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Schools

Preparing You and Your New Freshman for College

Tips and strategies for helping parents and their new college student survive leaving home.

Soon many young adults will be starting their gradual descent from the nest as they begin their new lives at college.

Although this is an exciting time, it's also melancholic, especially for parents of a freshman only or youngest child.

The next couple of weeks will fly by as you shop and accumulate mass quantities of supplies that your new college freshman will require. As a parent of a newly graduated college student, I can remember loading him down that first year with a ton of stuff he didn't need, only to discover several things we were lacking once we got to the dormitory.

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Here's a couple of items that can come in handy for the new freshman:

  • Hanging shoe racks and other space savers - Many of the dorms are quite small and lack storage space. Items such as vertical hanging devices, hanging shoe racks and underbed storage containers will be invaluable, especially for girls.
  • Bedding - Be aware that many dorm beds are actually long twins. Check with your housing services department so that you can buy the appropriate size bedding.
  • A surge protector - Especially with some of the older dorms, there may only be a couple of electrical outlets available. Get a surge protector so that your student can keep his laptop, refrigerator, hair dryer and other electrical devices plugged in.
  • Shower shoes - Those communal bathrooms can be gross; shower shoes come in handy.
  • A lap tray for her bed - Long nights studying at a desk can be uncomfortable. Lap trays can hold a laptop, provide a writing surface and allow for the occasional takeout meal.
  • Rental refrigerators can be pricey, gross and old - Shop Craigslist, store sales and garage sales, and you'll likely find a clean, almost new dorm-size refrigerator and end up saving money as well.

Skype can be a handy way for all of you to communicate without incurring costly phone bills. Set it up on your child's laptop if he doesn't already have it.

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Gift cards to restaurants, bookstores and fast food establishments are a thoughtful gift for your new college student so they can treat themselves to a meal away from cafeteria food.

As I was helping my son prepare for leaving, a client shared her tradition with me. With each child, she wrote a letter and tucked it into his or her new dorm bed before she left. In the letter, she expressed how special they were to her and how proud she was to have had the opportunity to be their mother.

I loved this idea and prepared my own letter. I found it to be a very cathartic experience, allowing me my moment to reminisce about memorable moments from his childhood years and, of course, to cry. I also wanted to make sure my son knew how important he was to me and hoped to provide some comfort from home as he embarked on his new journey in life.

Also, plan some type of an event for after you drop your child off. You may be surprised at how tearful and sad you are as you wave goodbye. My husband took me away for a long weekend after we returned home. It provided a much-needed bridge to our new life as quasi-empty nesters. 

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