Are You Ready for College?
College can be a big milestone in the journey towards your future. It’s often more than just classes and can be a step towards reinvention, self-discovery and independence. Whether you are going away to school or commuting from home, there is likely a shift in how you and your family now view your responsibilities. How ready are you to take on the new challenges that await and what can you do if you’re not quite sure or maybe need a little practice? Read on to discover the skills for success after high school.
Delayed gratification. We are a culture of “want” and “want it now”. With same day delivery and information at our finger tips, we are often frustrated with the idea that we have to wait or have patience. When it comes to school and meeting long term goals, this is problematic. Not to mention that the portion of our brain responsible for this ability is still developing well into our 20s. It can be challenging to stay on course with a 16 week class or a degree that will take years. It can be tempting to give up, telling ourselves that we just need a break or a treat. College, like high school, will go quick but in the moment, it can feel like eternity - especially with never ending reading, projects and exams to study for.
So, how do you hone your delayed gratification skills? Monitoring. Monitoring is the practice of simply writing down your progress towards any given goal and having proof of progress. For example, want to get into the habit of drinking more water, download an app to track your progress. It doesn’t need to be fancy. If you are trying to improve any long term habit for success (i.e. waking up earlier, less social media, more focused study time, etc.) just start a simple journal that monitors the progress. Don’t forget to make your goal specific so you can see the progress through measurement.
Management of health and wellness. Do you know how to schedule a dentist appointment, manage your diet and take care of yourself when you get a cold? It’s not that you can’t call home or ask for support but if the idea of taking care of yourself through a health issue gives you anxious feelings, consider how you will handle those now. If you have the chance, ask questions and take the lead now. Watch as others make appointments, note what information might be needed and walk through some various scenarios.
Mental health is another issue that many college students will have to tackle. If you currently use strategies that you won’t have at college, how will you replace those. For example, if you depend on a parent to help calm you down in order to attend a social function, what will you use if they cannot help? Try developing a list of coping skills, looking at resources at the college or finding a good therapist in the area before it gets too overwhelming.
Time Management Tool. While you have had to manage endless assignments and due dates through high school, you probably didn’t have to write down your daily schedule between 8am and 3pm daily. It was already given to you and looked similar week to week. However, college will be different. You’ll have less time in class and more unstructured time outside of class, with an assumption that you will handle all of the work you are given. This freedom will feel both liberating and exhausting. You’ll likely feel the need to nap frequently and then wonder when you will get all of your assignments done while still studying for midterms and finals.
Start considering this now and schedule your days in advance. Set aside plenty of downtime but commit to a calendar that lays out your day by the hour, if not every 15 minutes. Use good study strategies to build an understanding of how long any given project, session or assignment will take and plan accordingly. Use color or doodles to make it fun and interesting and carry it with you every where you go. If you want a digital version, be sure you use it consistently and update it frequently. Having your planner on the first week of class, filling important due dates and planning for a successful semester will also give you a deep sense of satisfaction that this will be a great year!
And always remember to stay curious! It’s going to be a great year.
P.S. Considering a major change? Check out the free guide to help you navigate any high stakes decision.
