Dorm Life Awaits: Here’s How to Help Your Student Settle In
If you have a child heading to college in the fall, chances are you have already made or have planned out several shopping trips to gather dorm room essentials. Summer is the perfect time to score everything from towels and dishes to microwaves and bedside lamps.
Small but mighty, a dorm room will literally be your student’s home away from home, so start planning early and try not to scrimp on the creature comforts. (After a rough day of adulting, everyone needs their favorite cozy throw or squishy pillow.) We recommend using the benchmarks of safety, comfort and personal style when helping your child prepare their living space.
6 Tips to make your student’s move-in day go smoothly:
- Put the date on a family-wide calendar, so everyone’s in the know. (Enlist the help of family and friends. Trust us — your kid has a lot of stuff.)
- Start packing early. Pro tip: Remove all external packaging to save space.
- Wash and dry all new bed linens and towels before move-in day.
- Label everything. (Last name, dorm name and room number.)
- Pack simple tools for move-in day. Think hammer, screwdrivers, tape, heavy-duty scissors.
- Pack snacks and plenty of water for move-in day. (Everyone will love you!)
While it’s considered a rite of passage, dorm life is also a fun way to ease your young person into adulthood and the reality of living on their own. They will meet new friends, be exposed to other cultures and ways of living, and learn the value of living in close community with others. Experts say students who live in campus dorms are more likely to have positive outcomes during their college years and are more likely to stay in school and graduate.
Florida Prepaid offers a university dormitory Prepaid Plan. Even if you have children who are years away from college, starting a dormitory plan early will save you financial stress later. Here’s what you need to know:
- You may add dormitory housing coverage to a Prepaid Plan with university tuition coverage at the time you enroll, or during a later enrollment period.
- You can prepay a maximum of one year (two semesters) of dormitory fees for each year of State University coverage.
- The student must be in the 11th grade or below when the University Dormitory Plan is purchased.
- The Dormitory Plan pays for a double-occupancy, air-conditioned dorm room at a state university in Florida, and the value can even be applied out of state.
Whether your student is ready to use their dormitory plan now, or you are just starting to think about adding a Plan, our dormitory-specific FAQs can be a helpful resource.
