100 life skills to master before college—or anytime

When you envision "independence," maybe you simply see it as no home rules and restrictions to abide by—nobody to nag you to help with the laundry, load the dishwasher, or clean up your room. But what about the practical aspects that come with independent living? Reality may only set in once you settle into your dorm, or first apartment, or first job. Suddenly, you're balancing extracurricular activities, classes, homework, and more—plus responsibilities like laundry, food, scheduling everything, and managing finances.

To help you manage the transition to college (or whatever your next life stage is), it's important to take the time to develop some practical life skills. 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.

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 skills
• 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 that will apply throughout your life.

100 life skills to learn

Being out on your own means more freedom than you may 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 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 (or travel, or whatever your next phase in life may be), 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 load and unload 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 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 exercise and stay physically active
32. How to manage stress and maintain emotional balance
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 keep your computer safe
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 ride share 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?

You may feel like you have to know it all on the first try—you don't. We aren't born knowing all of these things, they're taught. 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 yourself. Life skills, life goals, successful life—let's go!

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. Start with the Scholarship Search tool from our college planning platform, College Raptor.