College Survival Advisor

It’s exciting and overwhelming when a son or daughter goes off to college. Keep in mind, the importance of the college experience and the whole reason students go to college in the first place: To become independent and self-reliant adults as they work hard and study to earn a college degree.

Parents of College Freshman

Parents can go to extremes when it comes to the college farewell. One parent might break down in tears and call the campus daily. On the other hand, some parents might not call enough.

Perfect case scenario: Say your goodbyes, leave the dorm and call when you get home to say you made it safely. Offer great words of encouragement in your initial farewell phone call. Tell your son or daughter you are very proud of them. Offer your love and support and tell them you want nothing more than for them to study, make good decisions, remain focused and have a wonderful college experience. Last but not least, let them know that you are just a phone call away if they need anything.

With that said, if you don’t hear from your student in a week, or even a few days, definitely drop an email or make a phone call. Let them give you the scoop. Listen. If anything unusual crops-up in the phone conversation, offer your best advice and encouragement.

Parents, pay close attention to the following points, to insure your student enters college worry-free.

Financial Stress

When students head off to college, there’s a good chance they’ll run into cash flow issues from time to time. After all, as we all know, things tend to add-up. In addition to books, tuition, college room and board, students will have to figure out a way to afford food, clothes, gasoline, car repairs, haircuts, living supplies, etc. College can become quite costly. As parents, do whatever you can to ease the burden for your student financially. School is stressful enough without having to worry about the added issue of being able to afford an occasional dinner out on the weekends.

Financial Aid

Educate yourself on any and all options for financial aid and encourage your student to apply for as many scholarship opportunities as possible. Make sure you and your student work together to apply for FAFSA funding as early as possible. This way you will be assured the best financial aid package available to assist with tuition, room and board. Finally, workout a plan with your student so there is some sort of workable budget in place.

Bank Accounts

Your son or daughter should open a local bank account. If need be, assist in the bank selection process and account opening meeting. This is also an ideal time to discuss college finances with your son or daughter, such as planning a personal student budget; the dangers of credit card usage, and saving money whenever possible.

Health Care

Before you leave the college campus, make sure your student has a mini first aid kit. The kit should contain basic supplies such as aspirin, band aids, antibiotic ointment, bandages, wet-wipes and ibuprofen. As a parent, this is simply a thoughtful gesture that shows you care. In addition to this thoughtful step, make certain your student has the numbers and directions to the campus health center, as well as the local hospital.

Vehicle Registration and Insurance

In the event your son or daughter has the privilege to have a car on campus, make sure the vehicle is registered properly with insurance and current tags. As a general rule of thumb, all students who drive and park on campus must obtain a student parking pass or sticker. Remind your student to attend to this, or, before you depart from campus, assist in the process.

Cell Phones and Computers

Before you leave campus, check with your student or an attending RA to determine parameters for the best local wireless connection and cell phone coverage. There’s a chance your son or daughter may have to invest careful research and time into finding the best companies to handle this important access. If you have the time, assist in this project to make sure your student gets the best rate and plan available.

College Roommates

The college roommate process can often be tricky. Some students hit it off immediately, getting the luck of the draw. Other college roommates face conflict upon conflict. Whatever the case, discuss roommate etiquette with your college-bound son or daughter. Encourage open conversations, honesty and respect at all times. If conditions are intolerable, suggest your student bring the situation to an RA for proper consideration and conflict resolution.

Dorm Living

Students often need help putting a game plan together for college living. Work with your student to develop a college supplies checklist in addition to a college dorm room theme. Whether it be cast offs from spare rooms in the house, good old-fashioned hard cash to buy an array of new items, or a combination of both, your assistance will be appreciated by your college-bound son or daughter. Do what you can with your time and resources to assure your student is packed off to college with the necessary items that will make him or her feel at home. Having an orderly dorm room with all the necessary supplies will help make the college adjustment all the easier.

Family Weekends

This is a great opportunity (or excuse) to visit your son or daughter on campus. Often times, campus weekends will include fun activities for the entire family, such as movies, collegiate athletic events, fine arts engagements, dinner events, etc. For parents, this is an opportunity to witness your student immersed in college life. You won’t regret this once in a lifetime experience.

College Survival Kits

One thoughtful way to let your son or daughter know that you are thinking about them is to send a college survival kit. A “survival kit” can contain anything you know your son or daughter will like and be able to use. You can purchase an already made college survival kit or take the time to create a personalized care package. To do this, purchase your student’s favorite snacks (healthy as well as not so healthy); some practical dorm and school supplies; a homemade batch of brownies, etc. Package your college survival kit inside a unique basket which your student will be able to reuse (a square basket can be used to store magazines, college papers or books; a deep basket could be used as a wastebasket; or a basket with a handle could make for a great cosmetics storage unit). Once you have your items selected and prepared, package and ship. Nothing will make a student feel more thankful and loved than receiving a care package during a tough week of midterms or finals.