Tips for Parents & Students
For Parents of Resident Students
Encourage your student to talk with their roommate(s) prior to arriving on campus to prevent the double trouble syndrome... two refrigerators, two stereos ...
THINGS TO BRING FROM HOME
- Pillows, blankets and bed spreads
- Bed linens (twin, extra long)
- Power strip with surge protector (the one with 6 outlets and a breaker)
- Desk lamp
- Small refrigerator (5 cubic feet – can be rented during Welcome Week)
- Small microwave (less than 500 watts)
- Clock radio/alarm clock
- Iron and portable ironing board (really!)
- Telephone and answering machine or cell phone and charger
- Umbrella (It does rain in Southern California)
- Computer w/or without printer (optional)
- Ethernet cards (10base-T Ethernet Card, speed: 10 mpbs) PCs and Macs should be running the most current version. Assistance is available during Welcome Week
- Family photos, room decorations, indoor plants, etc.
- Bulletin Board/dry erase board and markers.
- Address book with important dates and phone numbers
- Medical insurance information (alternate insurance plans are available through the Student Health Center)
- Lots of hangers, toiletries and first aid supplies
- Dictionary/thesaurus
- Sports equipment and hobby supplies
THINGS TO LEAVE AT HOME
- Any and All PETS (including younger siblings, snakes, birds, spiders, mice...) Unless your pet can live for 5 minutes completely submerged in a 30 gallon or less tank of water then it cannot be in the residence halls.
- Any cooking appliances with exposed heating elements – unless used exclusively for camping!
- All fireworks, martial arts equipment, firearms, etc.
- Extra furniture: space is limited so if your student wants an extra couch or chair it either needs to be inflatable or foldable.
- Amplifiers are prohibited.
- Any pre-judgements or stereotypes.
For Parents of Commuter Students
There are a variety of reasons why students commute to campus. Some students live across the county with their parents to save money or they live across the street to have their own place. Whatever the reason is, we find that the life of a commuting student can be very different than that of a resident student. While academically there is not a difference, it is the involvement in the activities and events outside the classroom that some commuters seem to miss. For this reason, it is more important that the commuting student get involved in the college, hang out at M.O.M. (Middle of Muir) find out what is going on at the University – FIND A REASON TO STAY ON CAMPUS. Here are some things you can do to help your commuting student:
- Be flexible with his/her "curfew" and their radically different sleep schedule.
- Understand that studying at home may not be the most conducive place for your student to do homework.
- Encourage your student to get involved in the campus – it is far too easy for a commuting student to come to campus, go to class and then go home. If they are not making new friends at college it is a pretty good sign they need to find some reasons to stay on campus and make friends. Ideas can range from getting a job, participating in one of Muir’s 30 student organizations, or participating in an intramural league run at Muir or through the UC San Diego Recreation program.
- Encourage your student to join Commuter Club and the CARE (Commuters and Resident Exchange) Program.
- Remember, anytime your student wants to find out how to get involved he/she can always stop by the Coordinator of Student Activities Office or the Assistant Dean or even the Dean.
