<p>My S is off to college next fall. It dawned on me that there are probably several things of “real” life that he/she should be taught from home beforehand. Not just the sex ed part. lol. I hope this thread will uncover those things that might make his/her college life better or easier. For example: medicines. Teaching the main ingredients so he/she can go to the drug store and find the stuff that we always simply provided. He already does laundry, and we are having him now grill our hamburgers, chicken, and steak. Any advise or thoughts to share?</p>
<p>tell him to keep nyquil and dayquil in his dorm.</p>
<p>get a calendar/day planner AND USE IT., but that might only work for people like me. i always thought they were the dumbest things, and never used them in high school (or even my first few years of college) but once i got into my upper level classes i had to. i had so many classes and club meetings and group meetings and club activities plus work at my job and without my calendar i would of been in deep trouble… plus always write down your families birthdays on it and do not forget to call them on their day! they won’t forget to call you on yours! (yes, this includes grandparents)</p>
<p>How to find, read, and understand bus and train schedules. How to select and purchase bus, train, and airline tickets. How to pack for easy travel (and what NOT to pack in a carry-on for airline flights), and how to plan for surprise lengthy layovers in an airport. How to make a list of things not to forget when packing (e.g. cell phone charger, underwear). How to tip appropriately. How to balance a checkbook and manage funds over the course of a month/semester/year.</p>
<p>Although he already does laundry, there is the small matter of purchasing detergent and keeping a roll of quarters handy in the laundry tote bag (or keeping the right amount on the school debit card, if that exists and there are laundry machines that will accept them).</p>
<p>Oh yeah… tipping is important. I’m amazed at the amt of people who don’t tip correctly!</p>
<p>As far as planners go, most people here just use a calendar program such as Outlook or 30 boxes.</p>
<p>yeah i know some people do that, but i need to have an actual calendar. for all the times i’m not sitting at my computer when something comes up. the last thing i need to do in college is forget to come to a team meeting because i forgot to write it on my computers calendar 
(yes, im a blonde)</p>
<p>an example of one of my weeks in college would be like </p>
<p>monday group meeting 10-1230, work 1-4, group meeting 5-630, class 630-915, club meeting 930-10, club meeting 10-1030</p>
<p>tuesday class 8-915, class 11-1215, group meeting 1-?</p>
<p>wednesday group meeting 10-1230 work 1-4, group meeting 5-630, group meeting 630-830, club meeting 930-1030</p>
<p>thursday class 8-915, class 11-1215, group meeting 1-?, class 630-915</p>
<p>friday work 1-4, club meeting 6-8</p>
<p>and of course write in what class we’re meeting for plus where the meeting is at, because i’d have two-three group projects going on at the same time throughout each semester and that all has to be taken into consideration when scheduling meeting times. Plus if i’m in class and we’re discussing when to meet i need to have my calendar there so i can see when my other meetings are at. also once or twice a week i would have to schedule in times to study with my friends for whatever class had a test that week.</p>
<p>which is exactly why i recommend everyone have a planner :)</p>
<p>How to cancel his cell phone when he loses it. Where to shop for cheap replacements. How to save it after dropping it in water. (there was a whole thread on this one a while back) ;)</p>
<p>how to cancel a credit card when lost as well :)</p>
<p>how to make sure the door is locked when not home. </p>
<p>to remember to bring things in from outside when done playing with them. (My grill got stolen in college because my roommates forgot to bring it in) </p>
<p>how to take care of people if they are drinking.</p>
<p>how to budget. it doesnt matter if the kid is working or getting an allowance, they need to know how to handle their money. also, how to balance a checkbook.</p>
<p>who to contact in a disastor, and where to go</p>
<p>how to sew on a button</p>
<p>all the wonderful uses for ducttape</p>
<p>how to take care of foot fungus stuff before it get out of hand (HAHAHA)- and "other’ medical stuff, for his friends of course!</p>
<p>to remember to back up a big paper, or print out hard copy (I have heard of people losing thesis papers, term papers, etc</p>
<p>fendergirl: Yeah, it depends on the kid and the school though. Since most people here have schedules that look a lot like what you describe meeting requests help a lot with trying to find when everyone is free for a meeting (usually only at 1am, but such is life). And I have my computer with me and booted whenever I’m on campus and not eating or sleeping, so there’s never a time when paper would be more convenient.</p>
<p>Teach them how to do laundry by colors.</p>
<p>haha, mother, one of my friends always complained about doing laundry… he kept telling me how it took so long for him to do all of his laundry and he can’t understand how people can do laundry so easily… it turned out that when his mom said to “do it by colors” he was doing each individual color separate from the others. So like for one laundry basket full of clothes, he turned it into 10 loads of wash. I just about fell over laughing when he told me.</p>
<p>
I hope you did that part 4 years ago!!!</p>
<p>Also, how to be your own advocate at school. If you don’t get into a class you want, start sitting in it, talk with the prof., pursue it relentlessly; you can also take classes for audit.</p>
<p>How to call home! My son seemed to have trouble remembering how!</p>
<p>Tipping!!!
As a waitress, it drives me crazy when people leave 1 dollar for one person, 2 dollars for two people, etc. </p>
<p>Take your kid grocery shopping, to the drugstore, and to Walmart or whatnot. Show them how you pick stuff out for colds, how to tell if fruit is ripe (could come in handy in the caf!), where to find things, etc. Ideally that would have happened when they were young kids, but sometimes it doesn’t and sometimes kids forget.</p>
<p>lol i already know all of the stuff that’s been listed…i guess my parents have prepared me well for next year, and i didn’t even realize it! i’m definitely going to keep checking though, since there’s bound to be SOMETHING that they forgot!</p>