Summertime preparation for college checklist

June 28, 11:35 AMNewark Colleges ExaminerCheryl Janus

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Congratulations! You’ve graduated from high school and have been accepted to a school (hopefully of your choice!)  To help you get organized so you can have a relaxing summer, here’s a checklist of things you need to take care of before you leave for college:

- Apply for housing and submit a housing deposit.  Make sure you have done this as many schools make their freshman housing assignments in the month of July.  

- Many schools now have summer reading programs for their students.  Don’t let this discourage you and think it’s “so high school.”  It’s actually a great program that helps all of the freshman class have one common point when they begin the semester.

- Gather up your immunization records or get those last needed shots.  Certain vaccinations are required by law in order for students to be enrolled in college.  The college’s health services office will need copies your immunization records.  If you don’t submit them, this could hold you up on attending class, moving in, or registering for classes for the next semester.

- Proof of health insurance coverage is also required by colleges.  Most colleges offer their own health insurance but allow the student the right to waive this coverage if they can prove they are covered under some other health insurance policy.  

- Look into insurance policies to see if your family’s homeowners insurance protects your belongings when you’re at college. Some do, some don’t.  

- Discuss money matters with your family.   Will you have an allowance? How will bills get paid and by whom? Who will co-sign loans for you?  Think about opening a debit card bank account designed just for students where both a parent and the student are listed on the account.  This makes sending money to poor college students much easier.  It’s important to discuss budgeting now so there are no surprises of an empty bank account after one too many pizza nights.

- Also on the subject of money matters, most colleges require you to have account clearance before you can move in.  Make sure you are current on your student account before you load up the car to move in.  Remember, since most schools move in on weekends, most banks are closed and can’t send or verify loan checks.  

- Communication expectations.  How often will you call home? What’s a reasonable amount of time between phone calls before parents should become worried?  Also, now that most of you are 18 and heading to college, you’re considered an adult in the eyes of the law.  This means you don’t have to show your parents your grades but it also means you don’t have to show them the bills.  My guess is if your parents are paying for your education, they’ll want to see your grades – good and bad.  

- Talk about prescription medications.  Where will you get refills? More importantly, where will you keep your prescriptions safe when you move into the residence halls?  Today’s college students are coming to school on more medication than ever before and other students know that.  It’s important to keep it safe so as to prevent the theft and abuse of prescription drugs.  

- Speaking of substance abuse, it’s never too late to have a talk about behavior and values, especially when going off to college is the time when these things are tested the most.

- Hit up Target, Walmart, or Bed Bath & Beyond for those much-needed college essentials.  Make sure whatever you buy though is allowed on your campus.  For example, those really fun multi-colored multi-bulb “medusa” lamps aren’t allowed at the school I work at since the bulbs get too hot, melt the plastic covers, and can cause fires.  Check out your school’s residence life webpage for a list of things you can bring and can’t bring.  

-  When will you come home? Colleges have breaks throughout the year when the residence halls close, mostly between semesters, for Thanksgiving, and spring break, but then some schools close for a fall break in October and for Easter as well.  How will you get home? Is there someone at school you can arrange to carpool with?

- Check out your college admissions’ webpage to see if they have an Enrollment Checklist of institution-specific needs that need to be completed before the year can begin.