This is the time of preparation. All the hoopla of the senior year in high school is over. Now it is time for the next level.

What can you do to make the transition smooth? Try these suggestions.

Talk to others that have gone before you. Next summer you may be talking to parents that are looking at this same transition and you will be the expert.

Double check that housing is secure. You do not want any surprises. I had a deposit check get lost and my freshman had no housing so he ended up with the worst of the worst dorms even after all the preparation.

Get everything medical taken care of early in the summer. This is physical and visual.

Get prescriptions filled and review how this will be handled during the year. There will need some planning.

Check your insurance. You may want to find a primary care doctor in the area of the school. Call the insurance company. Have this approved. Explain the procedure to your student so they know who they will call and what the process is.

Talk about Money.

Talk about Expectations. Should they get an on campus job? Allowance?

Talk about when they will be coming home for a visit.

Talk about when you will communicate with them when they are away. Set a definite time and day. This can be renegotiated but initially you need a firm time.

Remove some of the anxiety by problem solving before a challenge presents itself. Everyone will benefit from some pre-planning.

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