College Health Checklist: How Parents Can Help Students

Schedule a checkup with your teen’s primary care doctor. It’s a good time to review your child’s overall health, medications, vaccines and any concerns before they leave for school.

Talk with your student about simple ways to eat well and stay active on campus. Dining halls, busy schedules and late-night studying can make healthy choices harder, so planning ahead can help.

“Diets that lack basic nutrients, such as fruits and vegetables, can result in decreased energy and focus and contribute to an unhealthy body weight,” Dr. Selaya says.

Encourage your student to:

• Choose balanced meals with fruits and vegetables, whole grains and protein
• Avoid regularly skipping meals and be mindful of portions 

Students 18 and older should aim for:

• At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity each week
• Muscle-strengthening activities at least twice a week

Students younger than 18 should get at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity each day.

“Many students feel they don’t have time to exercise because their schedules are so packed, but exercise is a major contributor to their well-being,” Dr. Selaya adds.

College can bring new pressures, relationships and social situations. Talk openly with your student about:

• Stress, depression, anxiety
• Eating disorders
• Alcohol and other substance use
• Consent, contraception and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention

Help your student locate campus counseling and confidential health services before they need them and encourage them to ask for help early.

Young people ages 15 to 24 are disproportionately affected by STIs. Alcohol misuse among college students also can increase the risk of crashes, injuries sexual assault and violence.

A new schedule, late-night studying and social activities can make it difficult to get enough rest. Encourage your student to keep a consistent sleep routine, limit caffeine later in the day and put away screens before bed.

• Teens ages 13 to 18 need eight to 10 hours of sleep each night
• Adults should aim for at least seven hours

Make sure prescriptions are up to date and that your student knows how to refill, store and take their medications safely. Complete any school-required health forms and check the college’s deadlines and documentation requirements.

California’s college immunization checklist includes vaccines for:

• Hepatitis B
• HPV
• Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
• Meningococcal disease
• Tdap
• Chickenpox

Ask your student's doctor about current flu and COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. Some colleges may also require tuberculosis screening or additional health records.

If your health plan offers dependent coverage, your student generally can remain on it until age 26.

Check the plan’s provider network and coverage near campus, especially for urgent care, pharmacies, mental health care and telehealth. Students attending college outside the plan’s service area may have fewer options for in-network care.

If coverage is limited, alternatives may include a college-sponsored health plan or a Health Insurance Marketplace plan.

Make sure your student understands copays, deductibles and covered services and carries their insurance card or a digital copy.

Before your student needs care, help them find and save contact information for:

• The campus health center
• After-hours and urgent care
• Emergency services
• Local pharmacies and hospitals

Make sure your student also has an up-to-date health summary that lists medical conditions, medications, allergies, vaccines and emergency contacts.

Students who need ongoing care should ask their doctor whether medical records should be shared with the campus health center or a local specialist.

A well-stocked health kit can help your student handle minor cuts, scrapes, sprains and common illnesses.

Before move-in day, review what is in the kit and make sure they know how to use each item.

Include:

• Adhesive bandages in several sizes for minor cuts and scrapes
• Sterile gauze pads and medical tape for covering larger wounds
• Antiseptic wipes for cleaning skin around minor injuries
• Disposable nonlatex gloves for providing first aid more safely
• Tweezers for removing splinters or small debris
• An instant cold pack for bumps, bruises and swelling
• A digital thermometer for checking fever
• Over-the-counter medicines they know they can safely take for pain, allergies or cold symptoms
• Prescription medicines in their original labeled containers for safe storage and use
• A medication and allergy list for medical visits or emergencies
• Copies or digital images of insurance and pharmacy cards for accessing care and prescriptions

Once your student turns 18 in California, they generally decide who can receive their medical information. They may sign a written authorization allowing specific health care providers to share information with a parent or another trusted person.

An advance health care directive serves a different purpose. It allows and adult to name someone to make medical decisions if they are unable to decide or speak for themselves.

Students attending college outside California may want to review that state's forms and requirements.

College may be the first time your student manages many everyday health decisions on their own. Before they leave, make sure they know how to:

• Schedule a medical appointment
• Decide between primary, urgent and emergency care
• Prepare balanced meals and store food safely
• Manage any chronic health condition and follow their treatment plan

 Building these skills before the school year begins can help your student feel more confident and prepared.

“Planning for that first year at college will help make this crucial transition easier,” says Dr. Selaya. “Simple self-management skills will set your teen on the road to independence and help instill habits that will last a lifetime.”