College is a big next step for your teen, and learning to manage their own healthcare is part of that transition. From knowing their insurance information and medications to understanding where to go when they get sick, there are plenty of small skills they can start practicing before they leave home.
As your teen prepares for campus life, you can help them take more ownership of their health while making sure they know where to turn when they need support. This checklist can help your family prepare together.
Start With a Pre-College Checkup
Try to schedule a well care visit four to six weeks before move-in. That window leaves time to catch up on any vaccines that need a second dose, transfer records, and refill prescriptions without rushing.
A Well Care Visit is also an opportunity for your teen to take a more active role in their healthcare. Encourage them to ask questions, talk directly with their provider and become familiar with the health information they’ll soon be responsible for managing on their own.
It’s also a good time to talk about mental and emotional health and some of the challenges that can come with a first semester away from home, including sleep, stress, alcohol and mood. If your teen has been managing anxiety, depression, ADHD or an eating concern, talk with their provider about putting a plan in place before they leave.
Our young adult care resources cover the transition in more detail.
The College Freshman Health Checklist
1. Confirm vaccines and get an official immunization record
Help your teen get both a printed and digital copy of their immunization record, then have them save it somewhere they can access independently. Most schools require students to upload documentation through a student health portal. Our immunization schedule page has the full recommended schedule.
Vaccines that typically come up before college:
- Meningococcal ACWY. CDC recommends a dose at 11 or 12 with a booster at 16, and notes that many colleges require proof of MenACWY vaccination given within five years before starting school.
- Meningococcal B. CDC recommends teens consider a MenB vaccine, preferably at 16 through 18 years old. It is a separate vaccine from MenACWY and a decision to make with your provider.
- HPV, Tdap, and annual flu. All are part of the routine adolescent schedule, and flu vaccination is recommended every year for everyone 6 months and older.
2. Decide where your student will go when they get sick
Before classes start, look up the campus health center hours, whether it charges a visit fee, and what it does after hours. If the campus clinic is small or your student lives off campus, identify a local primary care office or urgent care nearby and save the address in their phone. For questions when they are home on break, our nurse triage phone line can help sort out what needs a visit.
3. Make a plan for ongoing conditions
If your young adult manages asthma, diabetes, a food allergy, a mental health diagnosis or another chronic condition, help them practice explaining their health history themselves.
Before they leave, ask them to practice answering a few basics:
- What is my diagnosis
- What medications do I take and why
- What does a flare or worsening of my condition look like
- What has helped me in the past
- Who should I contact when I need help
You can also request relevant medical records to share with the campus clinic and talk with The Youth Clinic about coordinating care with a provider near campus.
4. Sort out prescriptions before move-in
For each medication, answer three questions: which pharmacy near campus will fill it, how refills get requested, and how many days of supply your student will have on move-in day. Transferring to a pharmacy chain with a location near campus often makes refills simpler. Controlled medications, including many ADHD prescriptions, may have stricter refill rules, so ask us about those specifically. Your student should also know how to message our office through the patient portal once they are managing their own requests.
5. Confirm insurance coverage and put the card in their phone
Make sure your student understands what health insurance they have and the basics of how to use it, including whether care near campus is in network. Rather than simply handing them their card, have your teen save a photo of both sides in their phone along with important insurance and pharmacy phone numbers. Our insurance page lists plans accepted by The Youth Clinic. Your insurance carrier can answer questions about coverage away from home or out of state
6. Talk about privacy and healthcare decisions after 18
Turning 18 changes how healthcare information is managed. Providers typically cannot share an adult patient’s medical information with a parent without the patient’s written permission.
Talk with your teen about what that means and how much involvement they want you to have. Some families choose to complete an authorization to release information, while others may explore additional documents such as a medical power of attorney.
Ask The Youth Clinic and your student’s campus health center which forms may apply, as requirements can differ.
7. Build a mental health plan before it’s needed
Look up what the college offers, including counseling center hours, session limits, and after-hours crisis support, and save those numbers in your student’s phone next to yours. If your teen already works with a therapist, ask whether that provider can continue sessions by telehealth in the state where your student will be living.
8. Pack a dorm health kit
Basic first aid supplies can come in handy! A small bin saves a late-night trip when your student is not feeling well. Consider a thermometer, adhesive bandages, antibiotic ointment, acetaminophen or ibuprofen, throat lozenges, an oral rehydration drink mix, tissues, and hand sanitizer. Add anything specific to their needs, such as an inhaler spacer or an epinephrine auto-injector with a written action plan.
Colorado College Requirements at a Glance
For Colorado colleges and universities with residence halls, the state requires documentation of two valid MMR doses, or an exemption or proof of immunity, plus MenACWY for new students living in student housing, given on or after the 16th birthday and within the last five years, unless a waiver is signed.
Individual schools add their own requirements and deadlines. Colorado State University, for example, ties its immunization deadline to the start of each term and places a registration hold on accounts that miss it, so check your student’s health portal early rather than during move-in week.
When Your Student Comes Home
College may be a new stage of independence, but your student doesn’t have to navigate their health alone.
School breaks are a good opportunity to catch up on healthcare needs that may have come up during the semester. If your student has a lingering cough, an untreated injury or another concern, request an appointment while they’re home.
If an urgent health need comes up during an evening, weekend or holiday when The Youth Clinic is unavailable, Pediatric Urgent Care of Northern Colorado provides pediatric-specific urgent care and helps support continuity of care between visits.
Leaving for college is an exciting transition for the whole family. Helping your teen understand their health, speak up during appointments and know where to turn for support gives them skills they can carry well beyond freshman year.
The Youth Clinic is here to help your family navigate this next age and stage. Call (970) 482-2515 to schedule a pre-college visit at our Fort Collins, Loveland or Timnath offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What vaccines does my college freshman need before move-in?
CDC recommends MenACWY at 11 or 12 with a booster at 16, and notes many colleges require a dose given within five years before starting school. MenB is a shared decision at 16 through 18. HPV, Tdap, and an annual flu vaccine are also recommended.
Do I need a HIPAA release for my college student?
Once your teen turns 18, providers typically need their written permission to share medical information with you. Many families sign an authorization to release information, and some add a medical power of attorney. Ask each clinic what form it uses.
How far in advance should we schedule a pre-college checkup?
Aim for four to six weeks before move-in. That leaves time for any vaccine doses, immunization records for the school portal, prescription transfers, and a conversation about mental health support before classes start.