Top 10 Hard Lessons College Taught Me

The Top Ten

  1. Manage your own budget and finances

    Money management is adulting 101. If you cannot manage your own finances, you better learn quickly.

  2. Communicate clearly, professionally and adult-like

    I got a lecture about this my freshman year and have been much more professional in email communications since.

  3. Write a coherent essay, paper, proposal, etc.

    You may think you know how to do this coming into college, but I developed so much as a writer in college. There is always room for improvement.

  4. Support your own mental wellbeing, and know when you're at your limit and be able to ask for help

    I had a breakdown in my dorm room in the middle of the night my freshman year, and it was an enormous wake-up call to take better care of myself. This also taught me to reach out and ask for help when necessary.

  5. Have enough executive function to be able to get tasks done without prompting or hand-holding

    There isn't anyone hounding you about your work in college. You have to learn to be self-sufficient.

  6. Manage your time and calendar, and know when to block out specific time for specific things

    You will accidentally miss a meeting or a class in college. It happens, but knowing not to do it again is the big piece.

  7. Have a basic competency of the field in which you studied, and if not, be able to seek support and guidance

    Cheating your way through college is an option, but it will show in your work later. This also goes back to being able to ask for help when needed.

  8. Be willing to learn and conduct your own research

    Learning how to do new things is hard, but a willingness to learn, comprehend, and understand is a huge part of undergrad, in my opinion.

  9. Practice proper self-care, have good hygiene, know when you need to eat, etc.

    People can tell when you don't take care of yourself. It is super obvious. Learning how not to be the person everyone can smell is a tough but necessary lesson.

  10. Maintain social connections with the people that matter to you

    Keeping friends during and after college is incredibly difficult, but of paramount importance. Pinpointing the friendships that matter most to you and maintaining them will keep you afloat.