Key Takeaways
- College onboarding involves multiple forms: After committing to a school, families should expect to complete housing, orientation, financial, and administrative tasks over the summer.
- Housing and orientation fill quickly: Residence life forms and orientation registration often have deadlines and limited availability, so completing them early can help secure preferred options.
- Student loans require key steps: To receive federal Direct Loans, students must complete entrance counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN), typically before borrowing for the first time.
- Health insurance may be mandatory: Many colleges automatically enroll students in a school-sponsored plan unless a waiver is submitted by the deadline.
- Payment plans help manage costs: If financial aid and savings don’t cover the full cost, consider a monthly payment plan through the college to spread out remaining expenses.
The summer before freshman year of college is busy. Once a college decision has been made, you can expect regular communications from your child’s college with required forms, deadlines, and next steps. Here’s a list of forms you’ll likely encounter.
1. Campus Housing and Residence Life Forms
If your child plans to live on campus, they will need to complete several forms through the residence life office. The most common is a housing agreement, which outlines the policies and expectations for living on campus and is typically required before move-in. For example, Emory University requires first- and second-year students to live on campus and complete a housing agreement as part of the onboarding process.
Tip: Housing assignments are finalized in the summer, so complete your forms on time. Housing can fill up quickly.
2. College Orientation Registration
Orientation is an opportunity for your child to meet classmates and learn more about campus life and academic expectations. Colleges schedule orientation either over the summer or right before the start of the fall semester. More than one orientation session may be available, and space can be limited, so check often to reserve your spot.
Tip: If your student’s college offers a parent orientation, plan to attend — especially if you’re a first-time college parent.
3. Federal Student Loan Requirements: Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note (MPN)
Entrance counseling is required for federal Direct Loans and helps first-time borrowers understand the responsibilities of taking on student debt. It covers loan terms, borrower rights and responsibilities, and repayment options. The process takes about 30 minutes to complete online and only needs to be done once before borrowing.
A Master Promissory Note (MPN) is the borrower’s legal agreement to repay the loan. To complete it, the student must review their information, provide references, and sign using their FSA ID. Because the loan is issued in the student’s name, the student — not the parent — must complete and sign the MPN.
4. Student Health Insurance Waiver
Depending on the school and state requirements, your child may need health insurance to enroll. Many schools automatically bill students for their own health insurance and require them to opt out if they’re covered elsewhere. To opt out, you’ll need to complete a health insurance waiver through the school.
Tip: Complete the waiver as soon as possible, or you may be responsible for this additional cost.
5. College Tuition Payment Plans
Financial aid, scholarships, and savings do not always cover the full cost of attendance. The good news is that many colleges offer payment plans to help families manage remaining costs in a more budget-friendly way. These plans are typically offered as 6-, 9-, or 12-month options and split the balance due across multiple payments. For example, if you owe $7,500 for the fall and spring semesters and choose a 9-month plan, your monthly payment would be roughly $833 instead of paying $3,750 each semester.
Tip: Before setting up a payment plan, revisit your budget. You may be able to pay more each month than you originally thought, which can help reduce your total borrowing.
