<p>I have seen lots of lists for "what to pack" for students, but haven't come across a to-do list for parents. Just wondering if anyone has suggestions so we can avoid those "How could I have forgotten that?" moments. Following are some tips I have gotten from various threads. Please feel free to add!</p>
<p>1) Get renters/student insurance for laptop etc. Don't add to homeowners so rates won't be effected if claim is made.
2) Notify auto insurer if your student is moving long distance without their car. You may get a nice rate break.
3) Find nearest in-network clinic/Dr for your health insurance provider if student will be on your policy. (my contribution)
4) Start thinking about arrangements for travel home for the holidays. Those reservations fill up quickly.</p>
<p>Call your health insurance provider and find out what forms, if any, are needed to continue coverage for your college student. Or check with the HR.</p>
<p>Check what immunizations the child’s college will require, what health forms and by what date s/he will need to fill out, and schedule an appointment for a physical exam if needed.</p>
<p>as soon as my son does orientation and we find out the dates, I will book him a flight home for Thanksgiving. Also will remind him to make sure he has a local bank to deal with.</p>
<p>Got this idea from CC when my DD was an incoming freshman—print labels w/child name/dorm name/&room# and place them on the suitcases/boxes/bags of items to be carried from the car to the dorm room That way-in all the exuberance of those fellow students helping-- will make sure it gets to the correct room!</p>
<p>If using a payment plan (such as Tuition Management Systems) make sure you enroll & pay the fee. Payments usually start in June. </p>
<p>I made hotel reservations for bringing D to Orientation, Fall Family Weekend & Spring Family Weekend. D is responsible for making her own doctor appointment for the physical & stated she would do so ASAP to get it over with! </p>
<p>Also, now is the time to shop around for another home heating oil provider if you were unhappy with last year’s supplier! We just switched & saved some money; it usually pays to look around-things like car insurance, house insurance, life insurance, home heating oil.</p>
<p>We got son set up with an internet bank account which included a credit card. (Recommend USAA if you are a member.)
And being dinosaurs we didn’t have a cellphone family plan yet.</p>
<p>We usually end up doing Thanksgiving reservations after our kid knows what his class schedule is as he can often leave Tuesday afternoon.</p>
<p>All good suggestions. Here’s a couple more:</p>
<p>**Book hotel for Move In weekend NOW (I realize for some people it’s the same thing as Orientation, but not for all).</p>
<p>**Find out what banks the ATMs on campus are affiliated with. We learned to our great surprise that S’s school did not have a Bank of America in New Orleans. I was able to work out a deal with them re the ATM withdrawal fees for “out of network”. S ultimately also opened a small account with local bank.</p>
<p>I always send a personal medicine box - beyond a first aid kit - that includes any over the counter medicine your kid might need - ice packs, kleenex. cough drops, tums, all the usual first aid kit stuff, decongestants, you name it!</p>
<p>My wife got each a day planner and marked dates, addresses and phone numbers in it. She also got them a wall calendar with the same dates marked. </p>
<p>Get medical claim forms for them to have, plus stamps and envelopes. They’ll likely lose them, but at least you can say you did it.</p>
<p>Bring a battery powered drill when you go down to set them up in the dorm. Very useful for putting furniture together. </p>
<p>Fill prescriptions and get contacts/glasses before going. Find a nearby pharmacy to fill future prescriptions.</p>
<p>When looking at the dorm room, find every mark and scratch and note it on the form. You can never put down too much (the kids usually mark nothing and wonder why they have to pay for prior damage). </p>
<p>Take time to find the campus post office and show them it’s location, if you want to get anything mailed to you.</p>
<p>Get them a small tool kit with screwdrivers, pliers, etc. in it. It will come in handy.</p>
<p>We also sent a small tool kit and our son did use it. I got him a first aid kit and added some things and had a talk about dangerous symptoms. Stiff neck, high fevers, abdominal pain.</p>
My mom (son’s only grandparent) is in a nursing home. I made address labels so he could easily send cards. We picked out greeting cards–together, so I really wasn’t doing it all–that would last through the semester. I got a kick out of reading the notes he wrote to her from college.
Invest in the best laptop you’re able to afford. My S carries his everywhere.
If your child is going to want a bike on campus, research the best way to buy a used one there, not at home. Some colleges have bike sales. We found one on Craigslist.
Order a health insurance card from your insurance plan for your child.
Make sure he/she has all family addresses (snail and e-mail) and phone numbers.
Clean out all those college application folders, including the huge mountain of marketing literature. You really don’t need them anymore. You’re finished at last. Congratulations!</p>
<p>I put all the information that many have mentioned - claim forms, symptoms lists, maps, public transportation schedules, website addresses (such as the Hacker site - for late night paper writing - at 3 am who remembers how to do the proper MLA or APA citation?), etc. in a 3 ring binder with protector sheets.</p>
<p>Oh yes and make sure they know where the nearest grocery and drug stores are and how to get to them - depending on the campus, they are not always that close.</p>
<p>Make copies of SS card and passport- kid will need either of them to begin employment and to fill out the I-9. Leave originals at home, take copies to campus.</p>
<p>Download list of all medical interactions of any prescription stuff your kid takes- so when they show up at the infirmary with the flu, they can hand the staff the list of what they’re taking and what they shouldn’t be taking.</p>
<p>Get copies (now, before the back to school rush) of your kids immunization records from birth. Schedule the menigitis vaccination; make sure your kid has had a Tetanus booster in the last few years; if your daughter wants the HPV vaccine get those appointments now (it’s a series of three). Schedule teeth cleaning for over the summer; ditto eye dr if your kid wears glasses or contacts.</p>
<p>…
7. After you book hotel for move in weekend, Book SUV if you are flying to
college…makes the schlep from the airport and those trips to Bed, Bath/Target,
etc., easier…
8. Book doctor, dentist, hair (for D’s) appointments for when they come home for
winter break!
9. Make appointment to have bedroom carpet cleaned after they leave!</p>