Hi!
Now that I have graduated from high school, I am focusing on what to bring to college, mainly my school documents. So, except from my transcript, what should I bring to college?
Health insurance card and, if you think you might work on campus, you will probably need your passport. Talk with your family about what the expectations are about sharing access to your health and academic information while at college as, now that you are (presumably) over 18, they cannot access that information without your consent. Our kids were comfortable with us parents having access to that and so signed waivers to allow us to see that. We also asked them to appoint us as their health care representatives, in case of a medical emergency. If you do complete those forms, it can be a good idea to keep original copy with your parents and also another signed original with you.
My kids never needed their high school transcripts, as there was an online service (Parchment/Docufide) that delivered the final transcript to the college.
You might need a birth certificate for some jobs. Know your social security number, although you probably won’t need the card itself.
Your final HS transcript will be sent to the college directly from your HS so you don’t have to bring that
How do you keep these personal documents safe in a dorm room?
The items needed for employment are on the I-9. Students need their (original) social security card, passport, or birth certificate and a photo ID (driver’s license is a popular one). Parents generally overnight them and as soon as the students show them to the financial aid office they overnight them back home.
@snowfairy137 , I have a lockbox that people use to lock their medications inside of it. It has a code, and will probably be a safe place to keep my documents in.
My kids didn’t lock them up, but all their docs and checkbook went in a manila envelope that they kept at the bottom of a clothes drawer. Honestly, the risk was a lot higher that they would just lose them than that they would be stolen, I think. As long as they kept their dorm room door locked when they weren’t there (even going to the bathroom or shower down the hall), they didn’t have theft issues in their rooms.
Where I teach a the actual SS card is needed to complete paperwork for employment on campus. This is true even if the student has a passport and/or birth certificate.
Your passport is considered a “List A” document that establishes both your identity and authorization to work. You don’t also need to present a SS card or Driver’s License or anything else when filling out the I-9 portion of new hire paperwork. A passport or any other acceptable document from List A is enough on its own.
Your SS card is a “List C” doc which means it only establishes your authorization to work. That is why it must be coupled with a “List B” doc which establishes your identity – usually your Driver’s License.
Can my Green card substitute for my passport?
A List A document only works for those who have one. Many of our students don’t. Most come with a SS card and their license.
Consider filing a health care proxy with the health office.
The odds are overwhelming that it will never be used-- but it could be incredibly important if the unthinkable happens.
Here we go again: not just a health care proxy or waiver with the college health office; as @Midwestmomofboys indicated, you should have a health care directive that meets the requirements of the state where you will be in college, and I would also recommend an overall power of attorney. They are not that complicated, and it can greatly simplify things in the case of an emergency [of which there have been a number of examples in prior CC threads].
Here is a list of I-9 documents needed to work https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/acceptable-documents - it is either 1 from A or 1 from B and 1 from C (knowing the ss# isn’t enough, the actual card needs to be seen.
The transcript is probably already at the school. My daughter’s college required it by June 30th so that is probably common. If your school uses naviance it may be part of that. If you do dual enrollment then you need to send the school an official sealed copy of the college transcript directly from the college which is not automatic.
You might want to talk to your family about a local bank account in case you need cash or a way to cash a check.
If you have a computer that has a warrantee perhaps the warrantee paperwork is good to have.
We are packing D2, so we asked D1 (six years older) if the notebook we put together was helpful. Was a little surprised when she said absolutely - she didn’t fight me at the time, but she did roll her eyes! Here’s the list of what I recall was in it. Over time, she has thrown out a lot. Packing list for freshman move in (sure wish I still had that!). Printout of critical family addresses and contact info - not always in your phone. List of current medications, with notes of what each is for. Vaccination records. Copy of Power of Attorney for both Colorado and California in case we need to help her with something. Copy of Health Care Directive in both states. Copy of all cards in her wallet, front and back in case stolen. Sheet protector with a few stamps and a checkbook (sometimes you need a cancelled check to set up direct deposit for a job). Hidden or locked: social security card and passport if you feel like you can trust yourself not to lose it. EXPENSIVE and time consuming to replace. Hide them somewhere!) Copy of eye perscription. In daughter’s case, list of stores in the three local malls (LOL - a girls gotta do…) Printed out maps of area for before she is less familiar. Pictures of luggage in case lost or stolen with make/model/etc. This is what we have so far, but would love to hear what others think should be included. It’s easy to scan things and/or call Mom, but it’s also important to be independent! If someone makes her fill out a solid health history, we might include that too - who remembers if/when they had chicken pox without asking when they are 18?
Well done @shoot4moon : I wish we could pin that one to the top of some category here. The only thing I would add would be to have scanned copies of a lot of that stuff on your home computer.
We keep color copies of college kid’s driver’s license and passport at home so simplify replacement if (when) the wallet goes missing.
Also, have college kids as an added user on one of my, never used, credit cards. So, if (when) they lose the wallet and I have to cancel/suspend the card, it is not a card I use regularly so does not affect my own financial life.
Yes your green card is enough, and you MUST have it with you at all times so it is not like other ID that you must figure out how to store safely.
Didn’t realize the actual SS card was necessary - thanks for the clarification.