Before-College to At-College Transition: 10 Look-Like-a-Senior Skills

This is move-in week for thousands of college freshmen around the country. It is also a fun time for us life coaches because we have the honor of boosting the confidence of students who are in the Before-College to At-College Transition. Here are 10 *look-like-a-senior skills* that I share with my freshmen coachees:

*Write down your goals and attach it to your closet door or something you’ll see every week. If you don’t write it and read it, you’ll forget it: Why are you in college? At THAT college? In THAT major?

*Download the freebie Meeting New People: Review it. These are skills you’ll need for the rest of your life.

*Leave your dorm room door open if you’re in the room. Easiest way in the world to make friends.

*If there’s a dorm or academic department activity do it (use your skills from Meeting New People). May sound stupid or boring- that’s not the point. The point is to network, meet people, make connections.

*Join a campus organization or activity during the first week at school. If you have an interest area, it is usually easy to find a group. If you don’t have an interest area, randomly pick some out until you find one that fits your personality. Again, the point is networking, meeting people, making connections.

*Make a class/study schedule (start out with planning 2 hours of study for each hour in class). For the first 2 weeks follow it, then you can adjust.

*Visit your professors during office hours (find something to ask or just tell them your mentor said to visit). This will benefit you in a gazillion ways. The teacher will know you give a flip. Opportunities might come your way.

*Volunteer in the departmental office. Just tell one of your profs or the departmental admin that you’d love to be a help: take out the trash, run errands, participate in research.

*Sit in the T-zone in class (first 2 or 3 rows or right down the middle). Believe me, it works.

*Take handwritten notes in class. There’s good research on the usefulness of handwritten classnotes for academic success.

*Type up your notes. I’ve heard this from students over the years. After class, type up your notes. It helps your brain digest and remember the information.

For more help with the Before-College to At-College Transition, contact me today!