Sending Your First Child to College: A First-Time College Parent’s Perspective
There are few moments in life as exciting, rewarding, and emotional as sending your first child off to college. That moment has finally arrived for me.
I’m still trying to understand how my tiny baby girl has grown into an accomplished, brilliant, and fascinating young woman ready to begin the adventure of a lifetime. While I couldn’t be prouder of Emma, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling emotional about it all.
As a first-time college mom, I thought I was prepared. I opened a 529 account when Emma was a baby, contributed consistently over the years, and encouraged family and friends to give the gift of education instead of more toys and gadgets. I thought I had done everything right, and I did.
What I didn’t realize was that financial preparation is only half the battle.
Like many families, we navigated applications, essays, transcripts, testing requirements, campus visits, and the pressure of decision day. But our experience was even more complex because Emma is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. In addition to the traditional application process, she faced auditions, callbacks, and performance evaluations. Every step brought a mix of excitement, uncertainty, and anticipation.
Then came the decisions.
Do you commit to a school right away? Do you remain on a waitlist and hope for an opening? How do you balance practical considerations with your child’s dreams? Should your child attend a traditional college, a trade school, an apprenticeship program, or pursue an online education? These are questions many families face, and they can be surprisingly stressful.
Then came Move-In Day planning.
When I went to college, moving into a dorm was easy. You packed some clothes, a few school supplies, toiletries, and a set of twin sheets. Then you showed up.
Things. Have. Changed.
Today’s college move-in process requires a level of planning that rivals a military operation. There are storage systems, room décor, mini appliances, charging stations, and enough organizational products to stock a small retail store. And apparently, no dorm room can function without approximately 437 Command Strips.
But more than the shopping lists and move-in logistics, I wasn’t prepared for the emotions.
Emma will only be a four-hour drive away, but the reality of becoming an empty nester is still hitting me harder than I expected. There are moments of pride, excitement, worry, sadness, and gratitude, sometimes all before breakfast.
As I work through those emotions, there’s one thing I don’t have to worry about: how we’ll pay for college.
Because we started saving early through a 529 account, we have the resources we need to support Emma’s educational journey. I can’t imagine managing all the emotions and logistics of sending a child to college while also facing significant financial stress.
The truth is that our savings didn’t come from larger sacrifices alone. They also came from small, consistent choices made over many years. Sometimes it meant skipping the daily coffee-shop run. Sometimes it meant dining out a little less often. Those contributions, combined with gifts from family and friends, added up and created opportunities for Emma’s future.
If your children are still young, consider opening a 529 account now. Even modest contributions can make a meaningful difference over time. And if your child is already nearing college, remember that educational expenses don’t end after the first semester. It’s never too late to start saving with a 529 account.
But don’t just prepare financially. Prepare emotionally, too.
Whether your child is heading across the country, a few hours away like Emma, or commuting from home, this transition is a major milestone for the entire family.
To my fellow parents of incoming freshmen: I’m right there with you. We’ve got this. Keep planning for the future. Keep cheering your children on. And when Move-In day arrives, don’t forget the snacks, the patience, and a healthy supply of Command Strips.
Enjoy every moment. The years really do go by faster than we ever imagined.
About the author:
Mary Anne Busse is the Managing Director of Great Disclosure. She has been advising state government 529 and ABLE Plan administrators since 2000. Mary Anne is an active member of The 529 Network as the Co-Chair of its Legal and State Affairs Committee, and serves on its Communications Committee, Blog Subcommittee, Conference Planning Committees, and several other subcommittees. She is also an active member of the ABLE Savings Plans Network. She recently completed serving her fourth term on the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s Municipal Fund Securities Advisory Group.