13 Life Skills Every Teen Should Know Before Heading Off to College

Sending your kid off to college is exciting, emotional, and—if you’re honest—a little nerve-wracking. Sure, they’ve mastered AP Chemistry, nailed their SATs, and can probably explain TikTok trends you’ve never heard of. But can they…write a check? Make a doctor’s appointment? Do laundry without turning everything a delicate shade of pink?

You’d be surprised how many “basic” life skills some freshmen are missing. (When I went to college, I had to teach my roommate how to do laundry. LAUNDRY. She’d literally never used a washing machine before.) So before you pack up their shower caddy and ramen noodles, make sure they’re equipped with these real-world essentials.

1. How to Write a Check

Yes, most things are digital now, but life has a way of throwing curveballs. Your kid might need to pay rent to an old-school landlord or cover a sorority fee that requires a paper check. They should know:

• How to fill in each line correctly
• How to write numbers and amounts in words
• How to sign it (and not in bubble letters)

2. How to Make a Bank Deposit

Whether it’s in person or via a mobile app, your college student should know how to:

• Endorse a check
• Fill out a deposit slip (yes, those still exist)
• Snap the right pictures for mobile deposits

3. How to Make a Doctor’s Appointment (and Actually Go)

They need to be able to:

• Call the office, explain why they need an appointment
• Give their insurance information
• Show up on time without Mom texting reminders every five minutes

4. How to See a Doctor Without You

This means knowing how to:

• Bring their insurance card
• Fill out medical forms
• Ask questions if they don’t understand something
• Pay the copay

5. How to Get a Prescription Filled

They should know how to:

• Drop off a prescription at the pharmacy
• Request a refill before they run out
• Transfer a prescription to a new pharmacy near campus

6. How to Mail a Letter or Package

Because not everything fits in a DM:

• Correctly address an envelope (yes, the return address goes in the top left)
• Buy stamps (no, they are not free)
• Choose between USPS, UPS, and FedEx

7. How to Do Laundry Without Destroying Clothes

Teach them:

• The difference between detergent and fabric softener
• How to separate colors from whites
• Why you don’t put “dry clean only” items in the dryer unless you enjoy tiny sweaters

8. How to Cook a Few Basic Meals

Ramen is great, but they should also know:

• How to boil pasta without it sticking
• Make scrambled eggs
• Cook chicken all the way through (salmonella is not a freshman-year experience anyone needs)

9. How to Budget (and Actually Stick to It)

A little math now saves a lot of overdraft fees later. Make sure they understand:

• How to track spending
• How to prioritize needs over wants
• How credit cards work—and that they’re not “free money”

10. How to Sew on a Button or Fix a Small Tear

They don’t need to be Martha Stewart, but they should know how to make a shirt wearable again without duct tape.

11. How to Navigate Public Transportation

If they don’t have a car, teach them:

• How to read bus/train schedules
• How to buy a transit pass
• Basic safety rules for riding alone

12. How to Handle an Emergency

Run through:

• Who to call if they’re locked out, sick, or in danger
• Basic first aid
• How to safely use campus emergency phones or apps

13. How to Advocate for Themselves

From talking to professors to resolving roommate conflicts, they should feel confident:

• Asking for help
• Setting boundaries
• Speaking up when something’s wrong

Final Thoughts

Sure, they’ll learn a lot in college—academically and socially—but starting with these skills means fewer panicked phone calls home that begin with, “Um…how do I…?” You’ve spent years preparing them for the big stuff. Now it’s time to nail down the everyday stuff that keeps life running smoothly.