College readiness is the ability to have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to successfully transition into, and succeed in, college-level courses and programs. This includes having a solid academic foundation in reading, writing, math, and other core subjects, effectively managing time and prioritizing tasks, and having the confidence to ask questions and seek out resources to help with academic success.
Developing college readiness requires a combination of self-awareness, practice, and guidance from mentors and teachers.
Below are some specific college readiness skills and questions you can ask yourself to prepare for college.
- Time Management: Are you able to manage and prioritize tasks to make sure that all deadlines are met? Do you turn in all of your assignments on time? Can you manage work, school, sports, and extracurricular activities?
- Communication: Are you able to communicate effectively with teachers, classmates, and other school resources? Can you schedule your own doctor’s appointment, order a pizza over the phone, get a Lyft, or give directions to someone while they drive?
- Organization: Are you able to effectively organize and manage assignments, lectures, and other important documents? Is your google drive organized and divided into folders? Can you quickly find things when you need them?
- Research: Are you able to access and effectively use online sources? Do you know how to find or reserve a book in the library? Do you know how to paraphrase, cite, and write college-level papers with the appropriate academic language?
- Critical Thinking: Are you able to analyze and evaluate data to make informed decisions? Can you think about an idea from multiple perspectives? Can you interpret charts, graphs, and maps? Can you put together furniture from Ikea?
- Financial Literacy: Are you aware of the financial costs associated with college, such as tuition, books, and living expenses? Do you know how to access your checking and savings accounts? Do you know how to save money and deposit a check digitally and at the bank? Do you know how to budget items?
- Self-Advocacy: Do you know how to advocate for yourself and ask for help when needed? If you were stressed, sad, lonely, or angry, would you know how to find the resources to get help? If you received a poor grade on an assignment or test, could you schedule and meet with the professor during their office hours?
- Adaptability: Will you be able to adjust to the changing demands of college courses, such as new professors, assignments, and tests? If you and your roommate had different sleeping schedules or levels of messiness, would you be able to adapt?
- Technology: Are you able to use computers and other technology to complete tasks and find information? Do you know how to seek help if your computer or phone breaks? Have you ever used Twitter for customer service?
- Stress Management: Can you effectively manage stress in order to stay focused and motivated? Do you have a list of things to do to relieve tension in a healthy way? Do you know how to meditate or do breathing exercises to calm yourself?
You may not know how to do everything on the list above. Shoot, grown adults have trouble with many of the items. The college readiness list gives you an idea of the areas you may need to work on before heading to college. For example, if you’re 17 years old and haven’t ordered your own pizza or scheduled a doctor’s appointment, you might start there.
The point is to be aware of what you don’t know how to do and take some risks before you’re on a college campus and texting your mom about how to wash your clothes. Note: She’ll still gladly answer.
College Collabs 