--- title: "Back-to-school guide: Essential tips for college students" description: "Essential back-to-school tips for college students: fire safety, theft prevention, car insurance, and more. Prepare for a successful semester." image: https://www.thesilverlining.com/hubfs/Back-to-school%20guide%20Essential%20tips%20for%20college%20students%20-%20featured%20image.png --- [![West Bend Insurance](https://www.thesilverlining.com/hs-fs/hubfs/HS%20TEST%20LOGO.png?width=233&height=65&name=HS%20TEST%20LOGO.png "West Bend Insurance")](https://www.thesilverlining.com) ![toggle mobile navigation](https://www.thesilverlining.com/hs-fs/file-1692861603-png/images/nav-toggle.png) [![West Bend Insurance](https://www.thesilverlining.com/hs-fs/file-1696307430-png/images/logo-west-bend.png)](https://www.thesilverlining.com/) [Find An Agent](https://www.thesilverlining.com/find-an-insurance-agent) [![West Bend Cares Blog](https://www.thesilverlining.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/West-Bend-Cares-Blog-WhiteBackground.png?width=400&height=80&name=West-Bend-Cares-Blog-WhiteBackground.png)](https://www.thesilverlining.com/west-bend-blog) As college students gear up to head back to campus, it's a time filled with excitement and new beginnings. Amidst the hustle and bustle of moving in, attending classes, and reuniting with friends, it's crucial to keep a few key concerns and tips in mind to ensure a safe and smooth experience. ## Ensuring fire safety Students should be aware of fire safety and familiar with evacuation procedures, as dorms and apartments can be vulnerable to fire. - Know the location of the closest fire alarm. - Report damaged fire equipment to the appropriate staff. - Be familiar with how to use a fire extinguisher. - Don’t be a practical joker. ## Preventing dorm room thefts Theft prevention is equally important because crowded living spaces can become targets for opportunistic thieves. - Consider buying a dorm safe. - Use cable locks to secure your laptop. - Research locking/storage options for gaming consoles. - Keep the door locked. - Keep expensive items at home. ## Taking a car to college Students planning to have a car at college, should research and understand the insurance implications and the college’s on-campus car policy. - Discuss your auto policy with your insurance agent. - Understand state insurance requirements. - Find out the college’s policy on having a car. ## Sharing expenses with roommates Navigating the complexities of sharing expenses with roommates is essential for maintaining harmonious living arrangements. - Write down how expenses will be divided. - Visit the app store and look for a payment app. - Discuss individual preferences regarding groceries to see if sharing will work. - Discuss consequences regarding payment failure. ## For more information, check out the links below. [Fire safety tips to keep college students safe](https://www.thesilverlining.com/westbendcares/blog/fire-safety-tips-to-keep-college-students-safe) [Tips for preventing dorm room theft](https://www.thesilverlining.com/westbendcares/blog/tips-for-preventing-dorm-room-theft) [What to know before sending your student to college with a car](https://www.thesilverlining.com/westbendcares/blog/what-to-know-before-sending-your-student-to-college-with-a-car) [Tips for sharing expenses with roommates](https://www.thesilverlining.com/westbendcares/blog/tips-for-sharing-expenses-with-roommates)   **Topics:** [Back to School](https://www.thesilverlining.com/west-bend-blog/tag/back-to-school) ### About the Author Scott Stueber, CPCU, CISR, AAI ![Scott Stueber, CPCU, CISR, AAI](https://www.thesilverlining.com/hubfs/images/wbcares-Scott-Stueber1.jpg) Scott Stueber is a 26-year insurance veteran employed by West Bend since 1997. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh. His insurance expertise is backed by several designations he’s earned over the years: Accredited Advisor Insurance (AAI), Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR), and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU). He’s also a... Show More Scott Stueber is a 26-year insurance veteran employed by West Bend since 1997. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh. His insurance expertise is backed by several designations he’s earned over the years: Accredited Advisor Insurance (AAI), Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR), and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU). He’s also a licensed insurance agent. Scott has been sharing his expert advice through the successful West Bend Cares blog since October 2012. He’s authored hundreds of helpful and relevant articles on a variety of topics including home, auto, and business insurance; claim prevention; and family safety tips. When he’s not creating content, Scott enjoys spending time with his family (including their lovable, orange tabby cat, Toulouse), traveling, riding his motorcycle, and playing Xbox. [View all posts by author.](https://www.thesilverlining.com/west-bend-blog/author/scott-stueber) ### Leave a comment ## Related Posts ## **![Ideas Exchange](https://www.thesilverlining.com/hubfs/images/light-bulb-ideas-exchange4.svg)** ## **Interested in contributing to the West Bend Cares blog?** Please review our content contributor agreement and submit your ideas to us! 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Yes, I'll help We appreciate your feedback [Privacy Policy](https://www.thesilverlining.com/privacy-policy) Feedback [ { "key": "fid#1", "value": ["Children"] }, { "key": "fid#2", "value": ["Home"] }, { "key": "fid#3", "value": ["Article"] } ] ![](https://dc.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=24180&fmt=gif) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Scott Stueber, CPCU, CISR, AAI", "url" : "https://www.thesilverlining.com/west-bend-blog/author/scott-stueber" }, "dateModified" : "2024-07-31T13:30:00.664Z", "datePublished" : "2024-07-31T13:30:00.000Z", "headline" : "Back-to-school guide: Essential tips for college students", "image" : [ "https://www.thesilverlining.com/hubfs/Back-to-school%20guide%20Essential%20tips%20for%20college%20students%20-%20featured%20image.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.thesilverlining.com/west-bend-blog/back-to-school-college-students", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.thesilverlining.com/hubfs/HS%20TEST%20LOGO.png" }, "name" : "West Bend Insurance Company" } } ```