College is a nice intermediary step between adolescence and full-blown adulthood. This is a great time to learn about your personal health and set yourself up for long-term success.
Here is the ultimate checklist for college students to help you thrive in college and beyond.
Complete your health requirements
All CU Boulder students are required to complete a unique set of health requirements.
New and transfer students...
All new students and transfer students need to complete the following requirements:
Continuing students
While continuing students don’t have as many requirements as new or transfer students, you’ll still need to complete the following requirement:
Students should try to complete these requirements as soon as possible. Failure to complete all of your health requirements can result in fees or an inability to register for spring classes.
Complete your health requirements
Transfer your prescriptions
Did you know that CU Boulder has a full-service pharmacy available on campus? If you’re currently taking prescription medications, we recommend transferring your prescriptions to the Apothecary Pharmacy. This will allow you to fill, refill and request prescriptions for pickup at Wardenburg Health Center on main campus or at the Village Center in Williams Village.
In order to transfer your prescriptions, you’ll need to complete the following steps:
Start transferring your prescriptions
Review your health history
Knowing about your personal health and family history is important, especially as you start to make appointments and see healthcare providers on your own. Take some time to review your history before your first appointment. You may need to call on family members to fill in the details. Here are a few things to include in your review:
You can also use this free, printable Personal Health Information form to review health topics. Be sure to save this form somewhere secure that you can also easily access if you need to schedule a healthcare appointment or meet with a provider.
Download a free personal health form
Protect yourself against preventable diseases
College campuses are a great place for diseases to spread. While CU requires students to meet certain vaccination requirements, there are additional immunizations that we strongly recommend for all students, even if they’re not required.
Here are a few important immunizations that you can receive at Medical Services to help protect yourself in college and beyond:
Schedule an appointment to get vaccinated at Medical Services
Learn about health insurance basics
Health insurance is probably one of those things you wish you would’ve learned about in high school or early in college. While insurance plans can be complex, understanding your policy is an important part of managing your health (and wallet).
If you feel overwhelmed navigating healthcare or insurance systems, you’re not alone. That’s why we’re here to help. Check out tips and tricks to help you understand the basics and make the most of your health insurance plan.
Learn the basics of health insurance
Register with Disability Services if you need accommodations
Disability Services provides reasonable housing, dining and academic accommodations for students with disabilities. Some examples of disabilities by category include, but are not limited to:
If you have a disability and need accommodations, we recommend that you register with Disability Services as soon as possible. Disability Services can also provide support to students with temporary medical conditions such as a broken wrist or concussion. If you have any questions or if you’re unsure if you qualify for accommodations, you can reach out to dsinfo@colorado.edu for assistance.
Register with Disability Services
Create a safer sex plan
Sex is something we hear a lot about in college. Whether you're in a committed relationship or considering exploring sex for the first time, you’ll want to take some precautions to help keep you and your partner safe. Here are a few topics to review (preferably before you have sex).
Lean into support systems
There will be plenty of opportunities to reconnect with friends, meet new people and get involved on campus. However, it’s important to remember that it’s okay if things don’t fall into place right away. Making friends and building meaningful connections can take time and effort.
If you’re struggling or feel like you need additional support, lean into your support system by reaching out to your friends, family or loved ones back home. Peer Wellness Coaching is a free service that’s also available to help you navigate relationships, manage stress and learn about additional resources. The best part? Peer wellness coaches are CU Boulder students, so they know what it’s like to go through the motions of college.
Make time for movement
Oftentimes, when we think of movement, we automatically associate it with a sweat-inducing workout at the gym. However, movement can take a number of forms, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. In fact, all types of movement are beneficial for our bodies and minds.
Building a healthy relationship with movement and participating in joyful movement are an important part of life-long health. Recreation Services offers a variety of recreational opportunities and is a great place to meet people, build community and relieve stress.
Check out our campus fitness guide
Learn about balanced nutrition
Figuring out how to plan meals, grocery shop and eat a balanced diet without hands-on guidance from our families can be challenging. Nutrition Services offers free nutrition clinics at Wardenburg and the Rec Center. These clinics allow students to meet with a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) to discuss a variety of nutrition topics or concerns, including meal planning, allergies, intuitive eating, grocery budgeting and more. In-depth nutrition counseling services are also available by appointment through the Physical Therapy and Integrative Care (PTIC) office at Wardenburg.
Find a free nutrition clinic on campus
Familiarize yourself with resources
Knowing where to go for additional information and support is an important part of managing your health. Here are just a few of the resources available to students at CU.