DD just celebrated graduation from COM Magna Cum Laude and is actually working in her field…hooray!!! Thought I would start a “Best Of” thread as a giveback for the wonderful advice we received along the way for new students and parents. Hope others chip in!!!
Top Ten Advice
- Lurk and listen for the opportunity to sign up for FYSOP. You move into the dorms a week early, and have a great time volunteering in the community and making new friends. Always fills up quickly, and isn’t well publicized. DD made her best BU friends at FYSOP.
- If you are flying in, do NOT rent a car for Move-in. Highly recommend ordering early (now) with at Bed Bath Bayond in your home state, and then picking up in Boston in August. collect 20percent off coupons…they typically will give you the discount on everything if you have a cluster in your hand. Infinitely cheaper and faster than shipping, picked over choices at Target and Costco, etc. Don’t order dorm stuff from the bookstore. Uber and airport shittle vans will get your stuff to the dorm painlessly if you dont have a car.
- Sign up for a joint checking account with your student so you can easily transfer money back and forth. If you want one based in Boston, sign up at orientation.
- Wear comfortable shoes for orientation, and know that iparents and students attend different events completely. Plan to spend a day with your student afterward if you can afford it…you can stay in the dorm. It isn’t essential that you attend as a parent, but I learned a lot and felt completely comfortable with our kid across the country after attending. If you do go, invest in an extra day to relax with your student before or afterward…it was one of my favorite BU memories to see her excitement and enthusiasm.
- Consider a credit card that accrues mileage. We use our JetBlue AmEx for everything to get miles, as that’s the best airline for flights in our area.
- Budget for coats, boots, winter gear, but wait until they are in school to purchase it. Boston has a great selection, and you don’t need it right away.
- BU doesn’t charge extra to overload if you have a good GPA the previous semester. DD graduated early because of this policy, saving money that she put toward a semester abroad.
- Uber is awesome. Unless you must, avoid renting a car as it is expensive, inconvenient, and drivers are aggressive.
- Move-in is extremely well orchestrated. Really. let your student lead on how they would like you to help them.
Other student and parent advice? chip in here!