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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Orientation freshman year. This is mandatory at many schools, and there's an extra fee.

Also, the pre-orientation biking/whatever week-long trips. These aren't mandatory, but they will send your kid attractive brochures and your kid will want to go.

Health insurance, depending on whether or not your current health insurer has coverage (participating doctors, clinics) in the area where DC will be attending college.[/quote]I thought most colleges have a student health fee...is that just for urgent care situations?[/quote]

Yes, they all do have health clinics. Most (all?) want your kid to have some form of insurance, though, either your family insurance or insurance purchased through the college.  (The clinics can deal with the flu but if, God forbid, your kid has a major health issue and needs to go to the hospital, the college doesn't want to be on the hook for it.) We're with Kaiser which doesn't have a center anywhere near the college, so DC was looking at a 2-3 hour bus ride, while potentially ill or in pain, to the nearest Kaiser clinic. Instead, we bought the college's insurance. DC still prefers to use ours, when she's home, for things like contact lenses. If you have BC-BS or another provider, this might be different for you, but do check into it.

Should also add: meal plan. Participation in the meal plan may or may not be mandatory depending on the college.

For many of the expenses listed above, colleges will have a single card called "[cute name] Bucks" that can be used on campus and at many stores in town. You can replenish it as often and as generously as you see fit.

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