College-Bound Care Package: A Health Checklist for South Shore Students Moving Into Boston Dorms
The health prep most college checklists forget—but makes all the difference.
Heading to a Boston dorm? This checklist covers vaccines, meds, and mental health tips to help college students stay healthy and supported all semester.
The weeks leading up to college drop-off tend to blur together. There are dorm supply checklists, Target runs, tuition deadlines, and a growing sense that everything is about to change. For many families on the South Shore, the move to Boston campuses means staying close to home, but the shift still feels big.
I've worked with many parents through this season, and here's what I'll say: it's easy to get caught up in the logistics and forget the medical side of the prep. But for new college students, especially those living in dorms for the first time, there are a few important health details that deserve a place in the suitcase, right alongside the laundry bag and shower caddy.
Whether you're sending a student to BU, Northeastern, UMass, Simmons, or another Boston-area campus, here's a health checklist to help them start strong.
1. Make Sure Vaccines Are Up to Date
Most schools require proof of immunization, and for good reason. Dorms bring a lot of students together in close quarters, which increases the risk of contagious illness.
For Massachusetts colleges, this typically includes:
Meningitis (MenACWY): This one is especially important for first-year students in dorms. It protects against a severe bacterial infection that spreads more easily in communal settings. If your student got a dose at age 11 or 12, they likely need a booster now.
TDAP: A tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis booster is usually required within the past 10 years.
MMR, Varicella, and Hepatitis B: These are generally part of the routine childhood schedule, but it's worth confirming documentation.
Some schools may also recommend the newer MenB vaccine (which protects against additional strains of meningitis), especially if there are campus-specific outbreaks or risk factors. And while not all colleges require the COVID-19 vaccine, most encourage it, along with annual flu shots once the season hits.
This is an easy place to start. A quick check with your provider can confirm what's missing and get paperwork squared away.
2. Build a Basic Medication Kit
College dorms don't come with a medicine cabinet, and it's easy to forget how hard it is to find something simple, like ibuprofen or cough drops, at 10 p.m. during midterms.
A small health kit should include:
Pain relievers (acetaminophen or ibuprofen)
Antihistamines (for unexpected allergies or reactions)
Decongestants or cold relief
Cough drops or lozenges
Hydrocortisone cream
Bandages and antibiotic ointment
A digital thermometer
Any personal prescriptions, plus copies of the prescriptions in case they're lost
It doesn't need to be elaborate. The goal is to help your student avoid an unnecessary trip to urgent care for a minor issue.
3. Review Prescriptions and Refill Plans
If your student takes any regular medication, whether for ADHD, asthma, anxiety, or another chronic condition, it's crucial to have a plan.
Questions to answer before move-in:
How will refills be handled? Will they need a local pharmacy in Boston?
Is there a mail-order option that delivers to campus?
Does the student know how to manage the medication independently?
Do they need support with prior authorizations or pharmacy coordination?
For students who have never managed their prescriptions independently, this is a good time to start building those skills. Having a provider who knows them and can communicate directly if issues come up makes a big difference.
4. Discuss Mental Health and Stress Support
The transition to college is exciting, but it's also stressful. Even when a student seems outwardly confident, the combination of academic pressure, social adjustment, homesickness, and less structure can wear on their mental health.
Some things to talk about together before they go:
What helps them when they feel overwhelmed?
Who will they call if they're having a hard time?
Do they know where the campus health or counseling center is located?
Would they feel more comfortable having a home provider they can reach out to during the semester?
Some families choose to keep their student enrolled in a concierge practice like ours so there's a trusted connection in place. That continuity can help students get help faster and avoid unnecessary delays.
5. Go Over Privacy and Health Access
It surprises a lot of parents, but once your child turns 18, their health information becomes private, even if you're still footing the tuition bill.
If your student wants you to have access to their health records or communicate with providers, they'll need to sign a release. It's worth discussing this openly. Some families find peace of mind having a plan in place; others decide to leave it up to the student unless an emergency arises.
Either way, it's better to talk about it now than to scramble later.
6. Give Them a Health Support Contact
There will come a moment when your student isn't feeling well, doesn't know what to do, and is too far from home to ask you in person. Giving them a provider they know and trust, someone who can help with quick questions, virtual visits, or even prescriptions, can prevent a lot of stress.
That's one of the reasons concierge care works well for college families. Whether it's navigating new symptoms, refilling a prescription, or reviewing a vaccine requirement, having a direct line makes care easier.
Set Them Up to Stay Well
College comes with a steep learning curve, and no one gets everything right out of the gate. But with the right tools in place, students can take ownership of their health with confidence, and know they're supported even from a few towns away.
If your student could benefit from ongoing care, support with transitions, or help coordinating records and prescriptions, we're here. You can call our office at 781-795-9980 or visit www.conciergemedicineofsouthshore.com to get started.
This is a big moment, and you don't have to figure it out alone.
