100 Life Skills to Master Before College (or Anytime!)

Key Takeaways

• You’re going to learn so much in college—and not just academically. From doing laundry and making meals to managing your time and basic finances, this is the first time you’ll be navigating real-world independence.
• We’ve rounded up 100 important life skills to know before college, categorizing them into home care, life management, personal care, financial responsibility, academic success, time management, professional skills, transportation, and problem-solving.
• The best way to learn life skills is to get experience and practice. Watch a YouTube video, search for answers on Google, or ask someone for help.

Flickr user State Farm

When teenagers envision independence, many simply see it as no home rules and restrictions to abide by—nobody to nag them to help with the laundry, load the dishwasher, or clean up their room. What some teenagers don’t give a second thought to are the practical aspects that come with independent living. The reality only sets in once they settle into their dorm on campus. All of a sudden, they’re balancing extracurricular activities, classes, homework, and a part-time job—plus responsibilities like laundry, food, scheduling everything, and managing finances.

Without the right skills, you could find yourself overwhelmed by the daily grind of independent living. So, as you start to manage the transition to college, it is important to take the time to develop some practical life skills before move-in day. To make the transition smoother—and save you from calling home for help every time life throws you a curveball, here are 100 life skills you’ll want to learn before heading off to college.

What Are Life Skills?

Life skills are interpersonal skills that help you handle the demands and challenges of everyday life. Back in 1996, the World Health Organization (WHO) actually categorized the most essential life skills as:

• Self-awareness
• Empathy
• Critical thinking
• Creative thinking
• Decision making
• Problem-solving
• Effective communication
• Interpersonal relationship
• Coping with stress
• Coping with emotions

While these 10 categories provide a very solid foundation, there are countless practical life skills that aren’t always covered in classrooms. There are students, graduates, and even adults who have missed out on learning some basic life skills—like learning to create a budget or properly iron a shirt. Even though WHO categorized some essential life skills to learn, we are here to dive deeper into even more life skills you need to know before heading off to college.

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100 Life Skills to Learn

All your life, you’ve most likely had someone to hold you accountable for your actions. In college, no one will do that for you. Being out on your own means more freedom than you have ever had before. With that freedom comes a lot of decision-making regarding how you spend your free time and whether or not you show up to the places you need to be.

So, whether it’s watching YouTube tutorials, searching for it on Google, or asking someone for help, make sure to set aside some time before freshman year to figure out the life skills from this list that you don’t already know.

Home Care

Floors don’t vacuum themselves; furniture doesn’t dust itself off, and the kitchen doesn’t clean up automatically. Unfortunately, there is no push-button magic to get all of these chores done and no mom to do them either. Before you leave your home for college, here are some great home care skills that will come in handy:

1.   How to do laundry (including making sure you know how to sort clothes based on color and change the temperature settings for different fabrics).
2.   How to clean high-use areas like carpets, windows, bathrooms, and countertops.
3.   How to unclog a drain or toilet.
4.   How to make a bed.
5.   How to tidy up regularly.
6.   How to unload and load a dishwasher.
7.   How to organize a small space efficiently.
8.   How to organize your clothes.
9.   How to wash blankets.
10.  How to sweep.
11.  How to empty a vacuum cleaner.
12.  How to change an air filter.
13.  How to change the batteries in a smoke detector.
14.  How to remove stains from clothes, carpets, or furniture.
15.  How to iron and steam clothes.

Life Management

You are now the one to manage your own life, and this doesn’t just include keeping up with your class schedule. You’re responsible for making your own dentist appointments, sending off mail, and hunting for new apartments. Ready for all that? Here’s what you need to know about mastering the art of independence:

16.  How to organize important documents (leases, insurance, school papers).
17.  How to address and mail packages or letters.
18.  How to schedule and change appointments.
19.  How to search for apartments.
20.  How to rent an apartment and read lease agreements.
21.  How to keep track of internet accounts and passwords.
22.  How to use health and car insurance properly.
23.  How to memorize your social security and other important numbers.
24.  How to live well with roommates.

Personal Care

News flash: feeding yourself doesn’t just mean putting food into your mouth. Man cannot live on fast food alone. Of course, you might feel happy living off pizza, ramen noodles, and other fast foods, but these should only be occasional treats, not standard fare. Learning how to shop for ingredients and cook homemade meals is more nutritious and will help you save money. Not to mention, it’ll increase your overall health and mental well-being. Here are some life skills to help you with health, nutrition, and emotional balance:

25.  How to shop for healthy essentials and save money.
26.  How to eat healthy.
27.  How to plan meals.
28.  How to cook basic meals (not in the microwave).
29.  How to brew coffee or tea.
30.  How to clean the coffee maker.
31.  How to do exercises and stay physically active.
32.  How to manage stress and anxiety.
33.  How to maintain personal hygiene and appearance.
34.  How to recognize your limits.
35.  How to motivate yourself personally and academically.
36.  How to relax in a way that is good for you.
37.  How to balance class, work, and social life.

Financial Responsibility

Money management is one of the most valuable lessons you can learn before heading off to college. Overspending on a credit card or missing a credit card payment may seem like small mistakes, but these can have serious consequences—including making future student loans more expensive. Take it from us, you don’t want to learn this lesson the hard way. Learning how to be financially responsible now will save you a lot of money (and heartache) in the long run. If you want to be on your own, you need to learn how to be in control of your finances, so here are some financial skills you’ll need:

38.  How to create a realistic budget.
39.  How to responsibly use credit cards.
40.  How to understand loan options and student debt.
41.  How to search for scholarships.
42.  How to check your credit and credit score.
43.  How to properly use your checking and savings accounts.
44.  How to earn money through part-time jobs or freelancing.
45.  How to track your financial aid and student loan repayment process.

Academic Success

From day one in college, you’ll be juggling classes, assignments, homework, extracurriculars, sleep, downtime, and everything in between. It’s a lot—there’s no sugarcoating that. Only students who have mastered the art of organization can juggle all of these successfully without feeling overwhelmed, so it’s important to learn how to get organized before your first semester. It’s time to start building habits to save yourself a lot of stress later:

46.  How to study effectively.
47.  How to find your ideal study environment.
48.  How to create a study schedule through time blocking.
49.  How to take effective notes.
50.  How to research efficiently.
51.  How to stay organized between school, work, and other activities.
52.  How to read and follow a syllabus.
53.  How to ask for help when needed by attending office hours.
54.  How to use campus resources.
55.  How to research professors when choosing classes.
56.  How to buy textbooks without spending a fortune.
57.  How to deal with a difficult printer (that says it’s out of ink but absolutely isn’t).
58.  How to stay up to date on local and world news.
59.  How to type quickly.
60.  How to write an essay.
61.  How to write an email to a professor or advisor.
62.  How to create your class schedule.
63.  How to navigate a computer.
64.  How to use the campus library.

Time Management

In college, you will have to learn how to manage your time more effectively. Time management skills, from waking up on time to completing work by the deadline, are crucial for your success. It may take some trial and error to figure out what system works best but don’t give up. It’s important to learn how to manage your own routine through time management skills:

65.  How to set alarms and wake up on time.
66.  How to use a planner or the calendar on your phone.
67.  How to schedule everything—including your meals, classes, workout breaks, and time with friends.
68.  How to set short-term and long-term goals to stay focused on what matters.
69.  How to be on time for important events.
70.  How to say “no” to avoid over commitment.

Professional Skills

When it comes time to land your dream job or internship, there are some things you need to know in advance. This will be your time to stand out to an employer, so make sure you master these professional life skills:

71.  How to create a standout resume.
72.  How to set up a job interview.
73.  How to apply for jobs or do an internship interview.
74.  How to research potential opportunities.
75.  How to find volunteer opportunities.
76.  How to tie a tie.
77.  How to search for jobs.
78.  How to write a professional email or letter.
79.  How to ask for a recommendation.
80.  How to conduct yourself in an interview.
81.  How to build a business wardrobe.
82.  How to have a good handshake (yes, seriously, this is very important).

Transportation

Whether you are bringing your car to school, or you’ll be taking public transportation around town, these important daily travel skills will make sure you get to where you need to be—without all the hassle:

83.  How to change a tire.
84.  How to jumpstart a car.
85.  How to check your tire pressure.
86.  How to talk to a mechanic.
87.  How to avoid being towed.
88.  How to navigate public transportation.
89.  How to order a taxi or Uber.
90.  How to plan a trip and buy plane tickets.
91.  How to read a map (because yes, sometimes technology isn’t so reliable).

Problem-Solving and Conflict Resolution

College may be the first time you live with someone who isn’t family, and this could bring about some conflicts or disagreements. Whether it’s a messy roommate situation or a group project gone wrong, it’s important to know how to handle it. Learning these skills for how to problem solve and resolve conflict will not only help you maintain your relationships and improve communication, but they will also help keep the peace in your personal and academic life:

92.  How to handle conflicts calmly and respectfully.
93.  How to apologize without holding grudges.
94.  How to know when to seek help from an RA or counselor.
95.  How to set respectful boundaries with roommates.
96.  How to keep in touch with friends and family, even when life gets busy.
97.  How to listen actively during discussions.
98.  How to clearly communicate your concerns and needs.
99.  How to see things from someone else’s perspective.
100.  How to be solution-focused, rather than drawing the issue out.

How Can You Develop Life Skills?

Sometimes teens feel like they have to know it all on the first try—you don’t. We aren’t born knowing all of these things, they’re taught. If you keep the willingness to learn, you’ll always be improving and refining these skills. Here are some ways you can continue to develop your life skills:

• Learn From Others: Many people around you would love to help including, educators, older siblings, a trusted mentor, and your parents. Allow them to teach you and learn from them.
• Get Experience: You won’t become good at cooking if you’re only ever making microwavable ramen, right? Start by finding opportunities to experience a life skill and then develop it further.
• Practice: Just like a muscle—the more you work on it, the stronger it gets—and the same goes for life skills. You might not be a master at budgeting in your first month of trying it, but with practice and repetition, you’ll get there.

Life Skills Are a Lifelong Journey

Throughout life, we will continue to learn and adapt as we experience different stages of life. Whether it’s through personal or professional development, continuing to develop your life skills is necessary. Remember to always be willing to learn and improve upon your life goals.

There are definitely a lot of things you need to know before you head to college. There’s no doubt about it—this can all be a lot to deal with! However, beginning to learn how to handle these things now can help you avoid mistakes or problems in the future. Don’t wait until the week you move into your dorm room, learn these skills before you go to college, and you’ll be setting yourself up for lifelong success.

Another skill students should be learning before their first year of college? How to apply for scholarships! It’s super easy and straightforward—if you know where to look. That’s why we recommend starting with our Scholarship Search tool right here!