There are plenty of college checklists that tell you what to buy.
Fewer tell you which urgent care accepts your insurance, where your student can fill a prescription, how they will get to the grocery store without a car or who to call when they have a flat tire.
Those details are easy to ignore before move-in.
They are also the details families are very glad to have when something goes wrong. When they are sick, stressed or dealing with a problem, that is not the best time to figure out every option for the first time.
Start With Campus Health Services
Every college handles student health differently.
Some campuses have a full health center. Others offer limited services or hours and refer students elsewhere for lab work, imaging, prescriptions or after-hours care.
Before move-in, look up:
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Health center location
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Hours
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Appointment process
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After-hours instructions
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Services offered
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Insurance and billing information
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Pharmacy services, if available
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Transportation options for off-campus care
Have your student save the health center number in their phone.
They may never use it. If they do, it will be easier to have it ready.
Find a Nearby Urgent Care
A nearby urgent care should be near the top of your list.
Check:
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Which locations are closest to campus
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Whether walk-ins are accepted
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Whether appointments can be made online
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Hours, including evenings and weekends
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Whether the location accepts your insurance
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What identification or payment information is required
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How your student would get there
Distance on a map does not always tell the whole story.
A clinic may look close but still be difficult to reach without a car. Check walking routes, public transportation, campus shuttles and rideshare availability.
Save one primary option and one backup.
Know the Closest Hospital
Most students will never need an emergency room, but it is still worth knowing where the nearest one is.
Look up:
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Hospital name and address
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Distance from campus
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Best transportation option
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Main phone number
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Whether it appears to be in-network
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Specialty care information, if relevant to your student
Do not delay emergency care while trying to confirm insurance coverage. This research is simply meant to help you understand the local options before there is an urgent situation.
Choose a Pharmacy
If your student takes regular medication, choose a pharmacy before the first refill is due.
Consider:
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Distance from campus
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Hours
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Weekend availability
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Prescription transfer process
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Online refill options
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Delivery
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Insurance participation
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Access without a car
Check whether any medications have refill restrictions or require appointments with the prescribing doctor.
Your student should also know what to do if medication is lost, runs out early or cannot be transferred easily.
Find Everyday Supplies
Even students with meal plans need toiletries, medicine, snacks and laundry supplies.
Find a realistic place where your student can buy:
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Cold medicine
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Basic first-aid supplies
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Toiletries
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Laundry detergent
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Cleaning supplies
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Bottled drinks or electrolyte drinks
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Simple food for sick days
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School supplies
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Replacement chargers or batteries
This may be a grocery store, pharmacy, campus market, Target, Walmart or delivery service.
Think about how your student will actually get there.
A store that is ten minutes away by car may not be useful to a student without transportation.
Check Transportation Options
Transportation affects nearly every local resource.
Before move-in, discuss how your student would get to:
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Urgent care
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A pharmacy
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The grocery store
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The airport
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A bus or train station
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An off-campus appointment
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A hotel where family is staying
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A repair shop, if they have a car
Look up:
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Campus bus routes
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Local public transportation
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Rideshare availability
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Airport shuttles
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Safe walking routes
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Bike or scooter rules
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Late-night transportation
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Student transportation services
Save the relevant apps and account information before they are needed.
If Your Student Has a Car
Students taking a car need a few additional local contacts.
Look up:
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Campus parking office
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Permit requirements
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Nearby gas stations
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Tire repair
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Towing services
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Roadside assistance
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Oil change locations
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A reputable repair shop
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Local snow emergency or street parking rules
Make sure your student knows where the registration, insurance card and roadside assistance information are stored.
They should also know what to do after an accident or breakdown.
Understand Mail and Package Rules
Campus mail can be more complicated than expected.
Before sending anything, confirm:
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The correct mailing address format
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Whether the residence hall address is used
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Where packages are delivered
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How students are notified
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Where packages are picked up
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How long packages are held
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Which items cannot be shipped
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Where students can handle returns
This is especially useful if you plan to send care packages, forgotten items, medication, clothing or replacement supplies.
Do not assume a package addressed only to the residence hall will reach your student.
Save Hotels and Visit Information
Hotels near campus can fill quickly for move-in, family weekend, graduation and major events.
It helps to note:
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Hotels near campus
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Parking options
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Family weekend dates
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Move-in dates
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Graduation dates
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Restaurants that take reservations
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Pickup and drop-off locations
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Campus maps
You do not need to book every future visit now, but it is useful to know which weekends require early planning.
Identify Campus Safety and Support
Local resources also include the people and offices your student can turn to for help.
Find:
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Campus police or public safety
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Non-emergency safety number
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Residence life contact
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Resident assistant
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Counseling services
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Academic advising
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Tutoring or writing support
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Accessibility services
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Student affairs
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Financial aid office
Your student does not need to memorize every office.
They should know where to begin when they have a question, feel unsafe or need support.
Create a Simple Campus Resources Note
Put the most important information in one note your student can find quickly.
Include:
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Campus health center
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Nearby urgent care
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Nearest hospital
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Preferred pharmacy
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Campus safety number
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Emergency contacts
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Transportation options
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Roadside assistance
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Student mailing address
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Grocery or supply store
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Residence life contact
Keep a copy for yourself too.
If your student calls and says, “I do not feel well” or “I do not know where to go,” neither of you will be starting from zero.
Local Resources Checklist
Before your student leaves, find:
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Campus health center
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Nearby urgent care
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Closest hospital
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Pharmacy
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Grocery or basic supply store
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Transportation options
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Campus safety number
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Mail and package instructions
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Parking office, if needed
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Tire or repair shop, if needed
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Roadside assistance information
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Hotels for family visits
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Campus support offices
You do not need to research every business near campus.
Find the places your student is most likely to need and save the information somewhere easy to reach.