You are making lists of “don’t forget” items because the countdown is on. You are moving your student to Athens in just a couple of weeks. I’m sure you have checked off many of the “to-do” items on your list. You’ve bought the XL twin bedding, bathroom supplies, and much more. And hopefully you read and have started the conversations I highlighted in Real Talk: A Conversation Before They Leave Home on Relationships, Substances, Money, and How to Address an Envelope. Here are a few other reminders for a few “don’t forget items”, things your student needs to have in their possession or that you should discuss before leaving them in their residence hall to kick off their college journey.
10 Don’t Forget Items
- Insurance Cards including the prescription card.
- Continuity of medical care. If your student is on any prescription medications, make sure you have a plan in place for refills and follow-up appointments if required. Read Sick in Athens: Options for Care for more information.
- Eyes. Does your student wear glasses or contacts? Do they have a sufficient supply of contacts and a back-up pair of glasses? Do they have an updated written copy of their prescription for glasses and contacts if replacements are needed?
- Bank Account and credit card. No matter how you are paying for college, your student will need money for incidentals, special class requirements, and other incidentals. Athens has branches of Chase Bank, OUCU Financial, Peoples Bank, Hocking Valley Bank, and WesBanco Bank among others. There is also a PNC Bank ATM in the CVS on Court Street. Today with abundant ATMs and online banking including the ability to remote deposit checks, you probably don’t need to establish a “local” bank. However, you should have a plan in place for getting money to your student should a need arise. This could include providing them with a credit card. You know what works for your family in this regard, so be clear with your student on expected and permitted use.
- Social Security Number. There may be a reason your student needs their social security number. I would recommend having them memorize the number or you keeping it handy if they need it. I would not recommend sending the card with them to school. There should be no reason they’d need to show it and the risk of losing it or having it compromised is too great in my opinion.
- Rental Insurance. You should check with your own homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy to see if your student’s belongings have extended coverage. This would be for lost or stolen belongings and damage such as flood or fire on-campus or off-campus.
- Contact Info for Roommate. This may be considered controversial. But you may have greater peace of mind if you have a phone number for your student’s roommate(s) and they have your number in case of an emergency. I’d stress that you should only use this in an emergency situation when you can’t reach of your student not simply because your student didn’t call 5 minutes ago when they said they would.
- Umbrella. It rains in Athens more than any of us want to admit. I don’t care what your student says. Send them with an umbrella.
- Duffle or carry-on suitcase. For weekends home, for weekends visiting friends at other schools, or as an extra laundry bag when they really let things pile up.
- Key ring/card holder. Self-explanatory.
I’m sure I’ve missed some things. Let us know what else parents should make sure they have covered before leaving their student at college. Looking for more information before moving on campus? Read the “Where do I find…?” information page on OHIO’s housing page.
To understand more about what your student will experience their first year, check out Learning Community 101: Focused on Fall and General Education Requirements: Ohio University’s BRICKS.
