Are you wondering what skills to develop in college? These college student skills will be key essentials to helping you do better in college and beyond!
Learn one or a few of these skills during college and you will be prepared for most of what life throws at you.
You can start small or start on multiple of these skills at once.
If you are not in college yet, it’s also great to start learning and acquiring these skills since they are life-long!
Check out these college student skills to work on during your college career.
This post is all about college student skills that you should acquire.
1. Time Management
You will want to learn how to manage your time efficiently in college.
Work on balancing your academics, social life, and work.
A great tool to manage your time is either an agenda/planner or an app.
I use both Google Calendar and a physical planner to jot down dates.
For Google calendar, I include the:
- Any zoom meetings with links
- Birthdays
- Breaks
- Online meetings
- Special events
For my planner, I jot down:
- Exam dates
- Homework deadlines
- Project deadlines
As you can see, I like to use Google calendar as a more personal reminder or for online meetings.
However, I use my planner for more recent to-dos and academic projects. It is completely fine for you to use only one or use two.
Like always-use what works BEST for you-and if you are unsure, try a few systems and use the one that reminds you to get the most work done.
2. Financial Skills
You might be groaning and moaning about finances.
College? Ugh-loans, debt, and broke.
BUT! This is the perfect time to get more acquainted with your finances.
Learn how to balance your money and it’s probably the time when you will move out and live in an apartment.
There will be bills that you need to pay, groceries you have to buy, and school materials that you need to get.
Interested in learning about how to save money in college? Check out 15 Proven Hacks to Save Money in College.
I don’t recommend getting a part-time job during the first quarter or semester of college since you are adjusting from high school to college.
Besides, you need some time to socialize, join clubs, and learn about your campus.
I recommend getting a part-time job or internships your second quarter/semester or when you don’t have as much academic workload hounding you.
Learn how to balance your part-time job salary and academics.
Also, start saving! I recommend saving at least 25% if possible so:
If you theoretically make $1,000 per month and save 25% each month, you will have $300 in savings each month.
Now if you save for four years, you will save a whopping $12,000 when you graduate!
This is perfect since you will have this money as a cushion if you don’t secure a job yet after graduation.
You can use that money as your emergency savings or for a future goal-like buying a house.
3. Fitness
Another important skill to learn in college is fitness.
Make sure you work out at least three times a week and for at least half an hour each time.
You want to stay fit and healthy in college so you can study with energy.
Having a good workout plan can keep you energized, alert, and happier.
Some workout exercises to do in your room:
- Squatting
- Leg crunches
- Push-ups
- Sit-ups
- Stretches
You can also go to your on-campus gym to get some of your sets in and burn some calories.
Other ways to add more exercise to your daily routine may be:
- Walking to nearby areas instead of taking the bus
- Going up the stairs instead of the elevator
- Standing instead of sitting while doing your homework
- Stretching whenever you get the chance
- Take a brief jog after classes
Interested in more posts like college student skills that you should know? Check out 17+ Jaw-Dropping Life Hacks for Students.
4. Meal Prep
Learn how to cook in college and prepare meals.
It will be the time to explore cooking if you haven’t been in the kitchen much before college.
I developed a love of baking in college and would always make egg tarts, brownies, and parfaits at the oddest hours.
There’s just something satisfying cooking in ungodly hours of the night.
It was also the time I experimented with making spaghetti and Alfredo which was super fun.
You just need to browse some youtube videos or online recipes and follow them for meal prep.
Don’t rely on dining hall food because you will get tired of it eventually.
You want to alternate between home-cooked meals and dining hall meals so you are more balanced.
5. Communication
One of the MOST important college skills that you should acquire is learning how to communicate.
You want to be able to ask your professors, teaching assistants, and other classmates about classwork.
It is the time to build up some strong relationships and connections because chances are they will also be your potential coworkers.
If you are super introverted or have a difficult time talking to others, here are some recommendations to ease into.
First of all, try to join some clubs and organizations!
Go with a friend or a few so the experience is not as nerve-wracking.
Try to ask at least one person per class for their contact information.
This way you will be able to catch up on work in case anything happens or ask for notes.
The key to getting better at communicating is to interact more!
Practice speaking with others, going to bonding events, and talking in public.
Learning about communication is not just about talking though. You need to learn how to speak to different groups of people.
Talking to your professor is not going to be the same as chatting with your roommate or friends.
Communication is such a valuable skill that it will be prevalent in your future career too.
6. Skincare
Ok, I know skincare might be the least of your worries in college, but hear me out.
You will do so much better in job interviews, presenting yourself, and showing a clean image if you have clearer skin.
I started skincare around late high school and got more into it in my sophomore year of college.
It started with just a face wash and moisturizer which developed into a full-on routine.
Now I use a face wash, toner, serum, eye cream, moisturizer, and sunscreen.
You don’t have to break your pocket on skincare but can try affordable and highly reviewed products first.
7. Teamwork
Another important skill to learn in college is teamwork.
You will encounter group projects sometime in your college career.
Either your team is super awesome, everyone contributes, and gets work done…OR
You get a team that lacks communication, procrastinates, and tries to do the bare minimum.
I have been in both those situations before.
The process of how you deal with these situations will be how you learn in your future career.
You will learn how to communicate with others, how to motivate, and how to manage relationships.
If it gets too serious and you are the only one contributing, talk to the group.
Then, if no one responds, escalate it to the teaching assistants and professor.
Make sure you can communicate and work with your team on any issues that you encounter.
Learn how to talk and how to work with others.
8. Problem Solving
This is also such a great skill to have no matter if you are in college or entering the workforce.
You want to find ways, yes multiple solutions when a problem arises.
What are you going to do if you missed class and there’s a quiz tomorrow?
Instead of just winging it, some ideas to solve this problem are to:
- Ask a friend or classmate about the material
- Email or contact your teaching assistants and professor about the material
- Go to office hours
There are a ton of ways to solve a problem, so make sure you take initiative and think on your feet.
Here are some tips to help you solve any problem:
- Is there anyone you can contact for help or more information?
- What steps can you take to solve the problem?
- Are there any places you can search for how to solve the issue?
Make sure you stay calm and collected whenever you run into a problem.
There will be a ton of obstacles and problems thrown your way in college so be prepared to face them head-on!
The more you practice and solve problems in college, the better you will become once you start a job.
9. Goal Setting
This is one of my personal skills that I recommend all students in college to learn.
Start setting and accomplishing goals that you make.
It can be earning an A in all your classes, securing an internship over the summer, or getting more involved in organizations.
No matter what your goal is, make sure that you establish the steps to reach them and have the discipline to get there.
An example might be securing an internship over the summer:
- Write, edit, and revise your resume
- Prepare any documents or paperwork that you need
- Attend career fairs
- Apply on Handshake, LinkedIn, or any other job sites
- Reach out to fellow classmates, friends, or organizations
Once you set a goal, you want to create smaller, attainable steps to reach the goal.
Instead of just writing get straight As this quarter, write down all the things that you need to do to reach that goal.
I love planning and setting goals which has helped me accomplish so much in college.
Hopefully, this skill will also be motivating and helpful for your college journey and beyond!
This is not a complete list of college student skills, so explore any other skills that you should learn about in your life!
These are the key essential skills for student success so spend some time to learn and acquire them.
The more you practice, the better you will be at these skills.
This post was all about college student skills.
