11 Things College-Bound Freshmen Should Do BEFORE they Leave Home

Turning eighteen is an exciting milestone in many young people’s lives. However, with the freedoms that come with becoming a legal adult come adult responsibilities. Simultaneously, when their children turn eighteen, parents will find that their power is vastly eroded and they can no longer act on their child’s behalf.

In order to minimize the chances of surprises and assure all parties are well prepared for the transition to adulthood, college-bound students are advised to take these ten steps before leaving home.

ONE: ESTABLISH OWNERSHIP OF YOUR HEALTHCARE

1. Make an appointment and get a physical

2. Make sure you are up to date with all of your shots

3. Set up an online account with your primary care physician

4. Ensure you have enough prescription refills to last the semester and a plan in place for controlled substance prescriptions

TWO: ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

1. Understand the breadth and scope of mental health services provided at your college

2. If you see a counselor on a regular basis, check and see if they can continue seeing you remotely

3. If you need to find an alternative local counselor, identify one and set up an initial appointment

4. Ensure all medications have sufficient refills to last the semester

5. Solidify a plan to ensure that you remember to take meds as prescribed

6. Consider regularly scheduled check-ins with a parent or other trusted resource 

THREE: PLAN YOUR DENTAL CARE

1. Make an appointment to get your teeth cleaned

2. Make another appointment for when you are home for the holidays

Tip: the June/December rotation can work well!

FOUR: GENERAL WELL-BEING

1. Consider taking vitamins: College students are notorious for burning the candle at both ends!

2. Exercise: Get into the habit of taking care of your physical body

3. Monitor what you eat and drink: Pay attention to what you consume so that your mindfulness carries into freshman year

4. Practice buying groceries 

5. Learn to do your laundry, and make a college laundry plan that includes sheets and towels

6. Acquire a basic first-aid kit

FIVE: PERSONAL FINANCES

1. Ensure you have a bank account

2. Get a debit and/or a credit card (click HERE for Nerd Wallet’s list of best credit cards for students 2024)

3. Create a budget 

4. Set up Venmo for easy and free money transfers

5. Get a job and earn some money

6. Make a semester or year-long budget

SIX: LEGAL DOCUMENTS, ID, FORMS, etc.

1. Gather important documents, such as social security card, health insurance cards, and plan to store them in a safe place

2. Sign a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Waiver
   A FERPA Waiver allows the college to disclose education records to the parents. While I am by no means suggesting that parents insert themselves in the college experience, signing a FERPA waiver could be helpful in the event of unforeseen circumstances

2. Sign a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Authorization (HIPPA). A HIPPA Authorization allows parents to obtain information about their child’s health and treatment.

3. Appoint a Health Care Proxy/Health Care Power of Attorney
   A Health Care Proxy/Health Care Power of Attorney allows a parent or other designated person to make medical decisions on a person's behalf if the person is unable to make such decisions due to being incapacitated

4. Appoint a Power of Attorney
   A Durable Power of Attorney gives a parent or other designated person the authority to handle financial and legal matters on the child’s behalf if the child is incapacitated.

5. Make a Living Will
   A Living Will, also known as an Advance Directive, specifies the child’s preferences if they are in a persistent vegetative state, unable to communicate, or otherwise incapacitated. A Living Will also details preferences regarding end-of-life medical care. It may also address the child’s wishes concerning organ and tissue donation.

6. Insurance: Check and see if college students’ possessions are covered by homeowners insurance and consider renter’s insurance if needed

SEVEN: PLAN FOR ACADEMIC NEEDS

1. If you plan to use accommodations, ensure that all documentation meets institutional requirements

2. Contact Disability Services and request accommodations

3. Locate all sources of support you think you might need

4. Make sure you have a time-management system that works for you (e.g., Google Calendar, i-Cal, planner, etc.)

5. If Academic and/or Executive Function coaching will be needed, make all arrangements before classes start

EIGHT: DOWNLOAD A RIDESHARE APP

1. Download Uber and/or Lyft

2. Ensure that a valid and reliable form of payment is entered

3. Click HERE to read rideshare safety tips from Uber

NINE:  RESEARCH COLLEGE MAJORS AND CAREERS

While knowing what you want to study is not essential, since college is SO expensive, it is smart to complete as much research as possible before starting classes. Click HERE for free tips and tools.

…. And, of course, no pre-college to-do list would be complete without a reference to social media presence.

TEN: CLEAN UP ALL SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS

Remove pictures and content don’t represent the image you want to convey. As you prepare to apply for professional internships, career jobs, and/or graduate school, know that employers and universities may check your social accounts before accepting or hiring people. 

For more information on all things related to the college admissions process, feel free to reach out at kathy@fineeducationalsolutions.com 

ELEVEN: BECOME FAMILIAR WITH CAMPUS RESOURCES

Familiarize yourself with campus resources like libraries, gyms, career services, tutoring centers, the Writing Center, medical services, and counseling centers. Understand the location and hours of these facilities. All of this information is available on college websites.