Ask Deanie

Archives Deanie Kepler's previously published columns

SMU Parent Liaison Deanie Kepler offers advice on helping your student.

That's a Wrap! Final Steps for Your Student's Year

Your students will be taking finals soon – what else should they do before they depart campus? I hope these tips will help make the transition to summer a bit easier.

• Forward mail to summer address.
• Pay fines for any overdue library books.
• Resell textbooks back to the bookstore.
• Remind them to clean their residence hall room or apartment to avoid penalty fees.
• Return all keys in the proper manner to avoid penalty fees.
• After finals, students should get a good night’s sleep before driving long distances home.
• If your student needs to store items over the summer, see “Summer Storage Research” below.

Graduating Seniors should do all of the above, PLUS:

• Request a refund on any remaining PONY Express Ca$h dollars. (Dollars roll over for all undergraduates.)
• Make a donation to the Senior Class Gift Fund.
• Pick up tickets and robes for graduation.
• See SMU's Commencement Web site for complete graduation information.
• If you have student loans, check with Enrollment Services for the repayment schedule.
• Let the Hegi Family Career Development Center know of your plans after graduation – graduate school, a job or what?

Summer Storage Research

(An interested parent did this research in 2005 and is kind enough to share it.)

• Students can pack and haul themselves and use any of several storage places around campus – they’ll need a car for this, since none of them are within walking distance of the residence halls. Ask about various discounts for SMU students – first month for $1 or half off second month, etc. The rates vary with size and whether the units are air conditioned or not. All depends on what you are packing.
• All of the storage places also sell boxes, tape, bubble wrap, etc., although you can probably get these things at Target or Staples for less.
• Public Storage units can be rented with a roommate or friend at Mockingbird Station (closest to campus). They are at 214-828-9542.
• Security Self-Storage at Skillman and Abrams is at 214-340-2200 (Doll and Tom are very helpful).
• Lock-n-Key is by Central Market, 214-368-2121. (Ask for Mike and Patsy.)
• Door to Door Storage may work out to be a slightly more expensive option – they will drop a storage unit in a parking space on campus (get permission from the campus police first); students load it up, then they pick it up and drop it back for the fall semester. Kevin Uselton is the Dallas/Austin district manager for them at 972-484-6360.
• The least work, most costly option is MoveCo.net, 972-250-1100. They will move things from the resident hall or apartment, store it for the summer and return it in August. For a price, they will even do the packing.

The semester has certainly gone fast – my best wishes to all!

Deanie

Question for Deanie? Ask Deanie at gkepler@smu.edu or 214-768-4797.

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