I'll be trying out on first bass for a college line this summer and I'm really excited (and nervous)! I played snare in high school up until last winter where I decided to do what I really wanted, and played second bass for an independent line. It was a lot of fun, and to work on my bass skills I did a lot of timing and mental exercises.

This college line is at a much higher level than my old line,and now that I'm interested in first bass I was wondering; what else I should be practicing? On first bass is it still important I master spitting the offbeat and such? Should I focus on my hands or on a lot of timing things, spilling on or off the beat? etc.
Any ideas will be appreciated, thanks!

Always be prepared to split on an off beat, for sure. It doesn't matter what bass you're on, if you can count an off beat, then counting a downbeat won't be an issue for you.

Also, not all writing puts second bass on an off beat, you could just as easily turn the writing around and put 2 on the down and ands, and 1 can be chugging along on the e's and a's. Be prepared all around, and just flat out be able to count.

Hope that helped.
B