Good news! This checklist contains things that you do ​NOT ​need to stress or worry about. It may not be as lengthy as the TO DO checklists, but at least there will be a few items to help lighten your mental load the summer before college.

• Not have absolutely everything purchased and packed before move-in day?  NO WORRIES. While the more you can get done the better, your kid isn’t going into outer space.  Rolla has local shopping options, and online orders can get delivered too.

• Don’t have college textbooks purchased before move-in? RELAX. At the S&T Store you can print your book list, comparison shop, and do early bird textbook reservations. Many textbooks have on-line options, and sometimes it’s best to wait until the first class meets to see what is recommended by the teaching staff. Sometimes all listed materials may not be required.  

• Do you feel like you might not have remembered to tell your child everything you think he or she needs to know before life on their own?  YOU DEFINITELY DIDN’T.  But don’t worry because that is not realistic.  Your child is growing up and will figure it out. They can get tons of resources at Student Well-Being, plus, you’re only a text or phone call away.

• Are you thinking your child could not possibly have all of the clothes needed for every possible occasion?  GOOD!  You’ve done a great job if your freshman is not loaded down with four seasons of clothes for every event imaginable.  Often freshmen find the urge to become more minimalist – when there is no room for all their stuff, they begin to realize that all of their stuff is not really needed. Did you know there is a Clothing Exchange Boutique on campus?

• Convinced your freshman is doomed because no major has been selected yet, and a clear career choice seems fuzzy?  LET IT GO.  Don’t stress yourself or your kid out about this one.  Plenty of freshmen change their majors.  That’s one of the best parts about college – learning about options you may not have considered or even been aware of.  Your kid will figure it out, and Missouri S&T has a great Advising Center.

• Feeling shame because you don’t have an Instagram-ready dorm set up programmed in for your freshman?  STOP RIGHT THERE.  Let your kid do their own thing along with his or her new roomies – it’s their room, not yours. And, Residential Life has everything you need to know about Miner Move-in.

• Devastated that your time as a parent is over?  BACK IT UP.  Parenting definitely changes when your child leaves for college, but it is far from over.  Try to enjoy this exciting new phase of your parent/child dynamic, and make plans to visit during Parent and Family Weekend!

Source:

Article adapted from summerbeforecollege.com.  Please Note: Missouri S&T does not endorse or have a relationship with SOURCE and articles are provided for information purposes only.  Missouri S&T and SOURCE do not assume responsibility for error or omission in materials.  

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