Adaptability

Things change. Adaptability, the ability to adjust your thinking and behavior when faced with new or unexpected situations, helps you cope and ensures that you’ll do well in life, no matter what the challenges. This third category includes three key competencies:

  1. Reality testing. Ensuring that your feelings are appropriate by checking them against external, objective criteria.
  2. Flexibility. Adapting and adjusting your emotions, viewpoints, and actions as situations change.
  3. Problem solving. Approaching challenges step-by-step and not giving up in the face of obstacles.
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Think Outside the Bowl Good problem solvers sometimes have to work alone and be persistent. Help is not always readily available. Harness your own creativity to solve your problems in college. That way you won’t feel like a fish out of water.