It is inevitable that sometime during the four years that your student is at college he will get hurt or sick.  Missouri S&T Student Health Services can care for students who are injured or sick, and the local emergency room or urgent care centers are available for more serious crises.  However, there will be many times through the college years when your student may just need a bit of help for minor injuries or ailments.  A good first aid kit never substitutes for a sympathetic parent, but when your student is on his own, he will be grateful if he has the necessary tools to help himself.

As a follow up to last week’s topic, The Legal Documents You Need When Your Child Turns 18, a parent has asked, “Could you also post how to get those forms and documents prepared? I’ve been trying to get those done but found it very difficult to find and nowhere to notarize it.”

It seems morbid to prepare health care documents for healthy young people, but accidents and illnesses happen to young adults, and you want to be the one making decisions for your kids once they leave home. Here’s what you need to know when your child turns 18. There are three forms that facilitate the involvement of a parent (or whomever is designated) in an emergency or other situation:

It’s nearly here! Your student is looking forward to leaving your home soon for their first year of college. They are excited about meeting new friends, ordering late night pizza, and stepping out on their own. Which are all great, but let’s also be practical. To reduce misunderstandings or conflict, here are some nitty-gritty talking points you may want to discuss with your student before they leave for college.

As your student prepares to head off to college, they are, appropriately, looking to their new life and the fresh start that it brings. This is an ideal time to help them slow down a little and remember how they have come to this place.
You can help guide your student in that reflection and help them discover the wisdom and understanding they may not realize that they have gained. By asking some questions and sharing some of your own memories, you can guide them through this reflection.

Most college students can just show up on move-in day, attend orientation, and settle in without a hitch. However, for students with disabilities, including chronic health or mental health conditions, or physical or learning disabilities, the process of transitioning to college should begin well before moving in.

Hit the Ground Running (HGR) is an exciting three-week summer learning program held July 11- July 31 for incoming first-year students. HGR students will gain three course credit hours as they sharpen their critical foundation skills in mathematics, chemistry, English, and student success. Through classroom education and evening activities, students will gain a positive head start in their college careers.

Learning about the real-life experiences of someone already working in a job or career field of interest can be of great value to your student for career exploration. An informational interview is an informal conversation with a focus on gathering information and provides your student the opportunity to discover more about a particular job or company. It is NOT a job interview.