<p>My daughter , my first child, will attent Out-Of<em>State College in Fall 2009.
I would like to seek for the advices about How To Prepare For Out-Of</em>State College (specially from CA: No snow area to Ohio: Snowy state)</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>One of the first things that I’d do is look for a relative or close friend near the campus.</p>
<p>Make sure your medical insurance company will cover her out-of-state. When we were in this position, forms had to be filled out ahead of time. An additional out-of-state card was sent to us and our child was to use this card if he needed medical treatment during the academic year when out-of-state. Call your medical insurance company and ask.</p>
<p>Is the school near an airport? Will the student need to reserve transportation to and from the airport? Is so, try to research the names, telephone numbers, and approximate fees for such transportation services. Store the numbers in the student’s cell phone.</p>
<p>Buy a nice lightweight rolling carry-on piece of luggage for the student to eliminate the hassle of checking luggage at the airports. Keep enough spare clothes at home so the student doesn’t have to pack and transport much clothing during breaks.</p>
<p>Make sure the cell phone plan is “nationwide” so you don’t get hit with enormous bills.</p>
<p>Even if the college runs a shuttle to/from the airport, you need at least two methods of transportation – and of course your D needs means to pay for both modes. For expenses at college she should have both a credit card and a checkbook. Additionally she needs a way to get cash.</p>
<p>For your peace of mind, try to get a telephone number you can call if you become concerned. The RA’s number would be best, or a friend in the dorm. You definitely DON’T want to be calling campus security on your D!</p>
<p>FWIW, a picture phone will allow your D to send you a quick photo now and then. We sent a digital camera with each D. Ten semesters away from home and how many pics have we received via email? That’s right, ZERO. Lots of phone pics, thankfully.</p>
<p>What about winter clothes? Did you buy it in advance or usually kids can buy it over there?
Our D. is going to Missouri (from CA also) next year. I am really worried about her surviving the winter; I think she will be in flip flops until she loses them in the snow…</p>
<p>My daughter went from Southern California to the Midwest. </p>
<p>We went with her to move her into her dorm. Bed Bath and Beyond is great because you can go to a store at home, order what is needed and then pick it up at a store close to the school. </p>
<p>As far as clothing goes, she is fine with her UGGs and dressing in layers. The long walk to classes keeps her warm.</p>
<p>Midwesterners tend to be very nice so she has met a lot of people and whenever she has needed help with anything, or a ride somewhere, there has always been someone to help out. For example, she had several invitations for Thanksgiving break to choose among; she also had a ride back to school from the airport after Christmas.</p>
<p>Insurance issues depend on how you are covered and what the student health center offers. My daughter thought she might have strep throat and the whole visit (doctor and lab test) only cost $40.</p>
<p>She has an account at the school’s credit union. When she needs money we can go to a local credit union that is on the same network and deposit money. I would not want her to have a credit card, you can get into too much trouble (though I’m sure some parents would prefer that their kid has one for emergencies). </p>
<p>I agree with nysmile that you need to check out your cell phone plan. Not only do you need nationwide calling, your daughter needs unlimited texting. One month of going over your minutes or texts can be much more expensive than changing your plan.</p>
<p>Our S has used his credit card to buy a warmer jacket online, Christmas presents from Amazon, and plane tickets to go to Grandma’s house for spring break. We figured it was essential that he have a credit card, mostly for emergencies, and also so he could build up a credit rating.</p>
<p>You can find good winter stuff at LL Bean, Lands End, Penney’s etc. and have it shipped directly to her. She won’t need a winter coat until perhaps mid-October, which gives you time (mid-Sep to mid-Oct will be hoodies). Watch the weather channel to see what you might expect. Look at all of the on-line pictures of the campus that are available to get an idea of the fashions that she will need – probably just jeans, t-shirts and hoodies for clothes, and a pair of UGGS (LOL) that have been waterproofed. I bought my kid at Buffalo an electric blanket, just-in-case.</p>
<p>It might be a good idea to determine whether she is going to want to store her stuff over the summer or pack it up to come home. For storage, check out storage places and figure out how to get stuff there when she finishes exams.</p>
<p>Also, plan ahead for holidays. Thanksgiving is a tough one since it’s usually only three days - too short to come home, but the dorms are closed. Does the school have a dorm that stays open for OSS kids, will you fly to her, are there other family members nearby or will she check into a hotel if she doesn’t get invited home with someone local? (I agree that Midwesterners are very friendly).</p>
<p>In this day and age, a credit card is almost a necessity. We got one in S’s name when he was 16 and flew from the Midwest to the East Coast by himself for the first time. I wanted him to be able to handle an emergency if he needed to. He later flew to Europe by himself to join us, and I felt the same way. In fact, he managed to use the card to call us from Amsterdam to let us know his flight had been delayed. </p>
<p>Maybe it is different with boys and girls and cc’s, but we saw throughout those last 2 yrs of hs that S was responsible in using the card (since I paid the bill every month). He has a debit card with his money to use for ATM withdrawals and any non-school purchases. He uses the cc for travel, books, clothes, school supplies that we pay for. You can also put a limit on a cc although that might be problematic if you are saving it for an emergency. When there is an emergency, the limit might not be high enough.</p>
<p>INGUYE02</p>
<p>The last I recall reading your D was heading to Youngstown State and the NEOUCOM combined BS/MD program, is that still correct?</p>
<p>Our D went from CA to Michigan. She has never come home at Thanksgiving, but the dorms at her college remain open for Thanksgiving break; dorms are closed only at Christmas and Spring break, and she comes home for both of those.</p>
<p>At the time we took her to college, airlines were not charging for checked luggage, and we carried most of the things she took from home in duffel bags, which were easy to store. I can’t remember if we each checked 2 bags, but we could have; and then we carried on our own stuff. Now, of course, a lot of airlines charge for checked luggage, so that’s less appealing if you don’t have some sort of premium status.</p>
<p>We watched sales the summer before – Lands End, LLBean, other places – and got a winter coat for a song, boots, etc. Since Michigan had snow early in October that year, she was equipped. We did order a number of things here and had them sent to her college address – but colleges typically have beginning dates for when you are allowed to send items for them to hold. Otherwise, we shopped there; her college is convenient to about every major chain (Target, Home Depot, Office Depot, etc.).</p>
<p>We’re hoping D2 stays in California …</p>
<p>We got my son a credit card when he was traveling alone between sophmore and junior year (not traveling the whole time alone, just on the plane alone) so he would have it for emergencies. We intended to take it back, but he has been so good about it that we have let him keep it. I think he was so well behaved because he knew we could take it back at any time. He still asks if its ok to use it to buy gloves, etc. Downside: He did get into a bad habit of buying fast food after school - he thought we should be feeding him, so we wouldn’t mind him using the cc. Once brought to his attention that he could come home to eat, he stopped.</p>
<p>I am realizing that for next yaer, if we let him keep it, he will need to have limits set. Perhaps a budget? Not sure - if there are any suggestions, I’d appreciate it.</p>
<p>CA to MA for us. Wait until you get to the destination to buy the winter clothes. Styles may differ at college. Plus, you don’t want to have to pack them for the move in.</p>
<p>One thing that my D mentioned just recently. She was grateful that she got a credit card in her own name when she went off to college. It didn’t have a big limit when she started, but has gone up. Some of her friends who had credit cards connected to the parental account found out that they weren’t building credit in their own names.</p>
<p>Inguye 02</p>
<p>The reason I asked if your D was attending YSU and NEOUCOM is because both my wife and I grew up in Youngstown, my wife is a YSU grad, and all our families are still there so we visit regularly. I also have a cousin with a D who is in her second year at YSU/NEOUCOM. We may be able to shed some additional light on living there, best airports for travel etc.</p>
<p>One thing that no one has mentioned here is that Ohio is very dreary and cloudy in the winter. I’m pretty sure that Youngstown is not in the snow belt, so it’s also cold and gray, thay have some snow but most of the time, the landscape is just gray. It’s very different than CA and it takes some getting used to. When it is sunny in Ohio in the winter, it usually means that it’s very very cold.</p>
<p>My S went 600 miles north of where we live to a place that has lots more snow than he was used to. He was misreable the first winter and I’m sure that the weather and darkness was a lot of the problem. </p>
<p>I know that NEOUCOM is very intense, I would make sure that your D makes a point of getting out of the dorms and has regular exercise. It really makes a difference. College kids love to live like vampires, sleep all day, up all night. SADD can be a problem, esp. when coming from a sunnier enviroment.</p>
<p>I agree on the waiting until at least October for winter clothing purchases. Let your daughter see what others who know what real winter is and how to deal with it have for winter wear. Let them advise her. Remind her a few days before she travels home for winter break, as it may be warm then, to pack some cold weather gear. It’s most likely going to be very cold when she returns to school in January.</p>
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<p>Ha, last night I received a report that my CA kid was spotted making his daily trip to Starbucks in Boston last week dressed in t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. Should be enough sun on skin exposure to hold off SADD for a while, right?</p>
<p>Congrats on the NEOUCOM early acceptance!! For bedding Target always has really cute choices! She can pick it out in the store & order it online to be shipped to her PO Box on campus. Call YSU Mail Services & ask them when is the earliest they will receive & hold packages for her before the summer semester begins. Also be sure to get XL Twin sheets. Northface is very popular winter wear. See if your Sports Authority has the polar fleece jackets for fall. And get one of those ‘sunlight’ desk lamps (saw it at Walmart the other day) that help with SADD. And Uggs.</p>
<p>As a SoCal to New England parent, one piece of advice is to supply a budget of cash with which to buy winter clothing on site after he/she gets there. It’s hard to find the <em>right</em> winter clothes in SoCal, at least “right” vis a vis New England winters. As it turns out, we visited on Family Weekend during that first October and some of those things were taken care of then.</p>
<p>School was one thing but traveling for internships or other off campus things was another. When D was interning in DC, she got a Citibank account, which allowed us to easily put money in it with just a deposit slip here.</p>
<p>A nationwide “family” cell plan is a good idea as indicated. We’re on Verizon…works well in our area and as the best at her college. Mileage will vary with locales.</p>
<p>Ditto all the suggestions about a credit card for emergencies. D got a credit card with very low limit, a card associated with the local near-campus checking account. Limit was slowly raised and card was kept after she graduated and closed that bank account. She also has a card on my AmEx account which is for <em>real</em> emergencies.</p>
<p>Before moving to campus, do a spreadsheet of everything you think your D will need, sort it by type, and then do a triage: what should she bring with her, what is too heavy/bulky/trivial to take in luggage or ship and thus be purchased locally.</p>
<p>eadad,</p>
<p>Yes, my daughter got the NEOUCOM early acceptance. She has turned down all other out-of-state interview invitations because of YSU/NEOUCOM 6 year program. We don’t know whether it’s the right decision for not.
Any advices, really appreciated!</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>