Admitted Student Checklist for a Strong Start to College
By Karen Treon, Senior Editor & College Parent
As your high school senior gets closer to graduation, life gets hectic. Final exams, graduation parties, and traditions like prom all blend together with a bit of “senioritis” and nostalgia thrown in the mix. If your student has been admitted and is attending college next year, they probably have some to do items on that list. Here’s a quick list of reminders to help you through the process:
Double check that your student has officially “committed” to the school they plan to attend. This means that they have checked the box, hit submit, and received a confirmation email or seen the confirmation in their student portal.
We suggest that students bookmark their portal and check it regularly. Most portals are very well-organized and helpful. The portal will be their guide to things like:
Housing applications
Deposits and payment schedules
Financial aid information
Placement testing requirements
Information on sending final high school transcripts
Orientation information
Class registration information
Other important to do items
We suggest that families have a weekly meeting so they are communicating about the to-do list and are staying on track.
Prioritize housing. Many universities in the US are tight on housing, and submitting applications early can be helpful.
Roommates! Students who will be in a residence hall with a roommate have a few options – they can have a roommate randomly assigned by the university (research shows this has good outcomes), use a university roommate match system (usually based on questionnaires filled out by students), find a roommate on their own (many students use Instagram accounts for this), or make arrangements with someone they know attending the same university. They can choose one approach or work a few different angles.
Does your student have accommodations in high school for a disability or learning difference? Those do not roll up into college. We have a quick primer on accommodations for those students and families that would like to pursue accommodations in college.
Your student’s portal will also do this, but remind your student to arrange to have their final high school transcript sent to the university they are attending. Most high schools in the US make this available through their websites and it can be completed with a few quick clicks and a small fee. It takes most schools a few weeks after graduation to finalize transcripts.
If your student has taken any Dual Enrollment courses in high school and wants to have those credits applied to their university transcript, your student will need to arrange to have that transcript sent to the university. Typically, that will involve contacting the community college that issued the credit (this can usually be done through the community college website). If your student is applying AP credits, they will need to officially send those AP score reports through the College Board website. (If your student is thinking about seeking university credit for AP or Dual Enrollment classes, check out our blog post on that topic for some factors to consider and questions for their advisor.)
If your student will be going somewhere away from home, it might be wise to schedule medical appointments for the summertime – dentist, physician, etc. Many people get this same idea, so schedule in advance! If your student takes prescription medications, your student should figure out a plan with the prescribing doctor to ensure they can access refills while away. And while you are at it, order an extra health insurance card from your provider so that your student has one to take to college.
Parents can do a few things to stay in the loop without hovering over their students.
Make sure you are signed up to receive informational parent emails from the university. Most university websites have a “parents” or “families” tab on their website and you can click there to find out how to opt into parent emails.
Follow your student’s university on Instagram or a social media platform of your choice. Start with the official main account and add in more specialized accounts as you find them (such as departmental accounts, the student newspaper, athletics etc.). Pro tip: some of them are written for student audiences and your own student might appreciate it if you hold back on the “likes” and avoid commenting!
If there is a local parent group for your student’s university, attend an event.
Search for and join the parents’ group for your student’s university on Facebook. We have to believe that at this point, a parent group exists for every college and university in the U.S. and beyond. While the information and posts can sometimes be overwhelming, there are usually really important nuggets of information, wise words, and hot tips in those groups. You can read up on our tips for using parent Facebook groups here.
Finally, check the university calendar and find the date for Family Weekend. If it is in the fall, and you want to go, go ahead and make your arrangements. In smaller towns, accommodations can fill up fast. Another Pro Tip: Not everyone enjoys Family Weekend, and some families choose to skip it or visit on another weekend. However, if you are thinking about going, freshman year Family Weekend is a unique opportunity. Many freshmen are eager to show off their school and introduce their friends. They might also be craving some family time after making such big adjustments. These feelings change a bit in future years as students become more independent. Plus, it’s a great time to see a school show off all it has to offer.
There will be plenty more to-do items and conversations to be had over the summer (and we will be posting about those things), but in the meantime, enjoy the run-up to graduation and enjoy celebrating your student’s accomplishments and future plans.
