The Department of Labor (DOL) reports that of the three million students who graduated from high school last year, just shy of 70% were enrolled in college for the 2015 fall semester. Of that 70%, how many will actually earn a degree? According to the U.S. Department of Education, nearly 41% of students who pursue higher education will drop out before graduating. College admission departments assess whether or not an applicant is academically prepared for college, but how do they assess a student’s soft skills and life skills? While there are many reasons students may drop out of college–such as inability to pay tuition–many students find themselves lacking the skills necessary to be successful in college. In addition to achieving academic success with “book smarts,” students require life skills. The following are some of the life skills that are essential for succeeding in post-secondary education and training.

• Time management Students managing schoolwork, extracurricular activities, jobs, and a social life require a strong sense of prioritization, organization, and awareness.
• Self-motivation In conjunction with time management, students must be able to juggle responsibilities while being able to achieve all their goals.
• Confidence and a good attitude A student showing that he or she can and wants to be present and contributing to their learning and development makes him or her more prepared to overcome challenges.
• Communication Students need strong oral and written communication skills for many aspects of life. Being able to actively listen to and understand conversations is key to future success.
• Professionalism Students gain success by showing up for class on time and being prepared, expressing interest in the class content, handing in quality work in a timely manner, and appearing well-dressed and groomed. Helping students understand that appearance, attendance, and behavior is important, even in class, will set them up for success later.

The DOL further states that 13% of the high school graduates in 2015 were not employed or enrolled in college after graduation. If these 13% had stronger soft skills or life skills, would they have been more likely to be employed? Preparing high school graduates for college or the workforce is a top priority for schools, and the development of soft skills needs to be a key component of preparation.Which skills do you expect your students to possess for education and training success, and ultimately for workplace success?