<p>So, if they don’t have a p.o. box, there’s no way for them to get mail or packages? Hmmm…adding that to the list.</p>
<p>Will need to check on the availability of our bank in the campus area. D already has a checking & savings account, but it’s of no use if she can’t get to one.</p>
<p>RobD: You can send packages to Paty Delivery Center, but you need to use UPS or Fed Ex. For me, it is much more convenient to have the P.O. box since I live about two minutes from our local office. It’s about 12 miles to the UPS facility.</p>
<p>*
Will need to check on the availability of our bank in the campus area. D already has a checking & savings account, but it’s of no use if she can’t get to one. *</p>
<p>If she does decide to open an account at Alabama Credit Union, it really is convenient. The ACU is a member of a nationwide credit union network - over 4000 locations [url=<a href=“http://www.creditunion.net/]CUServiceCenter.com[/url”>http://www.creditunion.net/]CUServiceCenter.com[/url</a>] </p>
<p>Yesterday, I did the banking of 3 different credit union accts at the Alabama Credit Union by me.</p>
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<p>Ravenous! Thanks for the tip.</p>
<p>The PO Box is good for receiving care packages, magazines, not to mention things like election ballots and books you buy online. Plus, it’s fun to get mail, IMHO.</p>
<p>The Alabama Credit Union office in the ferg is very convenient and the only fee I’ve ever paid was a $1 one-time fee to start a membership. I use the Credit Union Service centers a lot. I’ll note that the ferg branch does not allow one to access accounts of other credit unions, but you can access Alabama CU accounts at other member credit unions.</p>
<p>IIRC, UA really encourages direct deposit of paychecks. That said, Alabama CU does not place a hold on payroll checks if your child does receive a paper paycheck.</p>
<p>Another thing, the REALLY NICE lady at the post office said if they get something too big for the box they put a notice in their box and they pick it up at the desk. So, you probably could send something larger than an envelope thru the post office. Might be easier for parents to go to UPS and students to have to go to Paty???</p>
<p>Another, another thing…momreads talked about the credit card. It is also an overdraft protection for the student. That way IF they should overdraw their checking it would bounce to the credit card and no charges.</p>
<p>^^^The lady at the post office is really nice, as are the men that work there. The counter is open from 8:30-4:00 M-F IIRC (PO Boxes are 24/7/365) and it is really easy to pick up a package as you just take the (yellow or camel-colored) notice and give it to them in return for your package.</p>
<p>Just a note…</p>
<p>Post office boxes cannot be shared.</p>
<p>The post office is awesome - getting a care package is like a holiday!
@momreads, how did he renew his PO Box? I forgot to do so before I left, and I’m kinda freaking out about losing it and having to pay an extra fee. Also, about the CBEs, can sophomores take them? I have no idea, but it would be great to get up to 17 credits and knock out one of the UH hours that always seem to cloud up my perfect schedule. If so, does anyone have a teacher/book they would recommend that one take?</p>
<p>Mesquite_girl24: If I remember correctly, he went to the USPS website and did the renewal from there. I’ll have I’m send you an e-mail when he arrives home, so he can tell you exactly where you can find the renewal. … As for the CBE, anyone can take them. Freshmen are mixed in with upperclassmen. My son had Jennifer Horne last year for his CBE, and he though she was great. She is teaching Mud on the Stars. If you have never read, In Cold Blood, it’s an awesome book, too. My AP English teacher friend always has one or two students do it every year for her senior class.</p>
<p>For those OOS students who are looking into opening a checking account. My son will be opening one at Wachovia since it’s the only bank that has branches both where we live as well as close to campus. </p>
<p>There is a Wachovia branch in that shopping center across from the Publix on the strip. We figured this would be best since he can just use the one account for both his time in school and when he’s home for the summer to deposit his paychecks. I checked and there are no credit unions around where we live for the Alabama credit union to be an option.</p>
<p>Wachovia does offer totally free student checking so you might want to look into it if there’s a local branch near you.</p>
<p>Thanks momreads!!! I’m probably gonna take one, if I can find one to fit in my busy schedule. I like keeping my tuesdays and thursdays almost completely clear (just one class in the morning), so I guess I could continue the trend of making Wednesday my hellish day. 4 classes all in a row + if I tack on a CBE = a straight day of class. Ouch. And thanks for the book advice. I’m always looking for a good read, and I’ll tackle it when I finish the one I’m on now.
And a side note about the Alabama credit union - it really is great to be so close to an ATM, like the one on the side of the ferg, but I personally find it annoying when I come back home to Texas and have to pay ATM fees, even at the credit union here. So Wachovia does sound like a decent option. It’s also very close to campus, but not as convenient as the ACU.</p>
<p>*Another, another thing…momreads talked about the credit card. It is also an overdraft protection for the student. That way IF they should overdraw their checking it would bounce to the credit card and no charges. *</p>
<p>Yes, set this up from the beginning. :)</p>
<p>*My son will be opening one at Wachovia since it’s the only bank that has branches both where we live as well as close to campus. *</p>
<p>Yes, that would work. </p>
<p>Others can consider that Alabama Credit Union is part of a 4000 nationwide system of credit unions. There is probably a member by your home, so most can open an Alabama CU account and still do banking in their home area.</p>
<p>To see if there is a member branch in your area [url=<a href=“http://www.creditunion.net/]CUServiceCenter.com[/url”>http://www.creditunion.net/]CUServiceCenter.com[/url</a>]</p>
<p>but I personally find it annoying when I come back home to Texas and have to pay ATM fees, even at the credit union here.</p>
<p>I don’t know if you have to pay ATM fees if you go to a member ATM, but I always avoid fees by getting cash back from the grocery store.</p>
<p>Another note on Wachovia.
If your name is added to your students account, it is visible when you sign in to your own account. Making it just a couple of clicks to transfer money from your account to theirs. Made it very easy to send money to my son when he was in college. We will be doing the same with our daughter when she leaves for UA this fall.</p>
<p>OK - continuing on with the banking thread,
There is no branch of the credit union close enough to us here to be useful, but (of course) son’s current bank does not service Alabama. Makes sense to open an account at the Credit Union then, if only to avoid ATM fees.
As far as funding the account, if we have both names on the account can I then just do bank transfers from our home account into the Credit Union one? Maybe I’m overthinking this, guess we could always (gasp!) send handwritten checks to DS and he could deposit.</p>
<p>and now onto student heath…
where to start? do we basically first check to see how our current health insurance handles it (since it is obviously out of area?) Anyone want to give me the really basic basics?</p>
<p>Just got great news! By not taking his car to UA we will save $540/6 months! Roll Tide!!!</p>
<p>and now onto student heath…
where to start? do we basically first check to see how our current health insurance handles it (since it is obviously out of area?) Anyone want to give me the really basic basics?</p>
<p>Contact your insurance company. Typically, they just cover the student just like they would if a family member needs medical attention while on vacation. Often the rule is something like…once you’re 60 miles away from home, you can go wherever is needed. Some companies require a call first unless it’s life or death.</p>
<p>There is no branch of the credit union close enough to us here to be useful,</p>
<p>Bummer! What part of Illinois are you? There are 67 network branches in your state, but maybe none in your area.</p>
<p>mesquite-girl…</p>
<p>If this helps…</p>
<p>As I recall Ds CBE course time changed last year. The professor had the group decide when they would meet and it wasn’t weekly when it was all said & done!</p>
<p>^^ I know, I looked on the chart but nothing close enough to make it worthwhile. 10 miles in Chicago-burbs is not the same as 10 miles in a sane place!</p>
<p>I agree…10 miles away is not a good thing for banking.</p>