College Checklist: 10 Tips to Help Prepare Your Kids

Preparing your son or daughter for college can be a daunting task. Between the dorm room checklist, family vacations and packing to send your kid off for several months, no doubt something may fall between the cracks. (Thank goodness for the local drug store!) You want to make sure to send your future college grad off well prepared. Here are a few tips to help you complete your college checklist and make sure everyone will be ready for the “first day of school”:

1. Make a checklist. Put your thoughts in writing so you can mark things off as you complete the task. From buying a new laundry basket to updating vaccinations, jot everything down and keep adding and checking off as you go. If you prefer a digital to-do list, refer to this Forbes article for their favorite productivity apps.
2. Set up a bank account. Discuss money, monthly allowance or earnings, ATM safety and your family views on loaning and borrowing money from friends.
3. Order textbooks early. Don’t wait until the week before classes begin to purchase the required books. Instead, place the order online to avoid long bookstore lines and backorders.
4. Don’t forget the basics. You don’t want your child going off to college without the essentials. What your child will need depends on the particular dorm. Here is a great checklist I found online provided by The College Board.
5. Go to the doctor. Most universities require a physical and specific shots. Make the appointment in early summer before the doctor’s office gets into the annual back to school rush. Schedule dental, eye and allergy exams so you have ample time to update prescriptions.
6. Clothing basics. Although your college freshman is considered an adult, it never hurts to do your own inventory. Silly as it sounds, guys pay little attention to the number of holes in their boxers! It’s easier to buy them now, rather than send them in a care package alongside cookies and other treats.
7. Reach out to the roommate. Divide and conquer on who will be bringing what to the dorm room. There is limited space for multiple mini fridges, and too few can openers. Will you need curtains, a TV, disposable plates, a microwave or matching comforters? Maybe yes, maybe no, just decide in advance.
8. Discuss expectations. Topics like driving within a certain mile radius, checking in on a daily or weekly basis and different safety rules should be a part of a parent’s conversation. Every family has different requirements, and it’s important to be on the same page.
9. Map out the area. Find the cafeteria, medical clinic and bookstore on campus. Off campus, research and locate a trusted doctor’s office, a close pharmacy (hopefully one that delivers and is 24 hours), a grocery store and other places your child will eventually need to frequent. Create a list for easy reference. Your adult child may roll their eyes, but will thank you when they develop hives and need to take action quickly.
10. Send him or her off with a smile. It’s counterproductive to raise your new college bound child to soar, only to cry hysterically when they spread their wings. Start rehearsing your goodbye now, so you don’t make him or her feel bad as you drive off into the sunset. Be adventurous, find a new project, and have some fun of your own.