Hello student,

1. Try to make your Maths Background very Strong. Revise your Intergration and Differentiation fundamentals because most of the courses revolve around these 2 concepts. Try to watch IIT JEE videos online for these topics as they have in-depth coverage.
2. Develop interest for Coding, if you hate coding then ECE is not the right choice. You won’t get into good company if you lack coding skills.Refer Basics of C by Yashwant Kanetkar(black colour book).Moreover, you would have atleast 2–3 coding related papers/exams.
3. Try to NETWORK as much as possible with your friends, Seniors and professors(if possible).
4. Involve yourself in various Clubs and sports to improve your team management and muti tasking skills.
5. Time management is the most important skill which you need to develop by virtue of practice.You need to strike a balance between academics and extra curriculars(which includes non academic part like hanging outside with friends..etc..)
6. Always give higher weightage to your academics about (60–40 ratio, 60 academics and 40 extracurriculars) especially in the first year. This is the most crucial year to develop a very good CGPA(grade/marks). If you maintain good CGPA in first year, it can open doors for better placement/higher studies opportunities.

Hope this will be helpful...

Dear aspirant,
The skills are required for 1st year engineering students are c language and some basics in micro processor and some basics in aurdino board. If you have more interested then you can also learn data structures. Hope it helps you.
Thank you.