Getting Ready for College — Whatever it Looks Like

Getting ready for college can be tough on everyone — students may be nervous to move away and start a new chapter, and parents, family and friends may not be ready to say goodbye.

Here are some helpful tips to make the transition a little easier for everyone — no matter what life looks like this fall.

Students

Join the freshman Facebook group for your given school and connect with other students — doing this as soon as possible will be helpful in looking for a roommate, if you don’t already have one or don’t want to opt for a random one. This group also helps students find peers in the same dorm, the same major or even some of the same classes. This gives students an opportunity to connect and make friends before the semester starts.

Parents and Students

Check out multiple college packing lists to make sure you have everything you need — avoid the stress of getting there and realizing you’ve forgotten something important. Double check the list specified by your college or dorm as some have restrictions.

Plan in advance for when the family will go visit the college for the weekend. Confirm if the school has a parents weekend, as the campus normally offers plenty of planned activities.

Parents

Most colleges have Facebook pages for freshman parents, where they can keep in touch with others going through the same experience. These groups can also be great for updates or posts from parents with the same questions you may have, and likely another will have the answer. Also it is a place where you can go to connect with other people going through the same empty-nest syndrome.