Help! Packing for DD for Cold Weather College (Syracuse!)

[uromac]

Hi!

DD is leaving for Syracuse University in 2 weeks! My ds was much easier to do - but how do we much do we pack for a girl? I'm not interested in minimal packing, but need help for being but realistic in fashion and dorm space concerns etc.? How many of each basic item, good warm brands and items good for layering. We live in SJ, so we do have cold and snow, but I try to remind her of the extreme cold, snow, and wind. She does have a North Face Denali and Down Jacket - but she thinks she can just wear 'normal' clothes underneath (I'm the 'you need' thermals, turtleneck type - much to her dismay )- should I just let her learn on her own?

What are reasonable quantities of undies, jeans, leggings, etc.? I'm really not looking forward to packing our SUV (Highlander) !

Also, what are the must have items that we might forget for a girls room? Not to mention, bedding, personal items, fan, fridge, etc.....Help!

THANKS!!

 

[RachaelA]

I went to to college in Boston and NE Ohio (graduated in 08). I never bundled up in college. I had a winter coat and my northface fleece and usually just wore a sweatshirt and jeans underneath one of them. If there was a ton of snow, then I wore a pair of Uggs or a similar boot. If there wasn't a lot of snow, I wore regular shoes.

You can pick up lots of cheap hats, gloves and scarves at Target and H&M when it gets closer to winter.

If she doesn't think she's going to use a ton of bulky winter clothes I wouldn't buy her any. Once winter hits, if she changes her mind she can buy them then. Its college. Most students don't bundle up to walk around. I NEVER wore a turtleneck or thermal clothes.

As for the amount of clothes she needs, I pretty much packed up the majority of my dresser/closet and just took it all. If I needed something else, I bought it when I got there (or ordered it online).

 

[iluvdiscruises]

I went to school an hour south of there and yes, the cold in the winter (which also lasts MUCH longer than winter here further south in NY) is like no other I have ever experienced. What I used to do was pack in shifts...when I first went back to school, I would bring shorts/jeans/etc. then would bring the real winter gear when we had a quick break in October and either I would go home or my parents would visit. LL Bean wool sweaters...heavy sweatshirts (most purchased in the school bookstore...)...I think the most important thing was the warm down coat in a longer style and a hood. Heavy socks too...and good warm shoes and boots. Extra shoes too for when shoes get soaked. The things I remember packing that were important were snacks, a crock pot (if it's allowed), extra sheets and towels, a shower caddy for bathroom stuff, a nice dress and dressy shoes (things come up early in the semester...), TONS of extra underwear to minimize laundry days...
Will you have time to get to a store up there? If you are worried about fitting things, leave out the things you can get at Target up there and shop when you get there. Also have her speak with her roommate...girls duplicate on many things that they could easily share (microwave, etc.) which then take up lots of room. If the school allows it, you can put concrete blocks under her bed at each of the 4 legs...this raises the bed about 8-10 inches and gives her valuable extra storage space (use tubs or whatever then under the bed...full size ones will now fit). Hope this helps a bit!

 

[Disneychix]

Being from WNY I wouldn't think she needs to worry about packing the thermals and what-not until next semester (2012). It shouldn't get that extremely bitter cold until January or earliest late Decemeber. You might see some snow in November but generally it's not that extreme.
Even then, a North face jacket should be perfectly fine (unless she plans to wear with shorts and tees!) for normal walking to class wear.

 

[ancestry]

Unless she is going to be outside for extended period of time she doesn't need tons of heavy undergarments. While she might run outside from building to building on the campus she is going to get way overheated sitting in the classroom with all of that heavy clothing on. If she is old enough to go away for college she is old enough to decide how to dress herself.

Let her decide what she needs. Ultimately she is going to wear what she wants every day despite what you may or may not have packed for her.

 

[3mickeymom]

I am from NJ too and my son went to University of New Hampshire. Not as much snow but cold and a much longer winter season than here in NJ. I would just wait a while to see what your daughter will need. That way you can shop some sales and not stuff her dorm room with unneeded clothing. My son needed good waterproof boots, waterproof gloves and flannel sheets. He also wanted rain gear, but the cool expensive kind. Truthfully though, the good outdoor gear usually lasts forever, so it is probably money well spent. He wore warm socks and long underwear too, but he was outside alot. There is a much better selection of cold weather gear in stores in those areas. They have been rockin the North Face gear up there for years before it became trendy everywhere, out of necessity. When my son lived in a dorm room, he would usually send his summer stuff home with us when we visited and we would replace it with fall gear and then winter. Sometimes I would deliver it if we visited and sometimes I would ship it. My son had his bed on risers and then we put his stuff in plastic container boxes. We just went shopping at Walmart when we got up to school. It is such an exciting time. Best of luck to your daughter.

 

[angierae]

The best bet for winter weather when you're going to be inside all day in a class room is layers. Good winter coat, then a regular shirt and maybe a zip up hoodie. Sometimes the classrooms can get HOT and wearing a sweater or a thermal shirt while indoors is incredibly uncomfortable, much like when you're wearing shorts and a tee for outdoors in summer and then the A/C inside makes you shiver.

But regular clothes under a good jacket should be fine. It'll be heated indoors and she'll only need heavy clothes if she's going to participate in outdoor activities.

 

[kimkoz]

I'm from Syracuse.

She's going to be fine with her Denali for this semester. Heck I wear mine year round but maybe I'm used to it. I'm sure she's like any college girl and it will be all about style so thermals and turtle necks.. I probably wouldn't waste the money. She'd probably just take it and hide it in her drawers. She's not going to be outside too long so I'm sure she'll just wear normal winter clothes under her jacket. Maybe layer but I would just put a tee under a long sleeve or sweater. Most of the time some rooms can get warm and too many layers just makes you more uncomfortable.

I would honestly just pack her with her Denali, light gloves and maybe a hat or scarf this semester. I'm sure since your close enough she'll see you for the down jacket and such. We really do not get too much snow until Dec and by that time she'll be home for break. Just pack fall clothes and maybe a couple sweaters. Probably suggest her Uggs or similiar boots for Fall semester though. Many girls wear them in the fall.. tailgating for games or walking they are usefull

I've never been to SU dorms but I for me in college I made the mistake in bringing a shorter laundry basket. I found out that the taller ones took up less space. I didn't pack extra sheets and stuff.. just took up too much room and I'd rather wash them and replace. Maybe some bids for storage of food and such

Fridge, Micro, Toaster, Lysol Wipes, normaly bath items with carry case, shower shoes, smaller robe for walking to and from showers, dry earse board for door.

Hope this helps.

Shoot - Things I'd really suggest too.. Waterproof all her shoes.. The water/ice/snow really take a toll on shoes.

 

[ssawka]

Jeans and sweatshirts, it's the uniform of college! Really, I wouldn't buy too much now. When the time comes, she'll let you know what she needs. If you trust her, let her get a credit card that she can use for purchases at school. This does two things: 1) Establishes a credit history for her and 2) Allows you to monitor what she is buying. If you don't trust her with a credit card, send her a prepaid gift card when the time is right.

 

[kimkoz]

Honestly whatever you forget there are tons of places near by she can pick things up. The mall is wonderful and I'm sure someone will have a car to take her there.

 

[Swimnoid]

My DD went a school up in the mountains which got a lot of snow and cold. I swear I saw kids there wearing rainbows in the snow! Her big thing was sweaters. She had the typical layering jacket but she got a good wool peacoat which she liked the best for cold weather. Last year she moved to Boston for grad school and she bought about 3 pairs of boots. All she wanted for Christmas was warm socks and hats/gloves! She still uses her peacoat and says that is enough.

 

[uromac]

Thanks for everyone's quick response! I guess she was right, and I know we will be coming up for parents weekend in mid-October! She has Uggs (which I hear are wrecked by the end of the year, waterproof North face boots, and Hunter rainboots - so we are covered warm shoe wise ! However, her wide feet have always caused a major problem - btw, does anyone know of any cool young, stylish shoe brands that make wide shoes? I know kids get by and I know she will survive !

I really am more worried about her walking the 15 - 20 minutes to class from her far away dorm (so I'm thinking more hats, scarves, and warm gloves (brands?)- as they have a nearby dining hall, bookstore annex, gym, etc. Also, she is bringing our compact fridge (although she is unhappy with the size of the freezer section !) I joked she could just leave the frozen items outside most of the time and that really got my dd's eyes rolling !! BTW, her roommate is bringing the microwave, no 'hotpots' which I understand why are allowed. No coffeemakers either - she'll just have to survive without a cup of coffee from a keurig - I really don't know how she is going to get up early each morning (alarm clock suggestions?) - but that is another thread for another time !

Thanks again!!

 

[kimkoz]

I have north face thinner fleece gloves and they work great. I've never gone wrong with thier products.

About the shoes, yes no matter the brand Ive bought they normally do not last more than a year, maybe two. I waterproof alot but the salt kills everything.

Hopefully she'll be close to a shuttle. It is a large campus but alot of my interns use the shuttes to get around. They also said once they are on campus most of thier classes per major are close. Hope this is the case for her.

I'm with her, our compact fridge didn't do the trick but we got the next step up. I can't remeber the size of the freezer though, We didn't use it too much.

 

[uromac]

I have north face thinner fleece gloves and they work great. I've never gone wrong with thier products.

About the shoes, yes no matter the brand Ive bought they normally do not last more than a year, maybe two. I waterproof alot but the salt kills everything.

Hopefully she'll be close to a shuttle. It is a large campus but alot of my interns use the shuttes to get around. They also said once they are on campus most of thier classes per major are close. Hope this is the case for her.

I'm with her, our compact fridge didn't do the trick but we got the next step up. I can't remeber the size of the freezer though, We didn't use it too much.

Thanks for your help! She's in Boland - one of the BBB residence halls near the VA hospital so most of her classes will be on the other side of the SU quad - but she is close to the Carrier Dome!

Re: her shoes - what waterproof/repellent spray do you recommend? Also, my dh says we should just get another fridge @ Bestbuy when we get there to save space going up there! BTW, what banks would you recommend near the school ? We have a Bank of America branch here but I've been told it's far from SU - should we find a different bank when we get up there or is that ok?

I really appreciate your thoughts and any others people might have out there !! Thanx!!

 

[Smile&Nod]

Duct tape - every college dorm room needs duct tape - it works great for lots of things (like covering holes in the window screens).

Also make sure you have a least one good extension cord/surge protector for electronics.

My daughter also had a small bag of "tools" - screwdrivers, small hammer, zip ties (used for cable management or hooking things together).

Over the door hooks - used to expand closet space to hang hoodies, coats, robe, etc.

Most of this you can buy when you get there but you'd be amazed at how much of the above you need to get her settled in her room.

 

[uromac]

Duct tape - every college dorm room needs duct tape - it works great for lots of things (like covering holes in the window screens).

Also make sure you have a least one good extension cord/surge protector for electronics.

My daughter also had a small bag of "tools" - screwdrivers, small hammer, zip ties (used for cable management or hooking things together).

Over the door hooks - used to expand closet space to hang hoodies, coats, robe, etc.

Most of this you can buy when you get there but you'd be amazed at how much of the above you need to get her settled in her room.

Thanks - didn't think of duct tape or ties! I'm now making an emergency box for her dorm containing dollar store cutlery, scissors, screwdriver, hammer, can opener - anything else? They have a split double (closet ,desk area divides the room in two so each student has there own space - but the closet has a sliding door - so I'm not sure about the over-the-door hook situation, but I will definitely get a few!

Keep the ideas coming!!

 

[JoiseyMom]

Thanks - didn't think of duct tape or ties! I'm now making an emergency box for her dorm containing dollar store cutlery, scissors, screwdriver, hammer, can opener - anything else? They have a split double (closet ,desk area divides the room in two so each student has there own space - but the closet has a sliding door - so I'm not sure about the over-the-door hook situation, but I will definitely get a few!

Keep the ideas coming!!

Seriously, don't buy too much now. Wait until you get up there and see her space. Syracuse is a city that has all the stores you will need! Look online before you go to find out directions to the nearest Target, Walmart etc... Then when you get up there you can see what she needs and wants and go and get it and not have an overstuffed car, at least for the trip up! Be thankful it's a big city, my DS went to college in Potsdam, and the pickings were slim!

 

[kimkoz]

No particular brand for water spray, I just buy some whenever I buy shoes.

I'm sorry I can't remember what banks are on campus. I'm sure you can make those changes while your up there, I didn't go there but when I did go to school I remember thier being sales people during the first couple weeks at school from local banks trying to get the kids to switch. Maybe they will have the same. She'll have time though.

** Yeah she may be far from her classes but great spot for food and shopping near the hill. I'd prefer to be more on that side.

 

[rigs32]

I grew up in Buffalo and never layered like that to wait for the school bus. I went to college in MN and even on days where it was -40 degrees, I wore my down jacket over normal warm clothes and walked quickly to class. I now live in Rochester and I walk to work - 1.5 miles - most days, even in the winter. I never layer clothing like that. It's not that different and not as extreme as you think.

While I've only been on the SU campus twice for training programs, like most large school many buildings are connected and she will learn how to make it from point a to point b and go as far as possible inside. And if she's walking quickly she'll soon be overheated in multiple layers.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

College is a serious time to really let go of the security rope or YOU will go crazy.

DD goes to college in the same weather as your child will encounter. The kids wear in the winter - flip flops, shorts, uggs, sweatshirts, sweatpants/jeans, Northface, short short skirts on party night with high high heels, and sneakers.

Luckily for the majority of the time, my daughter does the sweatpants, t-shirt, Northface, Ugg look. But after a few snowfalls, there a tons of pictures of the college "kids" outside with shorts, no jackets etc.... It is all about the experience.

Pack her favorite jeans, sweats, t-shirts, sweatshirts, shoes, Uggs, Rainboots (also popular right now), and her Northface. Do a small box of gloves, hats etc but be too upset if they still look brand new. Some kids do wear them, but not all.

Hope your daughter has a great first year. Trust me, the time just flies by!!!!