HaveUHeard that when a student moves into an off-campus apartment they generally sign a lease for twelve months? (it is actually a 10-month lease that apartments prorated so it gets paid over 12 months).  So how to sublease? A sublet is a legally binding contract between you and the subtenant which allows them to live in your apartment for a specific period of time. Of course, they are responsible for paying rent for that period of time.

In order to sublet you must first check local laws. The right to sublet could be written in the lease or perhaps in the state law depending on where you are located. So, for Florida, the lease must say somewhere that you are prohibited to sublease. If there is nothing that states that, you are able to sublet your apartment according to Florida state law.

Before doing a sublease, you should request landlord approval. Provide as much detail as possible.  You obviously want to make sure the subtenant is reliable. You remain liable for payments so you want to make sure this person will be able to pay the rent. You must have a legal agreement with your subtenant in order to make the sublet final. This way you are able to protect yourself in case of any future disagreements. Obtain and hold a security deposit just in case there are any damages made to the apartment. Lastly, you want to set up rent payments with your subtenant. Don’t forget to take photos beforehand in case any damage is done from the subtenant!

Now, how to find someone to sublet. There are some Facebook pages that FAU students can use to find potential sublessors:

FAU Class of 20XX (insert years) – official group

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Housing, Sublets & Roommates

FAU Off-Campus Housing

If your student is a member of a sorority or fraternity or involved in a club, getting the word out early, as well as potentially subletting to someone they know, is generally better. The truth is, there are far more apartments available to sublet every summer than there are students looking to sublet, so if you can make an arrangement with someone you trust early; take it. If you are looking for someone to take over for the fall semester, try looking at the summer before. Many people sign a lease and find options that better suit them last minute.

Looking for a spring sublease may be a bit tough since most people have already signed year leases. Definitely start posting in the fall semester (around October/November). There are students who are tied to a year’s lease that may have decided to do a semester abroad or take a semester off; so, sublets are out there. As opposed to summer; it is more difficult to find a desirable apartment with roommates that you will be happy to live with than it is to find someone to rent your place. Most people tend to give up their summer leases, so finding someone to take over your lease in the summer can be tricky. However, it is possible. Chances are you will not get your full rent covered. Something is better than nothing though.

Some apartment complexes charge a sublet fee. Most all require signed forms with complete information on your sublessor. It is to your advantage to play by the rules and be sure all forms and fees are taken care of because, without them, you (the original renter) are responsible for any damage that may occur in your absence…and it happens. As a matter of fact, all the renters/roommates may be responsible, if they cannot be sure who caused the damage. My daughter was recently charged for a broken washing machine when she wasn’t even in the country. There was no way to identify who caused the damage and since her name is still on the lease.

It seems like a lot to sublet, however, it might be worth the trouble! I am usually away during the summers. If I had known more about this, it might have been a good option so I wasn’t wasting money. I definitely think it is a good option for students and parents to look into if they will be renting an apartment while attending college. I even found websites such as ULoop that had listings for bedrooms and apartments near FAU that were subletting. Each had a description where some listed the application fee, security deposit, first-month rent or prorated rent, and extra things such as pet fees.

Madeline Gilligan, FAU Intern

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Just a few months after getting your students settled into their dorm, they will start to bring up where they want to live next year. By December, they are ready to sign a lease. It is hard to imagine making a decision so early, however; the demand for living in certain areas is driving the need to sign early. You will hear them mention specific apartments yet all you want to know is the rent amount, is the area safe, how much it costs to rent an apartment. There will be questions you may not have thought to ask and how to keep it economical.

By far, the most popular and luxurious group of student apartments are found about a mile away from campus. If you or your student needs some help getting started, FAU does provide some assistance. Your student can log in and find information about complexes around campus and even start a roommate search.

Of course, as much as we may not want to deprive our students of luxury living (excuse my sarcasm), there are far more affordable and economical apartment rentals in Boca Raton. Another popular area for students in the apartment search is around Mizner Park. These are close to many of the bars and restaurants as well as the campus.  While you may think affordable living and Boca Raton don’t typically go hand in hand, there are some areas with great options. While it is about a 15-20 minute ride from campus, many of my daughter’s friends have found nice apartments for economical prices in Deerfield Beach. There are also several areas in West Boca and complexes off of Palmetto Park Road and Military Trail where your student can find some more options. The further you are from campus, the less expensive the rental.

Below we break down what questions your student should be asking:

Reserved Parking

Most apartments and houses near campus require you to work with property management companies. Unfortunately, many of the multiple room apartment rentals will only include one or two parking spaces, if any at all. Often, many of these apartments offer the option to purchase more reserved spaces; however, paying for these reserved spaces can be pricey, and sometimes they are not in close proximity to your student’s unit. You’ll want to ask this question when you begin searching for apartments. Some apartment complexes, such as Upark, USquare or UView, give you a special decal that allows you to park in the apartment complex parking lot. You receive a sticker that says UliveBoca and the year. Once you register your car with the office, you can park anywhere in the lot. The lots are right below your building and are well-lit at night.

Utilities

Make sure you find out the overage for utilities for the apartment. We quickly learned that after getting a bill for her first month stating they went over the allotted amount of $120.00 per month. The management company will split the overage between the numbers of tenants. You’ll also want to confirm that utilities are included in the monthly rent. If utilities are not included in the rent, you’ll want to find out what company provides service. Typically, the utility companies will not split the bill among roommates, so the best option is to have the account in one name and have your student split the bill with their roommates themselves.

The Lease

Most apartment leases start after August 1st and go through July 31st of the following year. The leases are based on 12 months but many students are only in Boca Raton for two semesters. This means your student will either have to pay for the summer months or they can sublet. Some students charge for others to use their specific room to store. We recommend limiting that to those they know as you do not want to put yourself in a position of being responsible should something happen to another person’s belongings.

Inspecting the Apartment

Make certain your student (and yourself if you are there) inspect the premises thoroughly. Remember, for many of our kids, this is their first experience with renting an apartment. Take pictures of any damage, no matter how small, as they will be charged if they did not fill out the damage report when they first moved into their apartment. If they hang up pictures or use any nails on the walls, make certain they spackle and repaint. The charges add up fairly quickly. Worth repeating- Take 100 pictures, then take 20 more time-stamped. You could be charged for damages to the apartment. If you have not documented everything, prepare for those charges.

Responsible Party for Payment

When reading through the lease, make certain that your student is only responsible for their individual room and not the entire apartment. While you may believe your student is moving in with their BFFs, if one decides to vacate for any reason, whether to withdraw, study abroad, or the living arrangement did not work out, you do not want to be responsible for that person’s portion of the lease.

Subletting

Make sure you are familiar with the terms of subletting as many students leave for Summer A and B or a combination thereof and may want to sublet their room to a third party.

Room locks

Along those lines, each bedroom should have its own key different than the other bedrooms. This gives your students the ability to lock their bedroom should they decide they do not want anyone having access to their personal belongings.

Insurance

Your homeowner’s insurance policy may not cover them while they are living off-campus (many will cover if they are living in an on-campus residence at no extra cost). Check the terms of your home insurance policy. Most of the large insurance companies offer separate renters policies at a reasonable rate. You may also want to look at two of the more reputable college student insurance companies, College Student Insurance, and NSSI.

Information about students’ favorite apartments.

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For students heading to Grad School, finding an apartment if they are going to a different university entails completely different criteria. My niece and our interns all recently switched universities from where they went for undergrad. Grad School housing comes with its own unique challenges. With expensive tuition and long study sessions, the last thing they need to worry about is finding an apartment near FAU.

If you will be attending FAU for graduate school, you probably want to know your options as far as living arrangements go. Graduate school consumes a lot of time and money, so you want to make sure you’re living in the right place.FAU does offer Innovation Village Apartments as well as University Village for graduate students, both of which are on-campus housing. If you’re looking for a place that’s right on campus, one of these would be a great option. The one thing to consider is that many undergraduate students live in these housing options as well, so you might want to find a place that’s still close to FAU, but provides a little more of a quiet, apartment feel.

Another option for graduate students that are off-campus is University Park. This is more of an apartment feel, but still has the close proximity to FAU. There are application fee discounts, and the rent is not too bad ranging from around $1,010 – $1,145 a month. It even offers amenities such as a study room with Wi-Fi, computers, a printer, and six individual lab rooms.  This apartment complex was designed specifically with college students in mind. Many undergraduate students do tend to live here as well, however, and the pool can become a bit of a party scene. So if you’re still looking for something a little more subdued, you might want to keep searching.

Another great place for graduate students to live is Vie Villas at Boca Raton. This apartment complex is within walking distance to FAU and provides a shuttle to FAU. The monthly rent for this complex ranges from $1,010 – $1,250 per month. The buildings are townhouses that give it more of a luxury feel and each unit has a two-car garage as well. If you’re looking for a place that is close to FAU but gives off more of an adult feel, this could be the place for you. We would recommend this place the most out of all of the options when it comes to graduate students.

No matter where you choose, Boca is a beautiful place to live. There are many apartments to choose from and price ranges that can fit any budget. Whether you’re looking for a place that’s close to school, a place that’s quiet, a place that has a single room, or a place that has all four, there are many options for graduate students.

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Welcome to Paradise as an FAU Owl Class of 2024! Now that you are accepted, you can now take that sigh of relief that a decision has been made and then take a look at our list of what to do next. First, this may sound silly, but check your admissions letter for accuracy regarding their name, entrance term, address and major. If any changes need to be made it needs to happen in writing or online at myfau.

When you applied, you would have gotten an ID number, or at FAU they are referred to as a Z-number. It can be found on your application status page. Save this number, you’ll use it for the next four years. When you were accepted, you received a computer account, or FAU Net ID, which can be found on your acceptance letter. This Net ID will be your username to access the MYFAU website. MYFAU is the main website you’ll use as a student to access everything from class information to tickets for football games. This NetID will also become your email address. With this NetID, you’ll be able to access the Owldone online resource, which is where you’ll complete each of the next steps.

You are going to want to get that $200 non-refundable deposit and form in by May 1 for summer and fall semesters and September 22 for the spring semester. Without the deposit, they won’t be able to register for the mandatory orientation, etc… This can also be done through the Owldone portal.

Then get that immunizations form completed and sent in. Registration cannot happen without this. You can download the form here.  By the way, while you are on the health services page, take note of all the amazing services they offer students. At FAU, it is not a requirement that every student has insurance. Students, regardless of their coverage, can access all of the services and programs that student health services have to offer. More information about student health services can be found here.

Be sure to confirm the following:

• Your residency status for tuition purposes
• That your student has signed up for Bright Futures
• Arranged for any final transcripts and scores (AP, IB, AICE, CLEP, and transfer credits) to be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions
• Your Florida Prepaid program if you have one (You will need to be familiar with what you paid for with Florida Prepaid as it may only cover certain fees or dorms – although it does not preclude your student from living in certain dorms; they may just have to pay any overage fees.)
• Finally, if you have not already done so, get that FAFSA form started.

Check out the housing information. There are many options at FAU both on and off-campus. If living in a particular dorm or having a single dorm is very important to your student, don’t wait too long to send a deposit and apply for housing.

Finally, check for any holds on your student’s account. It could be the simplest thing, but there is nothing worse than going to register for classes and not being able to because of a simple thing that could have been fixed earlier. This includes making certain that a final transcript from high school (other colleges if transferring) has made its way to the FAU Office of Admissions. This must get to them in a sealed envelope. Your student and you will receive Orientation information from the Office of New Student Orientation. This is a mandatory two-day event for your student and yourself.

Check out our blogs on Housing, Meal Plans, and Orientation for many more helpful details.

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Florida Atlantic University is notorious for having very few open parking spots. I can vouch for this because I have a car and sometimes I feel as if I’m playing a game: find the parking spots before anyone else does.  This creates a huge issue for students whether they live on campus or commute. Some things to consider when deciding whether your student should or should not bring their car to campus is if they will be working at an off-campus job. It is definitely worth it to have a car if you will be working because you have the ability to drive yourself to work worry-free and in your own time. There would be no issue with trying to find transportation if you have a car.

If you are a student at FAU, then there is no cost for a parking permit which is one benefit that makes having a car a good idea. However, because parking permits are free for students, there is never any parking! The good thing is that FAU provides many different modes of transportation for students. So if you don’t have a car, don’t worry, there are many other ways to get from place to place. You can take a look at the various modes of transportation here. There are some great options such as the free intercampus shuttle, which takes you from the Boca Campus to Jupiter Campus, as well as the Boca Campus shuttle which makes it easy to move quickly around campus. Both make it easy to get where you need to be. If you have a car and have trouble finding parking, here’s an insider tip, park by the stadium or the softball fields. Lots 10, 12, 13, 14, and 15 often have available parking spots. These lots are stops for the FAU campus shuttle, so park here and take a ride to your class!

I was able to get around fine when I did not have a car because I had friends that would drive me when needed and I also don’t live too far from home. Now that I have a car though, I would never go back to relying on public transportation. Having my own mode of transportation makes everything much easier for me and allows me to have more freedom. I also don’t have to rely on someone else to get me where I need to be. My advice is to think about your situation, think about whether you will have a job or need to get anywhere off campus, and then decide if you can get by without a car. No matter what kind of transportation you use, if it works for you, then you will have a great experience at FAU!

These were just a few suggestions based on my experience and hope it will bring a productive conversation for you and your Owl. Whatever you decide, we definitely recommend trying out FAU’s transportation options.

Madeline Gilligan, FAU Intern

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Here are some great tips about our favorite apartment rentals. With my daughters, I have three, not one stayed in the dorms beyond their freshman year. My youngest daughter lived in Delray Beach for her last two years at FAU. She lived at Delray Verana and found the rent was reasonable, the rooms were nice sized with each having their own bathroom and she hated moving, which made it her favorite. The commute to campus was only about 10-15 minutes; however, there are several great options closer to campus that can suit every student’s needs.

In Boca Raton, the choices are plentiful. Below are some of the more popular apartment complexes students live in near FAU. Some provide buses to campus (which can be important since parking on campus can be a nightmare), some have facilities that rival a fancy hotel (pools, hot tubs, volleyball courts, lounges), some provide reserved parking spots for a fee, some are gated and provide constant security and all have various options from studios to 4 bedrooms. Prices vary and generally go up slightly each year. The rent for many complexes depends on how early in the year you sign a lease. Many will also help find a student to fill a vacant room if need be. Wi-Fi is generally included in rent, but utilities are not always included or are included up to a specific dollar amount with the overage split between the occupants. Be sure to check all these things before making a decision.  We tried to stick with the important things like security and furniture, rather than tanning beds and lit volleyball courts if you know what we mean, but some of the amenities are pretty impressive.

Boca Bell Town Center – Located conveniently near the Town Center Mall. Currently running $1720/month for a 2/2 apartment. Rent includes Pest Control. Features a resort-style swimming pool, fitness center, and tennis courts.

Boca Winds – Currently running $1575/month for a 2/1 and includes Pest Control and Trash Service. Features a resort-style swimming pool and tennis courts.

Cynthia Gardens – Close proximity to FAU. They offer 2-floor plans in six finished. These apartments range anywhere from $1,290 – $1,420. General maintenance, sewage, trash, water, and pest control is always included.

Delray Verana – Currently running $1580/ month for 2/2 and includes alarm service and trash removal. Features a resort-style swimming pool, 24-hour fitness center, and tennis courts.

Gables Town Colony – Currently running $1875/month for a 2/2 and includes trash removal, water, and sewer. It features a business center, resort-style swimming pool, and car care center.

Mizner Court: 1/1 for $1,450 – 1,963. Has the potential to be a little more expensive, It is very close to FAU (only about a 12-minute drive) and has amenities such as 2 swimming pools, a tennis court, a fitness center, and a coffee bar.

Somerset Place – Currently running 1,585/month for a 2/2. Features a resort-style swimming pool and tennis courts.

The Bicycle Club – Within walking distance from FAU. I have known people who have rented here from FAU and they seemed to like it because of the closeness to FAU, Mizner Park, and the Town Center Mall. For a 2 bed 1 bath, this apartment is around $1,400. It also has amenities including some paid utilities, a washer and dryer, a microwave, and a refrigerator. It also has a swimming pool.

Tuscany Pointe – Currently running 1,220/month for a 1/1. Features a resort-style swimming pool and tennis courts.

University Park  – By far, the most popular and luxurious student apartment about a mile away from campus. This was sold along with University View and Square.  This apartment is tailored specifically to students. Amenities include fully furnished apartments, private bathrooms, granite countertops, a two-story fitness center, resort-style pool, and a 24/7 market to name a few. They also have a shuttle that will take students to and from campus.  University Park, students pay per room.  University Park lists their rent from $970/month per room (based on a 4 x 4) but it is actually based on supply and demand. All are fully furnished and rates include water, cable, and the Internet.

Vie Villas – Formerly UView apartments, this was purchased and now managed by Vie Management, who specializes in managing college apartments. These are 3 bedrooms, 3 bath apartments and amenities include washer/dryer, electronic front door locks, a 24 Hour State-of-the-art Fitness Center, Resort Style Swimming Pool, Social Courtyard with Bocce, Walking Distance to FAU, Exclusive Shuttle to FAU and Lynn University, Pet-Friendly, 24 Hour Emergency Maintenance.

Villas at Boca Raton –  These are apartments catered towards FAU college students. Florida Atlantic University is within walking distance of this apartment complex. They also have an exclusive shuttle that goes to and from FAU. They offer many amenities such as a Sand volleyball court and a swimming pool. They provide two unique styles of apartments. Both are three bedrooms and three bathrooms, however, one is considered to be premium because the layout and furniture are a little nicer. The 3×3 runs from $1,189 – $1,239 a month depending on room type. The 3×3 premium runs from $1,369 – $1,419 a month. One of my close friends lived here this past year, and she loved it. It was very convenient for her and many other FAU students live there as well. She was able to find two roommates from FAU to live with her and they all became close. I think this is a very good option for students going to FAU.

Windwood Apartments in Boca Raton is a popular living area near campus. It has many different buildings and is in a gated community. Prices vary based on those who are selling but a three-bedroom is typically about $2000 a month with varying utilities.

These are, however, just some of the more popular off-campus complexes FAU students seem to flock to. There are many more. Check out FAU’s Off-Campus Housing website for more assistance.

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It’s not just for fairy tales, getting the beauty treatment makes her happy. As the mother of girls, I know all too well that not being able to go to get their hair cut, nails done, eyebrows waxed is something they really miss when they are away at school. Most guys are the same way. Now before anyone gets ready to jump all over the “beauty is skin deep” bandwagon, let me just say, when your student is away for an entire semester, being able to get a hair trim or eyebrows waxed may be important to them. And for special occasions (Greek formals, university banquet, a job interview on campus), they want to make certain their nails look polished.

So where are students to go for hair treatments (cut, color, and highlights), eyebrow waxing or threading, manicures, and pedicures?
Here are some of the recommended places:

Hair Salons:

If your daughter is getting a haircut, you may want to know that they have the option to sell their hair online. If they are going to get their hair cut anyway, they can sell the locks that are lopped off. High-quality hair can be valued at over $500 and with so many people getting their first post-pandemic haircuts, we’ve got a price calculator.

A Suite Salon – 2240 NW 19th St. Unit 807, Boca Raton Fl. 33432 Offers a 10% discount to students for first cut and color

Blow to Paris Blow Dry Bar & Nail Salon: 9 Plaza Real South Boca Raton, FL (Offers both hair and nail services)

Cloud 10 Blow Dry Bar & Hair Salon: 289 E Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton FL

Everything Hair: 21200 St. Andrews Blvd. Suite 101 Boca Raton, FL (Offers discounts to FAU students)

Gloss Salon: 222 NW 51st St Boca Raton, FL

Gramercy Hair Salon: 444 Plaza Real Boca Raton, FL

Spalano Salon and Spa – Suite 125, 5250 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton FL, 33486. 15% off first-time clients for color, highlights, blow-dry, and style.

Ulta Beauty – Located in Westwinds of Boca shopping center on Glades Road. Offers Hair, skin, makeup, and brows beauty services. Click the link for special offers.

Barbershops:
New Era Barbershop: Located on Campus, Full-service barbershop. Open 7 days a week.

The Cutting Lounge Barbershop: 473 N. Federal Highway Boca Raton, FL

Breakroom Men’s Salon and Spa: 141 NW 20th St. Boca Raton, FL (Offers discounts to FAU students)

Nails:

Aqua Nail Spa: 487 NE 20th Street Boca Raton, FL

Fifth Avenue Nails: 1956 NE 5th Avenue Boca Raton, FL

Snappy Nails: 39 South Federal Highway Deerfield Beach, FL

Pour & Polish Nail Salon: 801 North Federal Highway Boca Raton, FL

Nails Chic: 2621 N. Federal Highway Boca Raton, FL

Utopia Spa: 2150 N Federal Highway Boca Raton FL

Waxing/Threading:

Brow and Beauty Bar: 21073 Powerline Rd Suite 61 Boca Raton FL 33433

Waxing the City: 2200 Glades Road Boca Raton, FL. If students show their student ID, they get 50% off their first service. They feature custom formulated waxes. Many of the sorority members go here for eyebrow waxing because it is close to school and they do a good job.

Massage:

Boca Heaven Spa: 1580 NW Second Avenue Boca Raton, FL 33432

Eden Day Spa: 213 East Palmetto Park Road Boca Raton, FL 33432

Zen Massage: 21334 St. Andrews Blvd Boca Raton, FL 33433

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If you have decided you want to be an Owl, congratulations! Welcome to the University where there is football in paradise. All Owls will tell you there are some “must-dos” at FAU before graduation. Exploring all of what FAU and Boca Raton have to offer will make your time at FAU that much better. Check out our Bucket List for some popular must-dos.

The Offical Bucket

• See a Movie at Living Room Theaters- Living Room Theaters is an upscale movie theater on campus showing current popular and indie films. They also show classic films. Enjoy a movie with lunch, dinner, dessert, and drinks; all available at student discounted rates.
• Enjoy a Beer at the Burrow- The Burrow is FAU’s on-campus sports bar. It’s a right of passage to enjoy a beer here once an Owl turns 21.
• Walk the Tortuga Trail- Check out Florida’s natural landscape and wildlife right in our backyard. More information on the Tortuga Trail.
• FAU Football Game and Tailgate- While I can almost guarantee it will be hot; FAU football games are where the best memories are made. There is school spirit at every turn and always a chance to take a picture with Owlsley himself.
• Visit the Beach – FAU is surrounded by some of South Florida’s nicest beaches
• Attending the Homecoming Bonfire- Most Owls will tell you that the bonfire and concert are what made them feel at home at FAU.
• Participate in Owlthon (Dance Marathon) – Have fun while raising money for an amazing cause.
• Mizner Park- Mizner Park is home to several restaurants, boutiques, and event spaces. Students enjoy stopping by to do some shopping or grab an ice cream. Make sure to visit during the holidays or when a festival is being held. You don’t want to miss the Christmas lights.
• See a concert or show at Mizner Amphitheatre.
• Visit Gumbo Limbo Nature- Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is home to a Boardwalk, tropical fish, and the home of a Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center. FAU maintains a research center at Gumbo Limbo. Pay a visit to the Sea Turtles and enjoy a walk on the coastal boardwalk before a day at the beach.

Once you complete all of these, you will officially be a lifelong Owl!

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It’s bound to happen.  At some point, the phone will ring and your mature, independent college student will cry “Mom, I’m sick!” Hopefully, their illness will be a result of their new-found independence that includes lack of sleep, exercise, stress, an unhealthy diet, and hygiene habits that don’t embrace enough hand-washing and can be cured quickly and easily.

I sent my daughters to school with a “things you may need that Mom thought of just in case” box. Inside was a thermometer; vitamins, the medicines that they used at home for symptoms of a cold; sinus infection; stomach ache, or other common ‘sick’ ailments. In my experience, my kids and I have had great results taking Source Naturals Wellness Formula. It has been a strong herbal defense supplement in fighting an illness that was recommended to me by a local natural health food store. Two a day for prevention but when you feel yourself coming down with something, you take 6 in the morning and 6 in the evening for two days. It has worked amazingly well for most everyone I have recommended it to.

Sometimes they need care beyond your box. Student Health Services is comprehensive providing both primary and some specialty care, including dentistry. If it is not a medical emergency or life-threatening circumstance, it is recommended that they go online to request an appointment. If it is a medical concern that needs attention that day, students can walk into the clinic anytime between 8 am and 6 pm. FAU also offers free flu shots to all students. If Student Health Services gives your student a prescription, they can fill it at the FAU Pharmacy, located in the Student Union. The Pharmacy also has a selection of over-the-counter products.

FAU has a hospital about five minutes away, Boca Raton Regional Hospital. There is also another hospital and 4 urgent care centers in the vicinity. Have your students fill out and drop off an Authorization to Release form when they begin college. It is up to them as to how much access they want to allow you. There is nothing worse than calling to find out how your sick or injured student is and being told the doctor is not authorized to talk with you.

If the health center on campus is inconvenient due to the hours or long wait times, there are alternatives. FAU recommends several off-campus walk-in clinics and emergency service locations. CVS has three Minute Clinics for minor illnesses. Have a discussion before dropping them off at college with an emergency plan. This should include having your student’s roommate or friend’s phone number, especially if they are accompanying them to the ER. I had my daughter add a phone contact titled ICE (In Case of Emergency) in the event she was unable to communicate. You can add that info whether you have an iPhone or Android. Have them enter their Medical ID information. This information allows medical personnel to access even on a locked phone and includes allergies, emergency contact information, and other crucial information.

Also, we recommend having your student get a flu shot. This past year, my daughter got really sick twice; once with the bad flu and once for a bad virus. It was difficult to get an appointment during flu season (it seems that most students and teachers all got hit with the flu). I would recommend your student getting the flu shot this year. Here are locations to get a flu shot.

Consider asking your family doctor for a recommendation of a general practitioner doctor in Boca. Yes, your fees pay for the student health center but her now having a Boca doctor will make getting an appointment a little easier. They are going to be at college for four years so establishing a relationship early may be worth it when the time comes that your student needs to be seen (although all bets are off when the flu season hits its peak). Be sure your student has a copy of their insurance card.

If you want to send something to make your student feel better, there are many options from chicken soup your student can pick up or have delivered. Check out our Care Package blog for local and national recommendations.

Remind your students to notify their professor if they will be legitimately missing class and unable to complete coursework. Including a doctor’s note is encouraged. FAU students who are seen by a doctor at the Student Health Services and who will not be able to attend class or take an exam, will not be able to get an excuse note. If a doctor’s note is required to have an absence excused, your student will have to go to an outside clinic. And finally, please make sure your student has filled out the legal forms should an emergency arise and you need to know what is going on.

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As if move out day isn’t stressful enough, now imagine trying to find storage place in your house for all of your student’s belongings. When it was time for my daughter to return home for the summer, my husband and I couldn’t believe how much more stuff she had to take home than we had moved in 10 months prior. Suddenly, my garage and guest bedroom were loaded up with a mini-fridge, microwave, and what seemed like endless amounts of dorm décor. All of this was brought back to my house just to move it back down to Boca Raton two months later. I knew that there had to be a better option for the following summer.

We decided to look at storage facilities in Boca to avoid some of the stress. As we began to shop around, we realized that facilities farther away from campus were cheaper in price. Another aspect that affected the cost was climate-controlled versus non-air-conditioned units.  It is very hot and humid during the summer in South Florida, so if you decide to go with a non-air conditioned unit, decide carefully what gets stored in there. Bedding, clothing, or books should not be placed in a non-air-conditioned unit because there is a risk of mold or mildew developing. We decided to go with an air-conditioned unit because it was easier for us to package up most of her belongings and not have to worry about them for the duration of the summer.

When shopping for storage facilities, start early. The storage units closer to FAU fill up quickly.  Get the confirmation in writing. We have heard of students believing they have secured a unit well in advance and then showing up on moving day and told they were sold out for months.

Here are some of the facilities that parents and students have recommended:

Smart Box Moving & Storage: FAU recommended, the storage container is dropped off to the student where they can be filled and later picked up. They have student discounts and both long & short term storage options

Dormroom Movers: Dormroom Movers provide boxes with prepaid shipping labels, which the student then packs and ships. Dormroom Movers stores the boxes and the monthly fee is determined by the number of boxes a student has to store. When you are ready to have your student’s items back, Dormroom Movers will ship them back to your student.

Public Storage: Located on 20th street – Check their site for online specials.

Extra Space Storage: Located on 2nd ave

Boca Storage: Located in Boca Raton Blvd – Often run specials, call for more information.

Addison Storage: Located on NW 1st Ave

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