There are plenty of college checklists that cover what to buy.
Far fewer talk about what happens after move-in day.
At some point, your student will need a pharmacy, urgent care, transportation, or something delivered quickly. The best time to figure out those details is before they're needed.
Spending a few minutes researching local resources now can save a lot of stress later.
Start With the College Website
Before you begin searching on your own, spend some time exploring your student's college website.
Many schools already provide information about:
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Student health services
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Local hospitals and urgent care centers
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Transportation and shuttle services
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Campus safety resources
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Dining options
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Mail and package services
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Student support programs
It's often the easiest place to begin and may answer questions you haven't even thought to ask yet.
Health & Medical Resources
This one recently caught me off guard.
My son was living in New York City for a summer internship when he needed urgent care.
Suddenly I found myself trying to figure out:
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Which urgent care locations were nearby
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Which ones accepted our insurance
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How he would get there
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What information he needed to bring
We figured it out.
But it would have been much easier if we had researched those details ahead of time.
Before your student arrives on campus, identify:
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Nearby urgent care centers
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Hospitals and emergency rooms
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Pharmacies (including late-night options)
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Dentists, eye doctors, or specialists they may need
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Which local providers accept your insurance
Save addresses, phone numbers, and websites somewhere easy to find.
Transportation Options
Even students without cars need transportation.
Research:
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Campus shuttle systems
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Local bus routes
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Ride-share availability
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Airport transportation options
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Train and bus stations
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Bike or scooter programs
This information becomes especially helpful during school breaks, internships, travel days, and unexpected situations.
Food, Groceries & Delivery
College students eventually run out of essentials.
Know which options are available near campus:
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Grocery stores
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Pharmacies
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Convenience stores
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Food delivery services
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Restaurants that deliver to campus
It's also helpful to identify a few reliable options for sick days, late-night study sessions, and busy exam weeks.
Off-Campus Services
Some needs don't seem important until they're suddenly urgent.
Consider researching:
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Hair salons and barbers
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Dry cleaners
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Tailors
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Printing and shipping services
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Auto repair shops (if your student has a vehicle)
Having a few trusted options already identified can save time and frustration later.
Gifts, Birthdays & Care Packages
There will be moments when you want to send a little encouragement from afar.
Before the semester gets busy, identify:
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Local bakeries
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Florists
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Gift shops
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Delivery services
Whether it's a birthday, finals week, or simply a rough day, you'll know exactly where to turn.
Create a Shared Resource List
One of the simplest things you can do is create a shared note, Google Doc, or phone note that includes:
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Student mailing address
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Residence hall information
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Campus health center contact information
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Pharmacy details
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Urgent care locations
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Transportation resources
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Important phone numbers
Most of these details take only a few minutes to gather.
Once they're saved, you probably won't need to think about them again.
Until the day you're very glad you did.
Related Resources
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Turning 18: What Changes
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Important Documents for College Students
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Parent Checklist Before College
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Before They Go