College Skills for Freshmen Year

Most parents are worried about getting their children ready for the start of a new school year. Things are a little different this year at our house because my daughter is getting ready for her first year of college. Do you have any suggestion about what is needed to make this another successful adventure in her life? -- New Journey
Answer: Here's our checklist of what skills college freshmen should have. Share the list with your daughter so that both of you are aware of what is involved in being ready for college life.
On the personal side:
1. Is she able to wake up with an alarm clock?
2. Does she know how to do laundry?
3. Can she manage money?
4. Does she have sensible eating habits?
5. Does she have the value structure to make decisions on difficult issues concerning sex, drugs and alcohol?
6. Is she aware of campus safety rules?
On the academic side:
1. Is she sufficiently confident to go to a professor and ask for help?
2. Does she have time-management skills?
3. Does she have solid study skills?
Keep in mind that most colleges have orientation programs to help students make a successful adjustment to college life. And if problems emerge, help is available on campus through a wide variety of programs designed to resolve both personal and academic difficulties.