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(June 11, 2001) - Houston Texas The moment you've dreaded for 18 years is now a reality - your baby is going off to college. Forget about the empty nest, most mothers are concerned about sending their child into the next phase of life with all the right essentials. Worry no more. By compiling a comprehensive college care package, your freshman can be outfitted with all the items that will make college life easier. And ease your fears at the same time. Here are a few tips from Questia Media, Inc.
Back-to-the-Basics
The first purchases are the basics such as bedding, towels and new clothes. Check out the weekend circulars in your local newspaper for special back-to-school sales. Don't forget that most major retailers sell their merchandise online for your convenience. If you decide to shop online, ship the purchases to your child's school to cut down on the packing and car-loading. Favorite student websites are Target.com, Gap.com, Abercrombie.com, Nike.com, and Delias.com. If you open a credit card at a store, most retailers will offer an immediate discount for new purchases, which can save you a significant amount of money given how much most parents spend at this time of year.
Something almost all kids forget is much-needed change for the laundromat. Include several rolls of quarters and dimes so they can actually wash their new clothes.
A Kid's Gotta Eat
Since you may worry about what your child is eating and if they are getting enough to eat, buy them a small refrigerator and mini-microwave for their dorm room. Appliances like these have dramatically shrunk in both size and cost. You can rest assured that your child will never go hungry when the school cafeteria is closed or they can't go off-campus to buy food. Don't forget to throw in some disposable paper plates, utensils, and napkins.
Health Matters Most
Make sure you don't forget about their health and safety. Put together a first aid kit with bandages, antiseptic, aspirin, thermometer, cold and cough medicine, liquid for upset stomach and vitamins. This should take care of their basic heathcare needs.
Get the Academic Edge
Conducting college-related research is the second most cited reason for going online, behind email, as reported by Student Monitor. With a growing number of professors putting their courseware, syllabi, and lecture notes online, it's another reason why they need computer and Internet access. In order for your child to have the best technology tools to help them succeed academically, buy them a laptop computer and provide a subscription to Internet access through a reliable Internet service provider like AOL. Additionally, give them the academic edge with a subscription to Questia, the affordable online library with complete books and journal articles, as well as useful writing and reference tools that include the American Heritage dictionary and Columbia Encyclopedia Sixth Edition. Since Questia allows students to do research in the comfort and safety of their dorm rooms, you never have to worry about late night treks home from the library. It also ends that age-old excuse of "the book was checked out!"
Staying in Touch
You know how much you'll miss them and despite what you think, they'll miss you, too. Buy them a pre-paid calling card so they can stay in touch easily and not break the bank with collect calls. A nice touch they will surely appreciate (in the privacy of their room) is a family photo album or scrapbook. When they get homesick, and they will, it will come in handy. Plus they can share the photos with new friends to show them where they grew up, how goofy their siblings look, and how much their parents love them!
About Questia
Founded in 1998, Questia Media, Inc. created the first online service to provide unlimited access to the full text of an extensive collection of books, as well as writing tools to easily use this information. For millions of college students and researchers, the QuestiaSM service will enable them to efficiently research and compose papers at any time, from virtually every connected corner of the world. Based in Houston, with offices in New York and Los Angeles, Questia is delivering on the true promise of the Internet by providing access to a wealth of human knowledge. Visit www.questia.com for more information.
Contacts:
Ann Brimberry
Public Relations Manager
(713) 358-2704 / (713) 562-8817 cell
ABrimberry@questia.com
Media:
Richards/Gravelle Public Relations
Stacie Barnett (214) 891-2910
stacie_barnett@richards.com
Publishers:
Linda Cunningham
Questia Media, Inc.
(212) 297-6127
lcunningham@questia.com
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