This and That: Some Things to Consider as You Prepare to Start College

Hey, I get it. It’s late on Friday afternoon in July. You’re thinking about beating the traffic and maybe getting an early start on your weekend. Fair enough.

But I know too that for the students (and parents/families of students) who will be starting college this fall, the day you have circled in red on your calendar is fast approaching and there is still a lot to do to get ready. And that nagging voice in the back of your head keeps reminding you that you are probably forgetting to do something that you didn’t even know you needed to do.

So, I thought I’d share some thoughts on a few random items that often fly under the getting-ready-to-go-to-college radar. I’ve even conveniently put them in a bulleted format so that you can print them out and have a tidy little list to stick under a magnet on the fridge. Here goes:

• Tuition Insurance – If you haven’t already done so, I strongly recommend that you look into getting tuition insurance. I know. It’s one more expense and the odds are that you will never need it. True and true. But if Sally gets her second concussion playing soccer or Billy gets knocked flat by mono in November there’s a decent chance that s/he will miss so much class time that it is not possible to successfully complete the semester. Now you’re looking at being out a few hundred dollars for tuition insurance as opposed to something on the order of $33,000 for a semester with no credits to show for it. This is one where I always advise folks to bite the bullet and buy the insurance.
• Renter’s Insurance – I swear I’m not on the payroll for State Farm, and this whole post is not going to be about insurance. But, if you look at your college’s student handbook (it is almost certainly accessible on the website) you will find that by and large they do not cover you for loss, theft, or damage of property. In some cases, if you have property in your residence hall room that is damaged by a sprinkler malfunction or pipes freezing and bursting, etc., the college’s insurance may cover it. But don’t count on it. And if you leave for the weekend and somebody breaks into your room and steals your laptop or Playstation or road bike, then you are pretty much out of luck. Also, if you are living off-campus in an apartment, or a privately owned fraternity/sorority house, odds are good that you will be on your own for anything not covered by your own insurance. Find out the specifics at your college, and look into whether or not it makes sense for you to get additional insurance for things you plan to bring to school.
• Don’t wait to have the “big” talks – The transition that you are heading into – both students and parents – is a huge one and there is a lot that you should be talking about. Living away from home, making good choices about alcohol and drugs and relationships, preventing sexual violence and personal safety, the excitement and anxiety you feel, etc. – all big important topics. Both my personal and professional experience is that students want to have these conversations with parents, and appreciate them more than parents may know. And, if there are challenging moments that arise after you have started college, it is easier to manage them if you have already thought about and discussed the issues before.
• More students, less parents – While I suspect that most of you have been doing this all summer, just to be clear, you – students – should be in charge of your college experience. You should be filling out the forms and making the appointments and figuring out where to ship the boxes you plan to send by UPS and when they can be picked up once you get to campus. If there is a mix-up with your housing or your course registration, you need to be the one to call and straighten it out. And parents, you need to let them. I know, it’s a big change. Up until now it has mostly been our job to be out front and clear the way for them. But learning how to manage the details and frustrations of daily life is part of going to college. So we need to step back to allow them to step up. (To be sure – this is a big topic that we’ll revisit more than once in the future.)
• Pack light: Less is more – You’re really not going to need as much as you think you will. The amount of stuff students haul off to college and cram into dorm rooms can get to be more than a little silly pretty quickly. By the time the televisions and couches and refrigerators and microwave ovens are wedged into the nooks and crannies not already filled by beds, desks, and wardrobes, there is barely space left for anybody to actually use them. Yes, your room is going to be your home away from home. But the best and most meaningful part of living in a residence hall is the time you spend coming to know your classmates and talking with them. The people matter much more than the things. I know I sound like a crusty old curmudgeon prattling on about how much better things were back in the day. But that’s not what I’m saying. And I promise you my mother, who watched me load down the family car every semester with chairs and fridges and stereo equipment and, and, and… is rolling her eyes at the hypocrisy of my giving this advice. I’m just saying, you might want to hold off on bringing everything all at once. Wait to get a sense of how you spend your time and what things will prove to be most valuable over time.

That’s enough for now. Good luck with the Friday traffic and have a great weekend.

Author: jterhune

Jim Terhune is an educator with over 30 years of experience as a senior administrator and dean at top colleges. Jim is founder and principal at James Terhune Consulting, LLC (JTC) - an educational consulting firm that provides counsel, strategic management assistance, and practical advice to colleges, schools, and students aimed at enhancing and enriching the student experience. Before launching JTC, Jim spent 11 years at Colby College as vice president for strategic initiatives (2016-2017) and vice president for student affairs and dean of students (2006–2016). Prior to Colby, he worked for 15 years at Colgate University in a number of leadership roles including director of student activities, dean of first-year students, associate dean of the college, and dean of student affairs. Jim began his career in higher education at Middlebury College in student activities and the dean of students office. He has an A.B. in English from Middlebury College and an Ed.M. in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from Harvard University. View all posts by jterhune