New college student must have list?

[golfgal]

We are getting ready to shop for DS to head off to his first year in college. We know he needs bedding and towels (which we have already) what else was on your student's "must have" list. They sent a list from the school but I want to know from personal experience what college kids felt was the "best" things they had in their dorm rooms. Back in the dark ages we just brought bedding, pencils and paper and didn't need much else . Their beds will be lofted so under bed storage is out. What was on your student's list that just sat in the closest all year .

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Dry erase board, under the bed storage container, extra fold up chairs or ottomon seat/storage.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I don't remember getting a list.

Assuming shared bathrooms--a tote that he likes to carry his toiletries back and forth.

Dry erase board for the door (so friends can leave notes as they pass by).

our fridge and microwaves got a lot of use also (usually one dormate brought one and one brought the other.

 

[Christine]

My DD didn't take a whole lot. Here's what we got:

Shower tote for carrying shampoo, soap, razor to the bathroom.
Desk lamp
Hard plastic drawer/shelf (you see these in Target). She put printer paper, scissors, small stuff in all the drawers. It's about 3 feet high and fit right next to her desk.
Under the bed storage containers.
Command hooks for hanging on the walls (for wet towels or things they just want to hang).

Really, that was about it.

 

[golfgal]

My DD didn't take a whole lot. Here's what we got:

Shower tote for carrying shampoo, soap, razor to the bathroom.
Desk lamp
Hard plastic drawer/shelf (you see these in Target). She put printer paper, scissors, small stuff in all the drawers. It's about 3 feet high and fit right next to her desk.
Under the bed storage containers.
Command hooks for hanging on the walls (for wet towels or things they just want to hang).

Really, that was about it.

GOOD ONE!!! They have cement block walls.

 

[Rora]

Just wanted to add: Earplugs and a sleep mask.

This saved my life the first year of college. I had very loud, disruptive roommates.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Power strip. There are never enough outlets for all the electronics.

TV cable. The cable outlet was never near where the TV would be.

In the 6 years fo taking my 2 to college, I think we visited Radio Shack every year for something.

The thing they never used? A landline telephone. The dorm gave each student their own number and they were required to have a phone so that professors could contact them and not have to use the out of state numbers for their cell phones. Professors used e-mail and the kids used their cells.

 

[Christine]

Wanted to add:

This is probably on the "List" but these were some things we didn't do.

First aid kit with bandaids, ointments, etc (whatever you would normally use on your son at home).

I did send up a big thing of Ibuprofen but she ended up getting a lot of colds and couldn't get to the store to buy anything. So, I wish I had sent some Sudafed, cold medicine, something like that.

Stamps and envelopes. She needed to mail something once or twice and it was VERY difficult for her to walk through the student center and buy a stamp and envelope.

 

[claudia]

laundry bag w/detergent and dryer sheets, laptop and printer, laptop safe and cable lock if they are going to bring it to the library, hangers, fridge and drinks/food to fill it, desk lamp...flip flops if they are sharing a hall bathroom....
a good website to find almost everything in one place is http://dormbuys.com/

 

[pumba]

check with the instructions from the colleges, because a fridge was allowed at our granddaughters but the microwave was not allowed UNLESS you rented from them the combo. .
Paper plates and paper towels for snacks they buy or pizza that comes (from the pizza fairy)..
Our granddaughter had the lofts too and she got an inexpensive futon for under it so the friends that came to visit could sit ...
Smaller containers of their clothes detergent. Those were easier to handle...
Desk lamp...cleaning stuff ...
Mattress cover(plastic type)...
Our granddaughter was an RA and that experience was fantastic for her as she had her own room ....no sharing.
Phone cards unless they have free calling on their cell phones...Also a desk type phone for their room. There were hook ups for around campus and in that calling area ....

 

[lovesmurfs]

Double check to make sure of the length of the bedding in the dorm -- ours had "extra long" twins and we had a devil of a time finding sheets at the time.

Popcorn popper! Quarters for the laundry machines, as well as laundry supplies (bag, soap, softener, etc.).

I'd google "college packing lists" and read some of the articles that come up -- this list looks pretty comprehensive: http://www.netnewsdesk.com/resources/439/File/wspacking.pdf

 

[monarchsfan16]

In addition to what's been said already

Cold medicine-cough drops, sudafed, etc. Colds ALWAYS hit when you either don't have time to go to the store or don't have a way to get to the store.

These other ones probably seem like common sense, but apparently they're not. Stapler, staples, and a three hole punch (if using binders). I was VERY popular when people in my dorm realized I had a stapler

I also find it really helpful to have a few manilla envelopes and manilla folders. One of those things you never seem to have when you need, and I've needed them every year.

Twice the ink cartriges and printer paper that you think will be necessary

 

[Christine]

check with the instructions from the colleges, because a fridge was allowed at our granddaughters but the microwave was not allowed UNLESS you rented from them the combo.

This was also the case at my DD's college. We had to rent the "MicroFridge."

Smaller containers of their clothes detergent. Those were easier to handle...

This is good too. We bought those Purex detergent sheets that are all-in-one detergent/fabric softener. One small, easily storable box lasts all semester.

 

[punkin]

We bought those Purex detergent sheets that are all-in-one detergent/fabric softener. One small, easily storable box lasts all semester.

I have never seen this. I have to look for it now. Thanks.

 

[Christine]

I have never seen this. I have to look for it now. Thanks.

Yes, they are very portable and I will be taking them with me on my next vacation!!! I used to love those little Tide detergent tablets. They were great for travel but they quit making them. These sheets are the next best thing. Only drawback is that there is fabric softener in them (although it is not overwhelming at all). I prefer not use it but it's okay on a temporary basis. I guess these sheets could be a problem too if you have skin sensitivities. I do but they did not bother me.

 

[PollyannaMom]

....These other ones probably seem like common sense, but apparently they're not. Stapler, staples, and a three hole punch (if using binders). I was VERY popular when people in my dorm realized I had a stapler...

That's so funny! I met my best friend in college because my dad and my brother packed me a tool kit! (She happened to need scissors, and hadn't unpacked yet, but it's also amazing how many batteries you can't change without a screwdriver these days. - I met eveyone on my floor!)

 

[LisaR]

My DD is away at a summer workshop at a college at the moment. It has given us a good feel for what she will need when the time comes.

The thing she has been most grateful for has been the fan that we sent. She said it gets very sticky at night and everyone likes a different temperature. She likes it cool and is loving her fan.

 

[Christine]

The thing she has been most grateful for has been the fan that we sent. She said it gets very sticky at night and everyone likes a different temperature. She likes it cool and is loving her fan.

This too!

My DD's first dorm was air conditioned, and the AC worked well, so no fans needed. Halfway into the year, she moved into the older dorm and they all had fans.

 

[asta]

If you are going to loft the beds get a "bed buddy" from some place like Bed, Bath and Beyond. It is a canvas strip with pockets on one end. You tuck the long end under the mattress to keep it in place and have the pockets to hold things that you need to have close at hand like a cell phone or alarm clock.

 

[trip]

Duct tape - no one should leave home without it!