News and Knowledge

My son, Kurt, will be entering his second year at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) this fall. Kurt is a student in the SUCCEED Program, a two-year residential, non-degree program that offers a chancellor’s certificate upon completion.

This program has been such a blessing to our family, and my son has surpassed all of our expectations. Through the program, he has attended classes, made new friends, interned at the Federal Court of Appeals providing office support, and learned important life skills. I kept waiting for a call that there was a problem, but that call never came.

 Many times as I drove to and from UMSL, I thought of all of the things that I have learned as a parent and what other parents could benefit in knowing before their high school graduate becomes a college student. I hope these college transition tips will help as parents get ready to send their children off to college:

1. Make sure that your child has a cell phone. Dorm rooms do not have phones. You will also need to program phone numbers into the phone for your home number, campus police, and other important contacts. I also have the “Find My Friends” app on my phone that I can use to track my son at any time and know exactly where he is…what a gift!  In addition, have the IT or Student Services person help you and your child log into the Wi-Fi system so roaming isn’t an issue for your phone, laptops, or iPads.
2. Meet campus police officers so that your child is familiar with who they are and how to get in touch with them should the need arise. It is also good for them to know your child.
3. Encourage your child to keep a binder organizer. Be sure to include a campus map, class schedule, folders, and extra supplies in the organizer.
4. Learn the campus. It’s important for your child to know where classes and shuttle transportation stops are located. Laminating a campus map for her binder is a great help. Attend orientation and take some time on your own to visit and walk the campus together with your student.
5. Teach your child how to do laundry. I would recommend working on this over the summer. Use laundry soap pods for ease of doing laundry. Make sure you send him off with rolls of quarters.
6. Teach money management. Send your child off with a debit card and state ID in her wallet. It’s also important to teach your child how to budget. Keep a checkbook ledger so she is aware of how much money is spent and what is left.
7. Check to see how medications will be dispensed. If your child lives in a dorm, he will probably be responsible for taking his medications on his own. Plan for those responsibilities by teaching your child how to correctly take his medication.
8. Adjust for meals not included in a meal plan. Usually, meal plans cover lunch and dinner so breakfast will be in the dorm room. Make sure that she is supplied with nutritious items like fresh fruit and bottled water for her dorm fridge. My son had a microwave and a mini fridge supplied for him in his dorm room. This varies from college to college.
9. Work with your student on making healthy meal choices and discuss an exercise plan as well.
10. Make decisions about easing homesickness. What is the right level of calls? Should it be daily? More often? Less often? And what about visits home? Will these occur weekly? Monthly? Also, let your child know that missing home is very, very natural.
11. Talk about safety and making good choices. I spoke with my son about walking in groups especially at night and to think about all decisions he will be making since he will be living away from home. We routinely have conversations about any upcoming event or activity and how to be safe.
12. Pack for your child’s move. Each college will have a supply list on its website, or you can Google “dorm supplies.” Be sure to check those options out to plan for what to pack.
13. Attend orientation or open house at your child’s college.
14. Tell your student how proud you are of him or her and how much fun meeting new friends will be. Ask your student about any concerns or questions that he may have… and help him work through them.

I feel so fortunate to have found the right fit for my son, and we look forward to his graduation from UMSL and the bright future out there for him. I believe we will start to see an increase in the amount of college programs addressing the special needs of students and more bright futures ahead like the one I see for Kurt.

Terry Mueller is the mother of Kurt, 19, who is on the autism spectrum. Kurt was a 2014 recipient of OAR’s Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship and is currently enrolled in a two-year residential program at a local college.