by Katherine O'Brien, ThD Cand., Certified College Planning Specialist
Founder, Celtic College Consultants
Helping teens be ready for success on campus entails more than helping them develop good study skills and the ability to perform well on tests, oral presentations, and group projects. Numerous personal responsibility skills, interpersonal communication skills, and practical skills are also important as students adapt to independent life on a college campus. This quiz helps teens evaluate their strengths and identify their weaknesses, so they can target their efforts as they finish their preparations to move onto campus.
As I work with teens, I help them develop these skills. To meet and discuss your teen's college readiness, email me at KOB@CelticCollegeConsultants.com and request a consultation.
Personal/life skills
Can you regulate your emotions? Calm yourself when you are afraid or irritated? Settle yourself when you are angry or disappointed? Motivate yourself when you feel discouraged?
Can you manage your time well? Exercise self-discipline regarding eating, sleeping, studying, working, having fun, relaxing?
Can you organize large, complex tasks?
Can you resist temptation?
Can you navigate public transportation, uber/lyft, airports, etc. to get where you need to go to get toiletries, medicine, home to visit, etc.?
Can you manage your health needs? Eat well, take prescribed medicines, handle over the counter medical needs like colds, allergies, and the flu? Exercise adequately and regularly? Take meditation and prayer breaks to lower stress?
Can you motivate yourself when you don't "feel like" doing what needs to be done?
Can you adequately reward yourself for successes?
Do you know when to ask for help?
Are you able to manage a minor emergency?
Do you have a stable, effective night routine so you can get to sleep? Do you have the discipline needed to get yourself to bed in time to get enough sleep to be ready for the next day?
Do you have a plan for handling a major crisis, especially if you attend a college more than a couple of hours away from home or your parents travel, have other responsibilities, etc.?
Can you limit texting, etc. adequately in order to be present where you are, able to meet and interact with those near you, not just those not near you?
Interpersonal skills
Can you handle interpersonal conflict well? Compromise or negotiate respectfully in order to settle a dispute?
Can you set boundaries with people, setting the stage for being treated with respect?
Can you say you are sorry when you need to? Make necessary amends? Let go of grievances?
Do you have a plan to regularly communicate with your parents so they aren't dropping by or calling and texting constantly and so you don't get too lonesome?
Can you advocate for yourself as needed?
Are you welcoming? Can you make friends?
Practical skills
Can you do laundry? Treat common stains? Take care of specialty garments and fabrics?
Can you budget your money? Track your expenditures and your bank balance(s)? Can you say no to impulse spending opportunities, be they pizza, events, or online specials?
Do you know how to present yourself? In an interview? Informally with a professor in order to give a good impression, gain trust, and build a mentor/mentee relationship?
Can you ask for help when you need it? Whether a lost student ID or key (contact security) or mental health crisis (for yourself or another), a medical need of some sort (when to go to the clinic, urgent care, or the ER), go to the writing center, seek out a tutor, get directions, or some other need?
Can you keep your things organized and your room tidy? Can you clean a bathroom? a kitchen?
Can you decorate your living space in a way that invites people to feel welcome, and yourself to rest and relax? Your room is your oasis on campus, can you utilize it well?
Do you know where to find the library, counseling center, health clinic, gym, professors' offices, classrooms, printing center(s), tutoring center(s), writing center(s) on campus?
If you need support services, can you self-advocate to arrange for them?
Do you read your emails regularly? Colleges communicate important information yet many students don't read it. This can cause you from not being registered for classes, not getting credit for your courses, getting kicked off campus for non-payment, and many other headaches.
Do you know what a bursar's office is? It's the place you pay for your tuition and other bills from the college/university.
Do you know what the registrar's office is?
What is a syllabus? Why does it matter?
What are the dining options on your campus and how do you plan to use your flex dollars so you don't run out nor go hungry?
Where can you go on campus to get some time alone, some time to recharge, rest your mind, de-stress?
What does an academic advisor do?
Why should you go to the career office starting your freshman year? What help can they offer you?
Where do you get specialty advising (like double major, honors college, or pre-professional) on your campus?
Do you have reading and assignments due before your first class meets? How do you find out?
What do you do if your laptop breaks?
Where do you go to get medicine? Is there a pharmacy on campus or nearby?
What are the best places to study on your campus?
How do you learn whether your paper is up to college standards?
How and when do you need to re-file a FAFSA or other aid application forms for subsequent years of college?
How can campus security help you? Are you wise enough to call for a night security escort when needed?
