Avoid disappointment. Avoid mistakes. Avoid too much debt. The average American guidance counselor has 400 students, so there’s no way they can help each high school senior individually. Who can afford expensive college advisors like celebrities? Should they?
Instead, for less than the cost of one college application fee, take our “Talking College Search” online course, which covers the entire college search journey, from compiling the final list to how to tell which acceptance is the best fit for you. 6 Aspects, 18 Lessons, 3 Hours and 1 Bonus Workbook all for less than the price of one application fee. Enroll here: https://goodapples.teachable.com
The Gates Scholarship was founded by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Bill Gates founded the Microsoft Corporation. 300 Scholars are chosen each year and will receive funding for the full cost of attendance that is not already covered by other financial aid and the expected family contribution (EFC). Cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, and transportation, and may include other personal costs. Basically that means the scholarship should be the amount after Full Cost of Attendance minus Pell Grants, minus college grants, minus EFC. That is the grey area that would require families to take out loans to meet the difference!
According to the website, to apply, students must be:
A high school senior
Identify as at least one of the following ethnicities: African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native with tribal enrollment documentation, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American
Pell-eligible
A US citizen, national, or permanent resident
In good academic standing with a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent)
Plan to enroll full-time, in a four-year degree program, at a US accredited, not-for-profit, private or public college or university.
This is a competitive scholarship, so according to the website, the selection committee is looking for:
An outstanding academic record in high school (in the top 10% of his/her graduating class)
Demonstrated leadership ability (e.g., as shown through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities)
Exceptional personal success skills (e.g., emotional maturity, motivation, perseverance, etc.)
Warning to Parents: Privacy Laws Keep Parents in the Dark
This policy of not letting parents see grades and not allowing parents to talk to administrators is imbecilic— especially with the financial investment. So what that the students are 18+?
Most parents will always care about their “babies”.
If high graduation rates and successful college grads provide good public relations for a college, why do they resist parent involvement in making it happen? Only if the student signs privacy releases:
Want to pay tuition through the school’s online portal? The student has to sign a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Release (FERPA). Otherwise, parents would have no idea if there are new outstanding charges, or if a loan needs another step. Some students misunderstand or ignore flags on their accounts until they’re threatened with being asked to leave school!
Depending on the school, the FERPA may also enable parents to view students’ grades. Unless a parent has due cause, don’t go crazy with checking the college transcript. Parents ought to give the student some space. Keep a closer eye if the student’s scholarship is dependent on keeping up a certain average. If a student is experiencing severe anxiety and might begin to skip class, for sure it’s advantageous to have the FERPA signed before trouble starts.
Student falls ill? Better have a Durable Power of Attorney, Healthcare Proxy and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act authorization (HIPAA). The college doesn’t have to notify the parent, nor does the hospital. Hospital staff are not allowed reveal medical status nor consult parents about treatment unless the paperwork is in order.
Trouble with a professor, administration or the dorm? Out of luck. Colleges do not want to talk to parents. Professors, depending on their personality and patience level, will decline to answer questions politely or rudely. Roommates violate dorm policy and the student gets in trouble, too? Parents can’t defend the innocent student. Reminding the college as to who pays the tuition bill will not result even in a bat of the eye. The student will have to be on the phone with the parent and the school staff, and give specific instructions that the parent be allowed to speak.
This applies to students who’ve reached their 18th birthday. Parents still have input with the affairs of younger college students. Relish the access for those few months…
That’s 6 Topic Sections, 18 Lessons, 3 Hours, and 1 Bonus Workbook all for less than the price of one application fee. Enroll here: https://goodapples.teachable.com
Avoid disappointment. Avoid mistakes. Avoid too much debt. The average American guidance counselor has 400 students, so there’s no way they can help each high school senior individually. And who can afford the college advisors of celebrities? Should anyone?
Instead, for less than the cost of one college application fee, take our “Talking College Search” online course, which covers the entire college search journey, from compiling the final list to how to tell which acceptance is the best fit for you.
What to do to make Freshman Year comfortable socially
REAL STORY: there was a young freshman who couldn’t eat in the dining hall for the first few days of college because she didn’t know she could sit anywhere! And this was a Brooklyn kid used to a huge cafeteria in public high school who had chosen to go to a small single-sex Pennsylvania college. Yes, this article is only about getting through the first week or so because the awkwardness and nerves a new freshman feels don’t last the entire year.
Don’t Expect Anything. Put all those movies, books and tv shows out of your head. Wrong, unrealistic expectations will cripple your adjustment and set you up for disappointment.
Locate Student Support Services! Your tuition pays for them to be there for you. They provide advice on how to manage time, campus life and anything that concerns you.
Locate the Tutoring Center! Even the brightest kids seek help. Do it the first two weeks.
Don’t Resist New Things! When kids are little and introduced to new foods, especially when visiting other people’s homes, one tactic to use is the “Three Tries Rule”: a) Take a full first bite b) Take another full bite to be sure c) Have another full bite to be polite. Celebrity couple Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Sara Michelle Gellar have a 10 Tries Rule, no negotiation! (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/freddie-prinze-jr-parenting-quotes_l_60467c1cc5b6e6abac81f4bf) As long as the activities don’t clash with your class schedule, attend a variety of organized events. Don’t wait for your favorite theme. You may find new friends in unexpected places.
You Are Not Alone. Most schools admit a thousand or more freshmen a year. Odds are not only is there someone else who likes the same last place-ranked professional team, or who reads the same Deep South gothic ghost stories — but they’re not going to fall into your lap as you sit in the dorm room. Or if you’re a commuter, you won’t find them if you go straight home after class.
Forget High School Humiliations. Put embarrassing moments behind you. That’s a more difficult to do for students who did awful things — social media and newspapers live forever — but the new people you’ll meet will not remember how you wore your gym pants inside out in 10th grade. Don’t enter college classrooms in dread of snickering and teasing. Those old students conditioned you and now they are not in your life any longer. Breathe.
You’re Not Weirder than Everyone (and everyone else is busy being too self-conscious to notice you). And to be truthful, any other student who thinks you’re weird is not worth trying to impress. Don’t waste your time; move on.
Be Yourself! Phonies are not fun to be around. Besides, if you are not yourself, who will be you?
Talk First! People can’t read your mind as to who you are and what you need.
Shrug it Off and Keep it Moving! If your jokes fall flat with one group, move on to another.
Be Flexible to Change. You may like to do work at last minute; be open to starting assignments earlier so that they’re polished before submitting. College is not high school; it is not supposed to be.
Don’t expect to become best friends with your roommate(s)! You may like lights out at 8 to begin your wind down; your roommate may like to stay up longer — or they’re a little afraid of the dark and don’t want to admit it (or the reverse!). Find a middle point with your roommate and ask for help from the residence assistant to mediate. Resident directors and assistants are trained and experienced in roommate issues.
Try try again! Rinse (please shower everyday) and repeat the previous steps.
Watch Out for Predators. There will be people who prey on freshmen:
Don’t leave campus with students you don’t know well yet! You don’t know who will be at that party off school property. If something happens off campus, the college does not have to take responsibility.
Always keep your hands on your drink and never take your eyes off an open cup or bottle! Pour out drinks left unattended. The cost of the drink is MUCH cheaper than the hospital bill (or worse). Don’t drink anything if you tend to get distracted.
Stay out of areas where you’ll be alone.
Articulate out loud and make a plan with new friends: arrive together, don’t leave without each other. Always know where they are.
If things are moving fast with a possible romantic partner, pause! You have the rest of semester; don’t rush things. You have no where to go until the term ends. If they are a good person, they will have enough sense to go slowly, too.
If they act as if their feelings are hurt — because they may only be acting, remember — then they are too unstable to be in a healthy happy relationship with you! Be firm; end it early before you get sucked into a twisted situation that takes longer to untangle.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. Don’t let people leave if they’re going to be in a vulnerable situation. Toss the drink and promise to reimburse them when your allowance gets sent. Don’t worry about losing potential friends; bad people give school a bad reputation. Better to be rid of them.
Don’t Give Up on Your Classes; try not to let your anxiety interfere with attending lessons and completing classwork. Freshman year is usually a bunch of pre-requisite classes; what’s covered will be the same at any college. So during those hours that you’re in class, focus and do well to keep your grades up. Don’t throw the dreams and money away, but…
…Know when it’s time to go. Sometimes a school isn’t a perfect fit, even though a student’s job is to go to class, take the tests, write the papers and get the grades. After all, that’s what the thousands of dollars are going to! But if you’ve taken the Three Bites (or Ten Tries) and you’re not clicking with the school, it’s time to check in with the counselor for next steps.
Get to the Counselor at Student Support Services — of which you’re already familiar because it was the first thing you located, maybe even before stepping on campus — to help you decide whether to return the next semester, or even finish out the first semester. Then, try to get a second opinion from another counselor or advisor. Listen to them. Do not make this decision on your own. Listen to them. Do not make this decision on your own.
The best approach to a new environment is to remember that it is new. Be careful but not scared. Kick old self-destructive habits. Investigate from every angle before jumping to conclusions; you may be misinterpreting situations through old eyes. Breathe. Get advice. Listen to experts who know, who’ve encountered thousands of students like you before. Keep Calm and Carry On!
* ONE MORE THING: if you find someone in a tough situation, have this Crisis Hotline Contact Information handy. You may never need it BUT one of the people you know may need it one day. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “help” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
What to do the first week or so to make the best of Freshman Year.
Whether the freshman is coming from a large high school to a small liberal arts college or a small private high school to a large state flagship college, parents fear the child may not adjust, may fall through the cracks. Here are some ways to get through the first weeks:
Follow Directions. Meaning: heed the syllabus, note the assignments in advance, set alerts for all the deadlines. The professors don’t write them as suggestions; they expect students to follow syllabi in order to learn the material and be graded on it as described in the syllabi. There should be no surprises if the syllabus is detailed. Read it; heed it.
In a large lecture classroom, Sit Close in the First Couple of Rows. Being closer keeps the mind from wandering and encourages more eye contact with the professor. Just a fleeting glimpse will cause a connection. It also put intimidating classmates out of sight behind you.
Try to Raise a Hand in Each Session; having that goal will keep you focused and listening for the opportunity to ask a question or make a comment. Even if the opportunity to raise your hand never occurs, at least you were engaged in the lesson. Get noticed by the professor so they won’t have to guess what grade to give you. The raise-hand-every-session plan works in smaller classrooms, too. Listening closely in anticipation of contributing will increase comprehension of the subject and result in higher grades.
Make an Appointment to Go to Professor Office Hours. Professors post their availability; take advantage of it early in the school storm. You want the professor to know you’re there to use your tuition money wisely (learning). You’ll also be the first to hear from the professor more details about upcoming units in the course, extra credit, job openings, research opportunities and other “inside scoops”.
Don’t Get Frustrated. Students shouldn’t fear not knowing or not understanding. Every student gets lost in at least one course or subject area in their college career. Don’t give up right away.
Get Tutoring Early. Every student, no matter how brilliant they are, will need tutoring. Students should go in the first month even if they think they have a hang of a subject.
Join a Study Group or Create One. This is the best way to realize you’re not alone.
Know Your Limits Early. Freshmen will be taking core required courses, but if by chance your schedule includes a tough elective (a course not required) that will not impact on fulfilling your major but is harder than you’re ready for, then consider taking the class Pass/Fail or dropping the course altogether. Pass/Fail will not affect your average. The you drop one course, hopefully you’ll be able to register for a more appropriate course. WARNING: these course decisions must be done in the first couple of weeks of the term. Classes close out early so students don’t miss too many lessons and never catch up.
Ready to start school on the right foot? Going in with realistic, open eyes — and mind — is the way to go!
Okay PARENTS of HS Seniors, Juniors and even Sophomores — take a look at the school calendar. Depending on where you live and where you plan to go, it’s possible you might be able to tour some schools, or at least drive by or walk the campus grounds. Remember to keep notes so the schools don’t blend together… Don’t depend on your high schools to arrange trips this year; but even if there were to be trips, oftentimes demand may lead to the bus running out of seats, or restriction by grade. Regardless, there’s always virtual events and tours; check calendars for those dates as well.
Dorm Packing Supply List for Incoming Freshmen Part III
Another Dorm Essentials Packing Article You Need to Read. Because you never know: it could be you.
A student may have to leave their dorm in an emergency.
Or leave campus.
Or they might have to lockdown in their dorm.
Well, lockdowns are distressing enough… and then you add 2020…
Evolution of the College “Go” Bag: The purpose of the pre-2020 Go-Bag was to get a student through a scenario that would cut electricity, or force a student to flee due to a weather event or building structure failure. Or hideout due to a criminal presence or other heightened military alerts.
New Go-Bags also prepare for a student having to leave their dorm and isolate in another location for medical reasons. Or be quarantined in their room. And don’t forget if the sick student stays, the healthy roommate(s) must go. Diagnosis can come fast, leaving a student unable to go shopping for essentials.
What to pack now?
Pre-2020 Go-Bag
Backpack or bag that contains emergency items
Prescription Medications
Flashlight (and extra batteries)
Cell phone Charge Cord and Portable Charger (these should never leave the bag, so take good care of your everyday chargers!)
Phone Earphones (again, not for daily use, so they don’t even have to be the cool earphones. Just make sure they fit your phone.)
Printout of Key Contact Information: phone numbers and emails of doctors, parents and other key relatives, roommates and roommates’ parents.
List of Medical Conditions, including allergies and current prescriptions
Hand Sanitizer
Rubber Gloves
Clean Zip-loc Baggies of various sizes (include some large baggies to store soiled items)
Bandages
Anti-Bacterial Ointment
Alcohol Pads
Painkillers Acetaminophen or Ibuoprofen (example: aka Tylenol and Motrin)
Thermometer (with extra batteries)
Facial Tissues
Toilet Paper (small roll, flattened to fit in the backpack) enclosed in a baggie
Pocket-sized Comb and Scrunchies
Feminine Hygiene Products
Toothpaste and Toothbrush (you may not have time to get the one you use — or it may be infected)
Travel-sized Toiletries: shampoo, soap, lotion
Snack Bars: a week’s worth is good (check expiration dates before packing and plan to switch out fresh ones as needed each semester)
A few changes of Socks, Underwear, Pajamas, soft comfy Pants and a couple of T-Shirts
Blanket: either a fleece throw or a stadium blanket like this one. Stadium blankets can also be used as a cape with a hood and fold into a small portable size:
Post 2020: New Additions to That College Go-Bag
Extra Face Masks
Playing Cards
WordSearch/Sodoku/Crossword Puzzle Book(s): days will be long, especially without electricity!
Electrolyte Powder to put in water (example: Pedialyte, Gatorade, Propel, Emergen-C, Ultima Replenisher)
Cough and Cold Medicine (example: Robitussin, Mucinex)
Cold and Flu Syrup (example: NyQuil and DayQuil)
Zinc Lozenges
Vitamin C Mega Dose tablets
Anti-Nausea Medicine (example: Pepto Bismol)
Anti-Diarrheal Medicine (example: Kaopectate)
Nothing is certain, so it’s best to prepare in advance for difficult times and hope that you never have to use the Go Bag!
Dorm Packing Supply List for Incoming Freshmen Part II
Time to complain and whine a bit. We’ve observed over the years that so many items that freshmen bring to dorms never get used, never get pulled out the plastic bin or shipping box. Be careful with impulse buys. Not the time to channel Martha Stewart or HGTV to decorate!
First, we recommend you get measurements of your room and watch videos of students with your room layout. Then you’ll realize you probably have a lot of what you need at home already. Or, you can concentrate on getting used to being in college and move in with just the basics needed every day and build on it after Christmas break. Strongly recommend keeping the room on the simple side the first fall semester. Concentrate on toiletries and weather-appropriate clothing. But again, you won’t need as many outfits as you think, especially if it’s easy to do laundry. Please make roommates and parents happy: do laundry on a regular schedule…
The list below is really big, too bulky for most cars. So what to do? There are two options:
1) Order and pick it up from the Store close to the college.
2) Order online and have it Shipped to school.
TAKE NOTE: be sure to get the proper delivery address for campus. It may not be your dorm, “John Quincy Adams Hall, Room 202”. Know before ordering so that a student doesn’t have to wander through all the campus looking for their mail.
You definitely need a set of Twin XL sheets (double check with your dorm as to bed size; most dorm beds are Twin XL). Some kids get two sets but never open one package; they just wash the one set over and put it back on the bed. Best practice would be to put a fresh set of sheets on the bed while washing the dirty ones. That saves a lot of energy and time.
Egg Crate Mattress Topper helps to feel cozy and have a soft place to land, because those mattresses are not meant for comfort; they’re meant to last. Twin size will fit; make it flush with the foot of the bed and short it at the head.
Bedbug/Waterproof Mattress Enclosure. Twin XL size. The schools provide a mattress that’s been used before. The college will also charge if it’s damaged.
Comforter (one with a removable duvet cover for washing is better, especially if guests sit on the bed)
Pillows: bring two pillows plus…
Zip-On Pillow Protector Covers, mite/bedbug/waterproof covers will prolong your pillows’ lives…
Wedge Backrest Pillow for sitting upright in the bed to study and watch tv. Something like this:
Comes in many colors!
For Your Room:
Power strips, preferably with a longer cord. Recommend one for each wall that has an outlet.
Bending features make it easier to put in plugs of different sizes!
Flashlight (and batteries)
Microwaveable but not breakable plates and cups (save the trees)
Refrigerators: Check to see if schools provide a mini-fridge; if not, discuss with the roommate as to who will bring one. Fridges are good to have for medications, leftover takeout, beverages, and science experiments (please label and wrap experiments well to avoid contaminating other objects in the fridge!).
Box or Standing Fan (air conditioners are a rare luxury in older dorms)
Clip-on Fan to attach to the bed.
Lamp that can be clipped anywhere and also can sit on a desk.
Family pictures and Posters to put up with poster tape (Again measuring the amount of free open wall is key)
Shower Shoes you can probably get buy with cheap flip flops from Old Navy. They MUST be worn every visit to the share restrooms and showers; otherwise students can come home with fungi infections on their feet that take months to get rid of!
Safe (can fit medications, passports, emergency cash, house keys etc).
Clothing Steamer for dorms that don’t allow irons. Less of a fire hazard than irons and one that has an auto shut-off for the absent minded would be best.
Mini Fridge Refrigerator Caddy that provides storage pockets down the side of the small fridges. Must take advantage of any space you can!
Bedside Shelf if you want a flat surface while lying on the bed. Good to have one that comes with a cup holder and cable management features.
Bedside Caddy for those who don’t work at desks.
Lingerie Bag to not loose or damage delicates in the washing machines.
Laundry Bag/Hamper. Get the backpack version; it’s most convenient for taking dirty stuff to another floor or building.
Over the Door Hanger living in a small room for ten months out of the year means every single space must be well-used.
Shower Caddy to take your toiletries to showers. Make sure that it can hang over a divider or door.
Shower Speaker is not necessary but breaks the monotony of that activity.
First Aid Kit – buy a kit or put it together yourself.
Tool Kit with screwdrivers large and tiny, pliers etc. The owner of a rubber mallet will be one of the most popular students on the floor.
A Television we’re iffy on getting, since the laptop can take that role. HOWEVER, while the TV takes up space, if the student doesn’t use the desk, it can go there. And instead of causing the student to self-isolate like watching a laptop does, they actually get to be social and can invite people in to watch a big event. They can become very popular on big sports and awards nights. 36-42″ should fit on the desk.
LED string lights if you want to feel decorative in the simplest but impressive way. Run them along the ceiling, under the bed, around the desk, anywhere. Some rope light sets can change color with a remote control.
For the Desk
Printers are not needed because many campuses have printing centers where printing is free! But in a pinch, the student with the small printer in their dorm can become popular. Friends should buy them an energy bar to reimburse for the ink!
Basic School Supplies: pens, pencils, scissors, glue stick, markers, erasers, highlighters, permanent AND erasable markers, Post-its, paper clips, stapler, etc.
Tape: scotch tape, packing, duct tape. Duct tape can come in great colors now!
A Sheet of Stamps and Envelopes even if they only get used once to write a letter to grandparents
For Those Who Need a Lot of Privacy…
Going away to college is not always easy. It can be quite a transition to have a stranger for a roommate, to not be able to control the lighting and movement in the dorm room. Some people are very shy; others are introverted and need down time alone to recharge. Maybe someone can’t sleep if the sun comes up too early, or if their roommate is a nightowl, plays flashing video games or has to study all night. Also, some students may have a condition that makes them sensitive to too much stimulation. But students sharing rooms have to respect their roommate(s), and know there’s only so much that can be done within reason. Those are scenarios where students should consider getting a Bed Tent:
That’s it for the basic necessities… but there’s more! See Part III for the Go-Bag List.
* NOTE: Good Apples NYC may earn small commission from the products on this page if you decide to make a purchase by clicking on the specific link provided.
Dorm Packing Supply List for Incoming Freshmen Part I
The Absolutely Most Important Items to Bring To College
Not all students want to save money and commute to school from home; some who want a special major must attend a school further away. What should students and parents be sure to do, obtain or plan before going away to college? Now this is a good list that we could post every month.
NO JOKE: THESE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS THAT FRESHMEN MUST BRING TO COLLEGE — NOT KIDDING.
Now for items that are so distressing to think about, but parents and first years MUST get:
•Get a Durable Power of Attorney – even though the college student is still claimed as a dependent on tax returns (and is also covered by their parents’ health insurance policy and they don’t pay their own tuition), when the student reaches age 18, parents have no say about them in the world. So if a student does a study–abroad semester or is in college and needs legal and financial services (ie signing tax returns or accessing bank accounts), parents cannot legally sign for their young adult children without having a POA. Each state has different regulations, so make sure the POA applies for the state where the young adult is located as well as the state where their family’s home is. The student’s “agents” (that’s what parents or whomever is designated on the POA are called) should also have copies of the POA on their own cell phones and computers.
•Get a Healthcare Proxy (aka Medical Power of Attorney) – we continue discovering all the scenarios in which parents have no authority and can’t speak on behalf of their 18 year old. If an adult student has a medical emergency, parents cannot decide what kind of medical treatment the student can have! Make sure the proxy works for the home state as well as the state in which the student is located. Notice how a parent’s wishes don’t matter even though the 18-year old will still be covered by the parents’ health insurance for another eight years…?
•Different from the Healthcare Proxy is the HIPAA Authorization (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). In addition to losing the ability to dictate medical treatment for an 18-year old, parents no longer have access to an 18-year old’s medical records and don’t even have to be told that something’s happened to the student. This means if a student falls ill, the nurse or doctor who picks up the phone cannot give parents information. The HIPAA Authorization can be customized so that certain private matters dealing with sex, drugs, mental health, or other issues can remain private. (for more details, use information here: https://www.consumerreports.org/health-privacy/help-your-college-age-child-in-a-medical-emergency/ )
•Must have a Living Will, which can be incorporated into either the Healthcare Proxy or the HIPAA. It gives instructions to the student’s agents as to what to do in a dire life or death situation.
These documents are upsetting to talk about (they’re upsetting to even write about here), but once filed and everyone has a copy, they never have to be discussed anymore until it’s time to change the POA agents on the forms.
Parents should consult an attorney for those documents, but there are sites that provide easy-to-complete templates so that parents can do it themselves, like Mama Bear Legal Forms: https://www.mamabearlegalforms.com/youngadult
•Make sure Vaccinations are updated, not just the COVID-19 series. This is mandatory. See link to this article for what students must have before stepping onto campus (no matter whether commuter or away, including traditional and non-traditional adult second career students). https://goodapplesnyc.com/prep-for-college-freshman-year-vaccine-boosters/
•Students should sign their college’s FERPA waiver to give parents access to the school portal so that parents can log in to pay tuition online and ensure the financials are in order. Without a specifically–stated FERPA, parents will never be able to see their child’s college transcript. Colleges can’t share it without student’s permission. But parents need to pay for school, so… you students must “FERPA them”.
Get these important documents. Breathe easy for the four years!
While we’re talking about transcripts, let’s pause a moment and make sure this gets done right…
•Definitely go over the Course Choices for the semester. Each class costs a pretty-penny, and there is a specific number of credits to reach graduation, so unfortunately the kids cannot have schedule-fillers (i.e. don’t take ceramics in freshman year if doesn’t fulfill a core requirement). Find out which school core required courses that everyone must take; then check the required courses within the major, and pay special attention to when those courses are offered. If a course is only offered in the spring semester, or every two years, plan accordingly! No one wants to spend money on an extra year of college just to take ONE course because you didn’t register for it in junior year and it isn’t available until the semester AFTER you were supposed to graduate!
Okay, let’s dive back into the serious must-haves:
• Pack Medicine and a List of Prescriptions and make sure the student knows what each bottle is for, the correct dosage and how they work. Kids are probably used to you putting two pills on a napkin next to their sick bed or a measured mini-cup of purple stuff, but now they’re on their own.
•Make a copy of the Eyeglasses Prescriptions just in case the student has to get a new pair made while away from home. The frames and lenses will cost enough; don’t add the expense of having to get another eye examination, too!
•Get a Small Safe to put medications, passport, emergency cash, home keys, etc. Something like this will work:
Example: small safe with tether. Lock around the bed leg or something heavy!
•Contact an insurance representative and get an Insurance Policy for the dorm or off-campus housing. Check if your insurance company covers the dorm or off-campus housing. Add it to the family policy. You need an Insurance Policy that will cover protection from theft, fire, flood, accidental damage etc to your room, computer, game console, cell phone, EarPods and other property. Typical homeowner’s insurance may only cover amounts up 10% of of the limit of property at home, meaning if you’re insured at home for up to $100,000 at home, a student’s property while away in the dorm will be covered up to $10,000 — after deductibles. Also, the policy may only cover fire or water damage, not breakage or theft.
However, if your current home policy does not extend to school, then dorm insurance will still be needed.
•Off-campus housing requires its own Renters’ Insurance Policy. Anything can happen, no matter how responsible the student is… or their friends… or their school… or their landlord.
•Get the student a Credit Card with a low spending limit. Cash may not always be the way to go; don’t recommend keeping a wad of cash in the safe anyway. Discover Card is a common first card for college students. MAKE SURE THEY ONLY CHARGE WHAT CAN BE PAID BACK IN FULL WHEN THE BILL ARRIVES NEXT MONTH! Good way to build up a credit score also.
•Arrange for the student to get a Bank Account with Debit Card that parents can fill remotely. Teach the student how to use the debit and credit cards responsibly in order to avoid identity theft!
Finally, there are two more important things that are must–have — and this will help the student’s pals and roommates.
Print out, save a screenshot on the computer and phone, email the following and save in an email folder AND put in the Contacts app:
• Crisis Hotline Contact Information Your child may never need it BUT within a group of classmates, one of their friends may need it one night.National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “help” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
•Roommates or pals should have their Friends’ Parent Contact Info. If something happens, they should contact school authorities and call the parents themselves.
Lastly, here is what University of Wisconsin-Madison asks for students to pack: “bring a sense of self, a sense of purpose, and a sense of humor.”
