Beyond Academic Success

The journey to college marks a significant turning point in your life: perhaps your first foray into independent living, requiring newfound responsibility for your time, finances, and overall well-being. This freedom, paired with the academic rigors of college courses, can present unique challenges during your first year.

Traditional high school classes may not explicitly address these essential skills, yet they’re crucial for a smooth, successful transition to college life. Developing these skills empowers you to navigate the complexities of higher education with greater confidence and ease. 

You won’t acquire these skills overnight but continuously refine them throughout your academic journey. Proactively cultivating these skills before stepping onto campus gives you a head start on acing your college experience. 

Add these skills to your college toolkit

Whatever your high school year, having these skills “in your back pocket” before you head to college will serve you well.

Time management

College demands a substantial shift in time management. Expect less classroom time but significantly more independent study. This freedom can be deceptive, however. Balancing courses, extracurriculars, a part-time job, and a social life requires careful planning. While in high school, practice prioritizing tasks and refining your study habits. Different strategies work for different people, but here are a few tried and true approaches that work:

• A color-coded digital (or paper) planner or calendar to track short- and long-term assignments, extracurriculars, your part-time job, and other responsibilities.
• A study schedule that reminds you to review your class notes and materials over time (instead of cramming all that info into your brain the night before a test).
• Prioritization — handle the big stuff first, like brainstorming ideas for a huge project, before tackling easier assignments or homework.
• Cultivate good habits and routines, like reviewing notes for a different class each night before bedtime.

Goal setting

Defining and pursuing your academic, career-related, or personal goals fosters a sense of direction and purpose. To make them feel more tangible and help chart a path to success, write them down and outline a plan to achieve them. Break your outline into achievable chunks. After all, if you’re training for a marathon, you don’t start by running 10 miles on day one — you build up to it. Achieving goals works the same way (and feels a whole lot less overwhelming with this approach).

Set challenging but attainable goals that push you to grow and provide a sense of accomplishment. Your goals might include excelling in a certain class, joining a team or club, or applying for (and getting) a part-time job.

Interpersonal skills

You need effective communication, emotional intelligence, leadership, and problem-solving skills to build strong relationships with your peers, RAs, professors, future coworkers, and others you’ll meet in the future. Hone those interpersonal skills in high school by chatting with people and finding opportunities to interact with diverse individuals.

Mastering virtual communication is also important, like learning to write professional emails to your teachers. If you’ve always relied on your parents to handle administrative tasks like contacting your teachers, take the initiative to develop these skills before graduating high school.

Networking

While networking may seem nebulous, it’s never too soon to start. Play a high school sport? Connect with your coach and other players. Have a part-time job? Ask your boss for a recommendation. Hold a leadership position in a club? Learn how to create an elevator pitch to introduce yourself, the club, and its mission. In college, build connections with your peers, professors, and professionals in your field of interest.  

Studying

College requires a deeper level of engagement with academic material. You spend less time in class, but your professors expect you to use your “free” time on independent study. To succeed and master the material requires you to actively participate in your education. Cultivate that habit in high school, dedicating 20 or 30 minutes a night to a deeper study of one of your classes. Now’s the time to find an effective note-taking strategy, hone your critical reading and analytical skills, and polish your writing skills. If you’re not naturally organized, proactively establish a study schedule to help you stay on track.

Budgeting

Money management is a critical skill that’s never too soon to learn. If you earn an allowance or have a part-time job, you can create a budget to manage your finances effectively. Start by assessing your income and identifying expenses. Prioritize spending, allocating funds for essentials, savings, and entertainment. It’s never too soon to learn the 50/30/20 rule, where 50% of a paycheck is designated for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings.

Ways to develop these skills

Your high school classes, clubs, and other extracurriculars aren’t the only places for you to develop these skills before heading to college. Have some additional time in your schedule during the school year? Consider volunteering. Want to do something different in the summer? Sign up for a summer program or travel abroad and learn a new language. Not sure you’re quite ready for college immediately after graduation? Consider taking a gap year or enrolling in a post-graduate year. Whatever you choose, here are some tips to help you navigate high school and prepare for the next chapter.

1. Try different things
   First, don’t feel like you have to participate in every club or activity. Yes, try a few things out to see what you like, but don’t spread yourself too thin. It’s better to focus on a couple of things you really love.
   
   Real talk: Colleges actually prefer seeing you explore your interests more deeply than having a mile-long list of random activities.
2. Check out options outside of school
   Have an itch to learn more about a certain topic? See if dual enrollment is an option! This partnership between your school and a local college or university allows you to take classes through the college at a much lower cost than typical tuition. You earn credits you can potentially transfer once you enroll as a full-time college student — and you get to try advanced courses that interest you.
3. Avoid the temptation to chase grades
   Here’s the thing about learning — try to enjoy it beyond just chasing grades. Your GPA matters, but high school is also the time to discover what excites you about learning more. When you dig what you’re studying, everything becomes more fun and meaningful. Plus, this mindset will help you crush it in college, too.
4. Get involved in the community
   Want to break out of the high school bubble and do something meaningful? Volunteer in your community. It’s not just good for college applications. Studies show it can lower your blood pressure and help you live longer. A side benefit? Your classes may make even more sense when you see how your lessons connect to real-world situations.
5. Use available resources
   If you begin feeling overwhelmed as your graduation year grows closer, look for the people and resources who can help you. There’s no need to struggle alone!
   1. Your guidance counselor can help you manage your classes and begin planning for college.
   2. Honors societies like the National Honor Society (NHS) and individual honors societies for foreign languages, the arts, and core classes offer scholarships and leadership opportunities.
   3. Talk to current college students — they’ll give you the scoop on what to expect.
   4. Check out online publications that include recommendations and guidance on everything from prepping for SATs and writing a high school resume to choosing a college or learning how to relax and live in the moment.
6. Take care of yourself
   Your health matters more than any grade. Prioritize moving your body, eating nutritious, balanced foods, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, hanging with friends and family, and taking breaks when needed.

Chart your path

You’ll figure out what works for you as you move through high school. While everyone’s got advice to share, only you can discover your personal formula for success. You'll build confidence in your choices by trying different study methods and activities. You might notice yourself becoming more confident and self-assured. The best part? This confidence may inspire others around you.

Remember: Your high school journey is unique. Use this time to explore your interests, find what motivates you, and develop habits that work for you. Future you will be grateful you took time to figure things out!

Want more tips and insights? Check out our full Guide to College Admissions here.