With your student's final year of high school winding down, the list of things to do may seem limitless. One way to help manage the stress and emotions of the final months before your child goes off to college is to make an organized list of items to do.
Here are some items to include for each month between March of senior year and the start of freshman year of college:
March
If your student hasn't made a final college decision, consider virtual or in-person visits to those that have offered acceptance and your student is still considering.
- Use these trips to help your student envision what it would be like to attend each school and decide if it's a good fit.
- You may wish to help your student set up visits to specific departments or programs or to sit in classes.
Compare financial aid offers from the schools that remain on the list. Your student can contact a school's financial aid office with any questions about the aid offered.
April
Work with your student to make a final college selection by the end of the month, as many colleges require a commitment by May 1.
- Your student should notify the chosen school and make any required deposits.
- Check for specific forms or actions that need to be completed, and add deadlines to your calendar.
- Your student should also notify other schools that he or she will not attend and send a thank-you for any special assistance or offers.
Help your student understand the full cost of attending college.
Help your student set reminders for requesting final transcripts.
- The high school counseling office may have required forms or processes for this.
- Check on whether the student needs to make a separate request for transcripts for any college courses already completed, such as dual enrollment classes.
Check personal IDs and documents.
- Have your student renew his or her driver's license or passport if necessary before going to college.
- Consider TSA Precheck and Global Entry if your student will be flying frequently or expects to travel internationally.
Help your student finish strong.
- Advanced Placement exams occur at the beginning of May. If your student is enrolled in AP classes, be sure to help them understand if a particular score is needed to obtain credit for courses at the selected college.
- Encourage your student to try to achieve the best grades possible for second semester of senior year. Disciplinary or academic issues could result in a college rescinding acceptance or scholarships.
May
Review the college's timeline for completing actions and submitting forms and deposits.
- Your student may need to sign up for orientation to enroll in classes, select a residence hall or roommates, opt in or out of college-sponsored health insurance and take other action.
- Work with your student to set up access to a student or parent portal offered by the college.
- Determine whether the college requires a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) agreement to provide parents with information about a student.
Make a four-year plan for coursework.
- If your student has decided on a major, look for an existing flowchart or plan of required and elective classes available from the school. If none is available, look at the requirements for the major and start to plan out possibilities based on class offerings from previous years' course catalogs.
- Even if your student is undecided, you can look together for interesting entry-level classes, prerequisites for a particular academic college and graduation requirements to create a one- to two-year plan.
Plan needed transportation and accommodations.
- Many college towns have limited hotel availability, especially on popular weekends for move-in, parent weekends, breaks and move-out.
- Watch for deals on airfare, hotels and other accommodations and venues.
June
Work on life skills with your student.
- Ensure your student can carry out the functions of everyday college life, such as waking up on time for early classes, doing laundry, arranging transportation, making appointments and preparing simple meals.
- Discuss how your student will obtain money, such as from a job or from you, and access it for transactions. Many students use combinations of a credit or debit card, payment apps like Venmo or PayPal, cash withdrawals, and other forms of payment.
Encourage contact with future roommates.
- Whether your student selected or was assigned a roommate, it can be helpful for people who will be sharing a small space for an extended time to have some preliminary conversations about preferences, habits, who is bringing what and any special needs.
- You may want to encourage a meeting before move-in if the roommate lives nearby or can arrange to attend the same orientation session as your student.
Develop a network.
- The college your child will attend may have parent associations, alumni groups or other organizations you can join.
- Look for groups on social media, such as Facebook and Twitter. These groups can be a forum for information and support now and throughout college.
July
Start exploring the college community with your student.
- You may wish to find activities to participate in for future visits.
- Your student may want to investigate student organizations, community service opportunities, events and activities as well.
Shop for books and supplies.
- As soon as the class schedule is finalized, your student can start looking for assigned books. Encourage comparison shopping between the college bookstore, other bookstores and online sites. Also compare rentals to used and new purchases, and compare downloads and ebooks to printed materials.
- Be aware that many college courses also require an electronic access code, which may not be included with used, rented or electronic versions.
- Determine what dorm furnishings and supplies are needed and start shopping for those.
Talk to your student about common college student issues and how to get help.
- You may wish to talk about drug and alcohol use, as well as other behaviors.
- College students often face academic issues when entering college, even if they were excellent high school students. Discuss the advantages and availability of professor office hours, study groups, teaching assistants, help centers, tutoring and other resources.
- Mental health can often be a concern for college students as well. Most campuses offer counseling and other services; encourage your student to be aware of how to reach out.
- Your student may have specific physical, dietary, emotional or other needs. If you are unsure about the help available, contact student services or admissions for direction.
Consider dorm or renters insurance for lost, damaged or stolen valuable items like laptops, cell phones, bikes and other assets. Homeowners insurance may cover some losses for your student, but an inexpensive dorm policy from a specialized provider may be an option if you have a high deductible.
August
Make a communication plan.
- Sometimes it's helpful for the parents and the student to know when they will next speak to each other after the move.
- You may want to set up a regular time and day for a video or phone chat.
Get ready for the big move. Be prepared for emotions to run high as your student faces a new situation and leaves behind familiar friends and family.
