College Readiness

Between us, my husband and I spent 16 years in college. Our son is in his 4^th year at WSU and our daughter is starting her freshman year in Pullman. Based on our experiences, here are some suggestions for the college-bound.

Basic life skills: Be able to wake up in time for class. Take daily showers. Those around you will appreciate it. Be able to do laundry without turning your underwear pink and know that a roll of quarters is equal to $10. Be able to cook a few basic things like grilled cheese, Top Ramen, brownies, and scrambled eggs. Never buy more groceries than you can transport. Don’t be embarrassed to ask questions or ask for help.

Specialized college life skills: Don’t forget to take your room key with you to the shower, and always lock your door behind you. Have your roommate’s cell phone number. Give it to your parents, and vice versa. If you take your car, avoid parking tickets. No car? Wear comfortable shoes. For a cold weather, bundle up, and if you slip on ice, try to land on your backpack unless your laptop’s in there. For hot weather, take a box fan and sunscreen, and drink lots of water. Rainy? Pull your hood up.

Academic skills: Don’t take more than 15 credit hours your first semester. Don’t lose your syllabus, in fact, make a few copies of it. You can buy blue books at the bookstore. Be able to study almost anywhere. Be able to talk to a professor. If you’re really struggling with a class, consider dropping it, but remember how many hours you need to remain a full time student.

Staying healthy: Know when you’re sick enough to go to the student health center, know how to schedule an appointment, and have your insurance card. Keep a few cans of chicken noodle soup and boxes of tissue on hand. Know how to take care of a sick roommate. Wash your hands a lot. Get a reasonable amount of sleep. Exercise regularly.

On handling money: Know how to find the balance of your bank account and meal plan. Know how to apply for scholarships. Know how to find, apply, and interview for a job. Be able to round up enough cash for pizza or any $40 emergency without calling home.

Social skills: Make friends beyond your roommate. Be able to have fun without drinking. Know how to get out of an uncomfortable situation safely and tactfully, but better yet, know how to not get into one to begin with. Especially for females, have a few trustworthy friends that you go to parties with and agree that none of you will leave without the others.

Traveling skills: Be able to drive, find a ride, or navigate through the airport to get home. If you’re riding with someone, offer them gas money. Be nice when you get home.

Lastly, don’t freak out, whatever you don’t know, you’ll learn, and isn’t that what college is all about?

Laura Keolanui Stark, a freelance writer, lives with three WSU Cougs. E-mail her at lkstark@yahoo.com. (Originally published in The Herald, www.puyallupherald.com as “Skills you’ll need in college,” on 8/26/09.)