4 important skills to master before you graduate
Seriously, writing an actual paper check is still a thing.
During your senior year of high school, teachers probably tried to prepare you with all the skills necessary to survive in college. You know the stuff: time management, how to send appropriate and coherent emails to professors, study skills.
But even though you've (finally) mastered those skills, there are still many more to learn before you can thrive (and survive) in the real world.
And even if your graduation date is years away, getting these skills down will benefit you in the long run.
How to take criticism and rejection
Sure, you learned a little bit about rejection in high school while applying for colleges and scholarships. But in the real world, rejection can be a little harsher than a kindly worded letter that somewhere features the words “we regret to inform you."
Learning how to take rejection without getting discouraged isn't only a sign of maturity, but also a skill that many professions -- anything in sales, for example -- require.
While there isn’t an easy way to get better at this, you can start by taking responsibility for the mistakes you make in classes, rather than blame your bad grade on the fact that your professor hates you or because you were exhausted on the day of the test.
Also, realize that criticism, no matter how harsh, is a chance to learn something about yourself.
Balancing a checkbook
This one is a biggie.
While you might think that writing checks and actually using pen and paper to record purchases is so 2001, it is still necessary to know exactly how much money you have in your possession at all times. Yes, online banking is pretty convenient and does all that scary math for you, but it isn't foolproof.
Even if you have been doing a pretty good job of keeping up with your online banking statements, it is even more important to keep a personal log of your cash flow.
Why? With growing up comes more expenses, and many of these expenses may require checks. Yes, a handwritten check. When mailing in bills, it usually takes a few days for your check to make it, and even a few more days for it to be cashed.
This means your bank account may appear to have more money in it than it actually does. Having transactions written down will help you avoid an overdraft mistake.
How to keep a clean home
This goes out to the college students that use a Clorox wipe to clean everything. News flash: There is an aisle full of cleaning supplies at the supermarket for a reason.
When you lived in a dorm room and all it took was a little dusting and a quick sweep to clean, taking a Clorox wipe to the place was considered going above and beyond. Having a clean residence has a positive impact on your health, so this is a crucial tip for life after graduation.
Enjoy living somewhere it’s acceptable to throw beer cans on the front lawn while you can, because soon, it won’t just be frowned upon -- it will be grounds for eviction.
How to network
So you have a LinkedIn account and a few connections. Great.
Contrary to popular belief, signing up for an account doesn't automatically put a job in your lap. You still have to do legwork in online life. Just like real life.
Learning how to network is probably one of the most important skills a college graduate will take with them. While there is no “right” way to network, there are a few generally accepted guidelines.
Get some business cards printed and don’t be afraid to hand them out to people that seem interesting to you.
Also, use the fact that you are a student to your advantage -- alumni are usually willing to help current students. Do some research about how to network and take advantage of all the opportunities that are thrown your way.
Krystyna Biassou is a Fall 2012 USA TODAY Collegiate Correspondent. Learn more about her here.
This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.