping you and your living space healthy.

Lastly, becoming comfortable with making decisions is a process, and you'll have lots of them to make, so be kind to yourself if they make you feel uneasy. Make decisions anyway. Start now, while you have the safety-net of parents. Like any other skill, exercising your thinking and decision-making muscles will make you better and stronger.

The years will fly by, so enjoy your college experience!

Hi Breanna, I would suggest planning out your days, weeks, semester so that you have a good idea of what is needed to be successful. You could ask for guidance from your mentors, advisors, and friends. I believe everyone handles the experience differently, but if you a good plan and people to help you stay on track, you will do well to manage your time, be successful in your studies, and be able to enjoy the college experience!

enjoy college but be determined on the real goals; learning, making connections and getting your degree. Time goes by so quickly so enjoy your time in college but be responsible of your actions. Remember every action has an effect!

There are two main ones

• getting to know yourself to determine which career area is most suitable for you
• balancing your life so that you can both have fun and accomplish the best grades that you can

Getting to know yourself and how your personality traits relate to people involved in various career opportunities is very important in your decision making process. During my many years in Human Resources and College Recruiting, I ran across too many students who had skipped this very important step and ended up in a job situation which for which they were not well suited. Selecting a career area is like buying a pair of shoes. First you have to be properly fitted for the correct size, and then you need to try on and walk in the various shoe options to determine which is fits the best and is most comfortable for you to wear. Following are some important steps which I developed during my career which have been helpful to many.

Here is another important one that came to mind: learning how to do things in an economical manner. Here are ways to reduce college costs. Too many people spend way too much money on college and end up with unnecessarily high debt: ## http://www.educationplanner.org/students/paying-for-school/ways-to-pay/reduce-college-costs.shtml ##

This is a great question. The fact that you're already thinking about how to succeed will give you a leg up! You have already received some great advice. I would just add that, for me, organization was key. Especially as a freshman, you will have so many new things coming at you, so staying organized and on top of things may be difficult. If you make that a priority -- whether that's to-do lists, sticky notes with upcoming deadlines, or otherwise -- I think you will set yourself up for success. Best of luck!

Hello,

Great question and an important one as you start on this journey to adulthood! The first suggestion I would have is learning discipline and time management skills. There are many insights out there online if you google it which will help you with this. You are young and are going to want to hand out with friends and experience freedom which is ok but needs to be done in moderation. Set goals to get your work done first so you can then have time to have fun without deadlines hanging in the back of your mind. Procrastination is an enemy here and in all aspects of life.

No need to put pressure on yourself as a fresher. Just go and be confident. Have patience and be yourself , generally everyone like true people.

General life skills that are good to have all-around include: humility, flexibility, desire to play, humor, and passion for serving others. These are baseline strengths I have and continue to work on. They've benefitted me through several industries and companies, and different types of roles from administrative assistant to global team leader. Cheers!

Breanna, the best answer I can tell you is to sit down with your parents and learn what it takes to run the house. The skills required for that include:

Keeping a schedule

Managing a budget

Taking care of yourself physically (Food, Sleep, etc)

Creating a network of resources (your resources may be more about getting to class than getting the water heater fixed but it is the same thing)

Creating a network of friends (you are leaving home so mom and dad will not be able to look out for you each day. Having friends can help with that and if your going away to college you might not be bringing any with you.)

Knowing your information (from medical information to bank account you need to know them)

Self reliance (the safety net if gone!)

The good news is that these are not hard, the bad news is that I know adults who haven't mastered them. Good Luck!

Start looking for a good internship or apprenticeship  in the field of study you are interested in. Volunteer in your community, work with student organizations as it relates to your field of study. See if there is a part-time  job on campus that might relate to your field of study.

Self awareness is paramount. Know who you are; know your capabilities and limitations. This will help you grow and expand yourself. Stretch yourself and participate in activities/ classes that take you out of your comfort zone. This won’t sound appealing at the time, but you will appreciate it later.

<span style="color: rgb(67, 58, 83);">Collaboration skills and a balanced time commitment. Your ability to work in a team environment will keep you from going solo on deliverables that are meant to shared input. You should also pace yourself by putting in time each day instead of relying on cramming. Cramming works for some but could infuse unnecessary added pressures. Although I crammed from time to time, the results were not my best.</span>