College Life with Allergies

We just dropped my brother off at Boston College, and it has me thinking a lot about how I will handle my severe nut allergies when I’m on my own at college next fall. If you’re like me, you won't want to come off as dramatic or difficult, but you also want to stay safe. Fortunately, I’ve had conversations with some of my allergy friends who have already made the transition to college. The conversations calmed some of my fears, so I'm sharing what I learned. The main lesson I learned is that, “Allergies should be something you manage, not something that controls you”. Below are more helpful suggestions:

Speak Up. Apparently, learning how to speak up to a whole group of new people when you're embarrassed and don't want to be difficult is one of the most difficult parts of going to college with allergies. But, it’s important to figure out how to put your need to be easy aside and realize that the quick conversation is necessary and not a sign that you are difficult.

Don’t Wait to Tell Your Roommate and Friends. This is the one that is not negotiable. Your new friends should know what you're allergic to, where you keep your epi-pens, and how to use them.

Always carry your epi pen. Students with severe allergies, say they carry their epi pens everywhere. Whether they’re going to a class, the gym, a party, or the library, their epi pens go with them.

Get to Know Dining the Hall Workers. Introduce yourself to your school’s dining manager right away. They can help you figure which food stations are safe. Also, don’t be afraid to talk to the people who prepare the meals. Most students find that the dining hall workers are happy to help if they know what you need.

Keep Safe Food Snacks in Your Room. At college, you never know when a fun opportunity will come up. Have some safe snacks you can grab on your way out to prevent you from making a risky decision when you're hungry later.

Don't Let Your Allergies Isolate You. Everyone says not to avoid things. Just be cautious. Call restaurants ahead of time or make plans that don't revolve around food.

Confidence Will Come. Most students said their fears faded pretty quickly. Within a few weeks, they had a food routine at the dining hall, good friends, and confidence that they could enjoy college even though they had a severe allergy.