How to Prepare Your Child for an Out-of-state College
As your child gets older, the milestones get bigger and more significant. Going to college in another state and living independently—often for the first time—is certainly one of the bigger and more emotional ones, signifying the start of adulthood.
What can you as a parent do to support them? Let’s look at how to prepare your child for an out-of-state college.
Research and visit prospective campuses
If your child is considering going away to college, you can start by researching the schools they’re thinking of attending. Plan visits to the campuses together to tour the grounds and find out whether they can envision themselves learning and living there. This visit can also help both of you get familiar with the campus, facilities, and resources available.
Discuss financial matters
Finances are often a big concern for students going away college, and it’s important to go over expenses. For their day-to-day expenses, work together to create a realistic budget, accounting for things like meals, transportation, housing, entertainment, and trips home. Teaching your child to be financially responsible can empower them to manage their money wisely while away from home.
Keep them informed about tuition costs, especially if they’re taking on part of the expense with loans or work-study. Go over how you’re covering costs, how much is covered by savings, scholarships, grants, loans, and other sources of funding like utilizing the cash value of a universal life insurance or whole life insurance policy.
Choose housing
Depending on the school, there might be a dorm for all the first year students, or your child might have to choose where they live. Together, look at the housing options available, such as on-campus dorms and off-campus apartments, and guide them in choosing the right one based on their preferences and budget. If they lease an apartment, they may need your help completing the necessary paperwork and understanding rental agreements.
Teach practical skills
College will likely be the first time your child is living independently and looking after themselves, and a few practical skills can get them started on the right foot. The summer before college could be a good time to cover things like laundry, cooking for one, cleaning tips and tricks, and other practical skills. Encourage your child to prioritize time management, create a daily schedule, develop healthy habits, and stay organized. These essential adult skills will help them become self-sufficient, benefiting them beyond the next four years.
Plan the move
Whether they’re living in a dorm, apartment, or somewhere else, the list of things your college student will need will likely be pretty long. Over the summer, talk to them about what items they’ll need to buy and take with them; come up with the list together and plan accordingly. If you’re driving them to campus, it might make sense to buy bigger things like pots and pans in advance. If they’re flying across the country, it might be more sensible to order bulkier items to their new address. Plan to arrive a few days before classes start so they can unpack and arrange their belongings in advance.
Provide emotional support
It’s common for college students to feel overwhelmed when away from home for the first time. While giving your child space is important, make sure they know you’re available to support them. Set up regular communication channels, like weekly phone calls or texts—whatever works best for both of you. Being there for your child when they need you can give them a sense of stability and support as they navigate their new environment.
The primary purpose of permanent life insurance is to provide a death benefit. Using permanent life insurance accumulated value will reduce the death benefit and may affect other aspects of the policy.
