CAO 2026: Life skills key to preparing for college
Having some life skills in place before starting college means that there is one less thing to learn when starting on this new path in life.
Starting college involves learning new life skills that are not only necessary for academic success but also for basic human survival.
Some students adapt quickly, while some need more time and support to get there. We are not born with these skills, but as time goes on, we pick them up, and the sooner we do so the better. Having some life skills in place before starting college means that there is one less thing to learn when starting on this new path in life.
Colette Twomey, vice president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, says that it’s a big leap from school to third level, and some of the stress of the transition can be relieved by having certain skills in place beforehand.
Time management is one of the most important skills needed that will affect all aspects of college life.
The structure of the secondary school day is gone. There is no adult to act as an alarm or taxi to get to lectures on time, there might be a gap of a few hours between lectures with nothing timetabled, and there is no teacher following up on whether homework has been done.
Students need to take charge of getting to lectures on time, getting assignments in on time and being responsible for self-directed study.
Noirin Deady, first year experience coordinator at UCC, highlights time management as one of the most important skills to develop in first year. Without it, she says students can become overwhelmed because they have put too much off until the last minute.
Money management is also high on the list of necessary life skills. The CCPC has lots of good advice to make the most of funds and avoid scams while on a limited budget. They cover areas including rent, how to get the most cost-effective banking (basically ignore the freebies and focus on the bank charges in the small print), budgeting, paying bills and saving money by getting the best deals and knowing where to go for grants and extra funds. www.ccpc.ie
MABS – the Money Advice and Budgeting Service is a very valuable resource for getting help with managing money, either through their website www.mabs.ie or by getting in touch directly by phone or email. MABS is a free, confidential service and staff are often on college campuses early in the year to help guide students towards healthy money habits. (MABS: 0818 07 2000, email: helpline@mabs.ie).
Whether living away from home or commuting, students need this mix of time and money management to organise their own food during the day and do it as cost-effectively as possible. Knowing how to cook basic, cost-effective meals is important, as the college canteen may not be subsidised.
It is always cheapest to bring your own food with you. To see if it’s true, try one of the many free Spending Calculator apps available online to track the difference between eating out for a day versus bringing your own food.
Starting college is stressful for everyone because it is such a big change. When first year students find themselves running into difficulty, they won’t necessarily reach out to the adults in the college whose job it is to support them. However, having access to peers that they feel comfortable approaching can help put these struggling students in touch with the support they need.
To this end, UL have developed the ‘First 7 Weeks’ initiative, which is an information hub and hang-out set up in the Student Courtyard staffed by the college’s own under grad and post grad students. First years in particular often find it easier to reach out to peers rather than adults when they need help or information, which is the key to the success of the project.
The program was originally set up to address the high number of students dropping out in the first 7 weeks of term, according to senior administrator with First 7 Weeks, Joan Imray. It now runs for 12 weeks in semester 1, and 4 weeks in semester 2.
While serving as a vital information hub, it is also a place where commuting students can hang out between classes and use the kettle and microwave, which might be their only chance to socialise with their peers as they have little opportunity to join clubs and societies, explains Ms Imray.
Lauren Mawhinney is a 3rd year UL psychology student who just finished staffing the First 7 Weeks hub last semester. She says she has noticed how students find it easier to reach out to fellow students.
“Students find it easier to engage when it’s run by other students who have been there themselves just a couple of years earlier. I see regulars come in and get braver asking questions as time goes on,” she says.
A lot of the questions asked at the hub in semester 1 revolved around Leap cards, child benefit forms, wayfinding and financial support, like access to SUSI or appealing a grant decision.
The hub also points students in the direction of resources like the Writing Centre where fellow students help with academic writing skills.
Ms Mawhinney’s advice to all students looking to start college this year is to research in advance what supports are available at the college you’re going to.
After that, it is the life skill of reaching out and asking for support that could make all the difference.
