Now that summer is winding down, many young adults are heading off to college. Whether you’re a freshman experiencing this for the first time, or you’re a seasoned student facing a stressful senior year, all the preparations can seem overwhelming.
From packing dorm room essentials and buying textbooks to coming up with a class schedule and saying goodbye to family and friends, this can be a stressful time for kids in their late teens and early 20s. But while college students may be prepared for the logistics of moving to campus, they may not always be prepared for the independence and responsibility that college requires.
For many students, being away at college is their first time managing their own schedules, coursework, deadlines, and daily routines by themselves, away from the security and support of home. Strong executive function skills can make that transition easier and help students feel more confident as they shoulder new responsibilities.
Here’s a look at some of the most important executive function skills students need for college.
Time Management
College schedules may appear flexible on the surface, with students spending fewer actual hours in class than they did in high school. However, they must learn to dedicate significant time to studying and completing assignments independently.
In addition to keeping track of deadlines, strong time management requires students to learn how to:
- Estimate how long assignments and tasks will take
- Prioritize competing responsibilities
- Build study time into their schedules
- Avoid putting off important work
- Balance academics with social activities and personal responsibilities
It can be helpful to use a planner, calendar, or digital scheduling tool to make it easier to visualize commitments, from school assignments to sports to extra-curriculars.
Organization
Keeping track of information from multiple classes at once can be tough without some kind of organizational system that manages assignments, notes, readings, and important dates.
Students can develop systems to:
- Organize class notes and materials
- Keep track of syllabi and assignment deadlines
- Manage digital files and emails
- Remember important dates and appointments
- Segregate their living and study spaces
The goal is to find systems that are realistic and sustainable for the unique needs of each student.
Planning and Prioritization
A college student might have a paper due Friday, an exam Monday, a group project next week, and several reading assignments to complete in between. Knowing where to start can be challenging.
Planning and prioritization skills help students determine what needs their attention first and break larger assignments into manageable steps. For example, instead of waiting until the night before a paper is due, a student can work backwards from the deadline to schedule time for research, outlining, drafting, and editing.
Task Initiation
Just getting started on a task can be the hardest part for many students, especially when the task is boring or seems overwhelming. It can be helpful to break an assignment into smaller chunks to make it more manageable.
Rather than thinking “I need to write a 10-page paper,” students can break that seemingly overwhelming task into five easier steps:
- Read the assignment instructions
- Choose a topic
- Find two sources
- Create an outline
- Write the paper
Working Memory
It can seem impossible to absorb, remember, and apply all the information thrown at you in college. Working memory is what helps people retain information while completing a task.
Use these strategies to support your working memory with external tools that can reduce mental load:
- Take organized notes
- Set reminders
- Jot down instructions
- Use checklists
- Create consistent routines
Self-Advocacy and Independence
Knowing how to advocate for themselves is a big skill necessary for students when they go away to college. You may have to take initiative to contact a professor and attend office hours, or maybe you have to seek out tutoring in a class you’re struggling with. Whatever the case, it’s important to recognize that asking for help isn’t a sign of failure. It’s an important part of becoming an independent person.
Support Your Student’s Transition to College
Heading off to college is an exciting milestone, but it also comes with new challenges and responsibilities. Executive function coaching can help students develop practical strategies for managing their responsibilities, setting goals, studying effectively, and becoming more independent.
At CNLD, executive function coaching is tailored to each student’s individual needs and goals. Contact us to learn more about how executive function coaching can help you or your student prepare for college and beyond.
