By Eric Bennett, College Countdown Editor, ScholarShare 529 

August 6, 2024

Preparing for college drop-off day can be overwhelming. So, here are a few practical matters to consider before your student leaves home.

What to do before your student leaves for college:

  1. Transfer Money—Make sure you can transfer money to your student through bank accounts or services like Venmo for urgent situations.
  2. Medical or Psychological Care – Arrange ongoing care for any preexisting medical or psychological conditions. Contact the student health center to learn about local resources and available services.
  3. Medical Information – Make sure your student knows their medical history, including details of surgeries, allergies, or illnesses. This information is crucial at times when they may not be able to get in touch with you. 
  4. Medical Records Access – Once your teen turns 18, their medical information is protected by HIPPA. Decide if you need access to their records and sign any necessary documents before they leave. 
  5. Local Medical Facilities—Find a local urgent care or emergency room that accepts your health insurance so you won’t have to pay high out-of-pocket costs. A resource like Zocdoc can help. Have your student save these contact details.
  6. Insurance Cards – Make sure your student has health and dental insurance cards with photos of both sides on their phone.
  7. Social Security Number – Make sure they memorize their social security number – they’ll need it. 
  8. First Aid – Create a small first-aid kit with necessary medications and treatments.
  9. Ridesharing—Give them a ridesharing gift card for emergency rides. Our teens might swear they won’t drink and drive, but nevertheless, give them some ride-sharing funds to keep them safe. 
  10. Roommate Contact Info – Share your student’s roommate’s contact information. You may need it in an emergency.
  11. Prescriptions – Plan how they will get their prescriptions filled locally, whether new or preexisting. Check for a local 24-hour pharmacy.
  12. Grade Information—The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) means parents don’t automatically have access to grades. For some families, this works. For others, access to grades is. Sign the appropriate documents to enable you to see their grades.
  13. Budgeting – Talk about budgeting. For Freshmen, this might include a small budget for extras. For upper-level students, breaking down living expenses helps them realistically plan for rent, insurance, food, and entertainment.

It’s never too early to prepare your student for college – their journey to independence.

About the author: 

Eric Bennett is the editor for College Countdown, a website maintained by ScholarShare 529 for families with college-bound kids. Eric has over three decades of experience in higher education managing recruitment and marketing, financial aid, and student development at three universities from Georgia to California to New York City.