Having a loved one with a serious medical problem is hard when you go to college. There are things that you need to have in place so that you can be prepared if something goes wrong. You will need to make sure to get homework or other assignments done very quickly and not wait until the last moment because you never know when something could go wrong and you might have to go back home. You should also alert your teachers in advance that you may be called home suddenly. Generally faculty will be very supportive. Also find someone in the class who will be willing to share notes with you and send you notices of anything important.

If you are called home, email all of your teachers and let them know what is going on and try to give them a timetable for when you expect to return to classes. You should also notify the campus office that helps out in these emergency situations. Often the office will send a notification to your teachers as well. Some teachers are supportive but some won’t be, so don’t be surprised. Don’t take it personal.

Have multiple ways of getting home so that you can always get there if it’s a real emergency. For example try to have a friend or two who can drive you home if you really need it. Find out if there are any bus routes that go close to your house. Find out when they run and how much they cost. Trains or air travel are also possible. Having your own car on campus would be helpful if you can find a place to park it.

If you are having trouble coping with your loved one’s medical condition, you might go to see a university counselor so that you can have someone to talk to about your challenge.

You might want to get a job while in college to help provide some income for yourself so you don’t have to rely on money from your family. This can relieve some financial worries. Also the money you earn could be used for an emergency if you need it for gas or to pay for transportation to get home.

You should take fewer classes during your first few semesters. This will also give you the ability to go home if you have to and not be stressed out because you have too much work to do.

Over the summer, you should take summer classes back home at a community college. These courses should cost less and you will be catching up on your credits that you didn’t take during the semesters. You should also try to get a job so you can help have income for your family and also have money for when you go back to college..