Parents of College Freshman who are now Sophomores... UpDate 7/28/09

[RitaE]

ok this is what I've bought so far from memory. I've been shopping sales for a couple of months. Actually, every time I buy something and I go to stick it in his closet I see something and I think "oh yeah, I forgot I already bought that." My son is in a single bedroom 9 x 13. It connects to a bathroom that he shares with one other student. Then those two rooms share a small common area with another set of two rooms.

So - his Grandma got him a trunk that doubles as a coffee table
http://www.cnmfg.com/college/

Target had XL sheets on sale last weekend. We got those and a mattress pad and a couple of new pillows. He still needs blankets. I keep asking him about posters and such, I get blank stares in return.

I've stocked up on shampoo, hair gel, toothpaste, deodorant, and a pack of new toothbrushes. He also got his own bottle of Tide last week. He needs some sort of laundry bag. I also need to get him some quarters because his dorm laundry doesn't take the swipe cards yet. I'm unclear about a shower caddy. The bathroom has a vanity and he only shares with one person. I think he'll just keep everything in the bathroom.

A couple of power strips.

His dorm is wired, but not wireless. I bought him a wireless router so he can take his laptop to his bed. The IT guy at college said it really wasn't needed because so many kids bring them and they never lock them down - you can always find an available connection in the dorms - but what the heck.

an ethernet cable just in case the router thing doesn't work out. I also got him a new USB flash drive. I decided against a printer. He can go to the labs to print or buy it himself.

A desk lamp. I think he needs some more desk stuff - a stapler, some sort of bookends organization stuff. I don't know know who I'm kidding, the books, papers and laundry will end up all over the floor, same as always.

I got an area rug from Home Depot. I got an indoor/outdoor rug that is washable.

I've bought 3 pairs of flip flops so far. I hope he wears them. Dorm floors are icky.

I think he's going to buy his own tv. I keep asking him but he doesn't seem that interested. Really, he doesn't watch much tv, so maybe he doesn't want one. When we did the tour most of the kids had tvs out in their lounge areas, maybe they'll split the cost for that.

As for risers, he has to use the type the school provides, you can't buy your own.

He'll need a couple of mugs and some silverware, also a supply of herbal tea. He is way too much of environmentalist to even suggest disposable. This will be interesting to watch. He has a refrigerator in his room, but the closest microwave is 2 floors away. He is not allowed to bring his own. The kid lives on herbal tea - I'm wondering how often he'll be willing to make that trek to fix it though. I need to order a bunch of protein bars etc. Those are commonly his 2am snack.

I've started to buy pens and notebooks etc. as the sales have started. He needs a new backpack. His HS calculator will be fine - I can pretty much guarantee he'll take as little Math as possible. He wants to take his bicycle down there. I'm undecided about that. His campus is not that big and it will be useless come the first snowfall anyway. Oh yeah, I think he needs and umbrella. Do kids use umbrellas?

I bought him a new swimming suit last weekend. His dorm is right next to the Aquatic center and they have intramural water polo. I'm not sure how that will go - he's never played water polo in his life. But he seems pretty gung ho about it.

I need to get the Amtrak schedules printed out with all the ways to come home and visit Mom highlighted.

 

[madge]

OMG, this is just like my DS! He drives me nuts with all the stuff he DOESN'T do! He's already been notified what his college e-mail will be, and they're already sending him e-mails about orientation and his roommate assignment, etc. But I have to continually nag him to check his college e-mail once a day, or he won't bother. [I](Mom confession here....I've been checking his college e-mail just to be sure he's not missing something important or time-sensitive, but don't tell him, ok? [/I]) He joined the college Facebook group, but he doesn't even log on there unless I tell him to. Usually it's "Mom, why haven't I heard about X yet?" So then I tell him "why don't you get on the college Facebook site and see if somebody else has the same question as you" and sure enough, somebody already posted about it.

I'm trying really, really hard to stay out of it and let HIM be in charge of these things since it'll be all him in another month, but it's so hard......

I'm doing the SAME thing, Amy!

 

[MerryPoppins]

I also need to get him some quarters because his dorm laundry doesn't take the swipe cards yet.

Get an empty film container. If you don't use regular film, stop by Walmart or someplace that you'd go to get film developed. Ask them if they have an empty container you could have. They throw tons of them away. Poke a small hole in the lid and string a loop through the lid (with the knot inside). It's the perfect size for a pile of quarters. The lid fits tight and the loop allows you to attatch it to the laundry bag or the liquid detergent bottle. Did I explain that clearly? It's nice to have the quarters handy when you go to wash. And the pop-up laundry baskets are cool for dirty clothes!

Really, he doesn't watch much tv, so maybe he doesn't want one. When we did the tour most of the kids had tvs out in their lounge areas, maybe they'll split the cost for that.

My son doesn't use his to watch tv. He uses it to watch DVDs or play video games in his free time.

He'll need a couple of mugs and some silverware, also a supply of herbal tea. He is way too much of environmentalist to even suggest disposable. This will be interesting to watch. He has a refrigerator in his room, but the closest microwave is 2 floors away.

I went to a thrift store and picked up a couple of mugs and some silverware. He didn't care if they matched (but a girl might). Most dorms have ice, so he might want a big thermal mug if he likes cold drinks while he studies or do they have a tiny freezer in the fridge? I also got mine a bowl that could go in the microwave. Will his dorm allow coffeepots? If so, get him an inexpensive one to heat water for tea. You can also make things like ramen soup in your room if you can heat water. Don't forget a small bottle of liquid dishwashing soap.

You also might want to put together a small first aid kit. They won't need a lot, but it's good to have a few bandaids, antiseptic, and cold medicine/cough drops.

 

[MerryPoppins]

If your kid likes junk food, you might want to include a couple of chip clips. You don't want them to encourage bugs, and some dorms do have a problem with them, especially because kids leave food sitting around. Yuck.

 

[Kath2003]

You also might want to put together a small first aid kit. They won't need a lot, but it's good to have a few bandaids, antiseptic, and cold medicine/cough drops.

First Aid kit is a MUST. You need bandaids, antiseptic cream, Resolve, some kind of painkiller, sudafed and endless cough drops/throat sweets. Freshers' Flu is a KILLER and hardly anyone seems to escape it. Also you might want to chuck a few condoms in there, in case the college aren't particularly liberal with them!

 

[RitaE]

you're killing me Kath. I'll mention those to his Dad. I just can't bring myself to supply those. We made a deal years ago that I will mop up all the blood and in exchange, there are some things which I'm allowed to just remain happily oblivious about.

I looked at a couple of the "boxed" first aid kits and it seemed pretty expensive and alot items which he probably wouldn't need. So far I've bought waterproof band aids, some tylenol, and a couple boxes of Claritan because they were on sale at Meijers. I've been on the look out for a good box to pack it all in. He's also going to probably need a heating pad and some ice packs, he plays soccer and he gets banged up pretty good.

His school list also suggested a small tool set. I've looked around but haven't found a good candidate for that yet and I also really don't know what he'd use it for.

Man, the cost of all this really adds up. I knew I was going to have to spend some money to get him started, but egads --

 

[phorsenuf]

you're killing me Kath. I'll mention those to his Dad. I just can't bring myself to supply those. We made a deal years ago that I will mop up all the blood and in exchange, there are some things which I'm allowed to just remain happily oblivious about.

I looked at a couple of the "boxed" first aid kits and it seemed pretty expensive and alot items which he probably wouldn't need. So far I've bought waterproof band aids, some tylenol, and a couple boxes of Claritan because they were on sale at Meijers. I've been on the look out for a good box to pack it all in. He's also going to probably need a heating pad and some ice packs, he plays soccer and he gets banged up pretty good.

His school list also suggested a small tool set. I've looked around but haven't found a good candidate for that yet and I also really don't know what he'd use it for.

Man, the cost of all this really adds up. I knew I was going to have to spend some money to get him started, but egads --

The costs don't have to add up though. Will he have roommates? If so work something out. One brings a first aid kit, one brings some tools, etc There doesn't need to duplicates in every room. My son and his roommates are working out who is going to bring what. They need an iron and ironing board, but they don't need 4.
Have him contact his roommates and make a plan.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Yes, don't forget Tylenol or something like that. But don't buy too much cold/flu stuff. Just enough that if they get sick they have a little to get by. They can always go out and buy more. Mine came home with most of it that first year.

For kids that want to go to the aquatic center a lot, you might want a bottle of swimmer's ear. I know my son gets outer ear infections easily when he swims a lot (he was a swimmer in high school), if he doesn't put in drops to dry them out.

 

[mamacatnv]

Great tips all and I am so glad that I am not the only one with a dork heading to college!

DS has not to the best of my knowledge contacted his roomie nor has his roomie contacted him. great, if they are both procrastinators life is gonna get interesting

The dorm beds are loft style, I know they can be bunked but I am not sure about adding risers. Good question to look into.

My DD made a mini first aid kit at VBS this summer and so she wants to supplement it for DS. I'm just going to pull some things out of our cabinets and toss it in. DS knows where Wal-Mart is and honestly because we are close by if he were to get really sick, I bet he would come home for some pampering. There is also a Walgreens that borders the campus.

I am making him up a box of misc. stuff: Kleenex, papertowels, dish soap sponge, baby wipes, hand lotion, foot deodorizer, room deodorizer/Febreze (we toured the dorms at Oregon State last fall, I was appauled at the way some of them smelled!) chap stick etc.

A really good friend got DS this laundry basket that has wheels and a handle. He made sure it fits in his back seat "so he can bring it home"

I know this is cheesy, especially for the boys - anyone thinking of making a small family photo collage to send along?

 

[Green Tea]

RitaE

University of Cincinnati by chance?? That dorm and location sounds way familiar!!

 

[Green Tea]

Did a little shopping today. Didn't buy the kindermat or the kleenex but got a thing for the desk for pencils, tape, pens and pencils, stapler, 3 hole punch, rubber bands, cork boards, wall putty. First aid kit is covered. His is huge. That's my job-I'm a mom.

 

[Kath2003]

I love that you guys bought them all new stuff. I got new stuff if we didn't already have it (I needed plates and pans as I didn't have a meal plan, had to cook for myself), but I literally took pens, pencils, folders etc. from my room. No WAY could I have afforded to buy new.

Most of my stationary is branded, and by branded I mean 'obtained'. I have a Continental Airlines stapler, most of my pens have a hotel brand on them, my hole punch is from an oil company, my eraser is from my bank...

 

[MerryPoppins]

That first year, DS bought a few clear acrylic frames for photos. He took a couple with friends from high school (swim team, etc) and one of the family from vacation. I'm not sure if he still has the family one up in his fraternity or not. I know the friends have been replaced with his current girlfriend. I'd offer and see if he's interested.

 

[mamacatnv]

I love that you guys bought them all new stuff. I got new stuff if we didn't already have it (I needed plates and pans as I didn't have a meal plan, had to cook for myself), but I literally took pens, pencils, folders etc. from my room. No WAY could I have afforded to buy new.

Most of my stationary is branded, and by branded I mean 'obtained'. I have a Continental Airlines stapler, most of my pens have a hotel brand on them, my hole punch is from an oil company, my eraser is from my bank...

That made me laugh, I'm thinking I should run to the bank and pilfer a few things. Heck, every penny counts! Swingline, US Bank what's the difference really I was figuring on raiding DS's desk at home and then our den and then the office supply store. But, I'm frugal like that.

When I was a kid, my Father (and both of my Grandfathers) worked for United Airlines. When my parents divorced and my brother and I moved with our Dad, all our dishes, glasses (beverage and wine), napkins and silverware had the UAL logo on them.

 

[Kath2003]

That made me laugh, I'm thinking I should run to the bank and pilfer a few things. Heck, every penny counts! Swingline, US Bank what's the difference really I was figuring on raiding DS's desk at home and then our den and then the office supply store. But, I'm frugal like that.

In the UK we have something called Freshers' Week, which is basicaly a week of partying, with no classes whatsoever, for the new students (and of course all the old ones return for a second/third/fourth/fifth run ).

At the end of the week there's usually an event called the Freshers' Fair, where all the clubs and societies for students recruit the people they've been partying with all week as members (e.g. the canoeing society or the Green society). There are alos tonnes of local and national businesses and other organizations there, trying to get all the new students' to sign up for their emails, newsletters etc. and they give away free stuff - usually pens, pencils, condoms, food (Dominos and Pizza Hut usually show), coupons etc. Most of my stuff comes from there, you seriously don't need to take a single item of stationery with you to university here - they will throw it at you at the Freshers' Fair.

So technically I didn't pilfer "as such", but I may have taken the goodies and then not signed up for their newsletters etc.

 

[Amy]

Car insurance: Has anyone called their company yet? I am unsure if he will be rated now for the new city, or if nothing changes as long as he is a legal resident of the home state. I need to check on that, for insurance and for the car's registration. It will be there more than here now though it is registered to us, not him.

Oh, this is something that makes me !! I called our car insurance to see what the discount is since he's going away to school and freshmen aren't allowed to have cars on campus (and DS doesn't have his own car anyway, just drives one of ours when he needs to). Get this: he's already getting the "good student discount" and our agent said that discount is better than the "away at college" discount! HUH? A kid can have a 6.5 GPA but still have an accident. He's going to be AWAY, won't even touch any of our vehicles, so you'd think he's a much lower risk. I just don't understand....

 

[mamacatnv]

In the UK we have something called Freshers' Week, which is basicaly a week of partying, with no classes whatsoever, for the new students (and of course all the old ones return for a second/third/fourth/fifth run ).

At the end of the week there's usually an event called the Freshers' Fair, where all the clubs and societies for students recruit the people they've been partying with all week as members (e.g. the canoeing society or the Green society). There are alos tonnes of local and national businesses and other organizations there, trying to get all the new students' to sign up for their emails, newsletters etc. and they give away free stuff - usually pens, pencils, condoms, food (Dominos and Pizza Hut usually show), coupons etc. Most of my stuff comes from there, you seriously don't need to take a single item of stationery with you to university here - they will throw it at you at the Freshers' Fair.

So technically I didn't pilfer "as such", but I may have taken the goodies and then not signed up for their newsletters etc.

BTW I did not intend for it to sound like you "took something" sorry. My Dad used to use the word "Glombed" as to "glombed onto this cool stapler" Your Freshers Fair sounds fun.

 

[Kath2003]

BTW I did not intend for it to sound like you "took something" sorry. My Dad used to use the word "Glombed" as to "glombed onto this cool stapler" Your Freshers Fair sounds fun.

Please don't worry, I wasn't offended, technically it's pilching but hey, if you're giving out free stuff....

The Fair is great fun; the only problem is the sheer number of people! I've been five times and the last couple of times I've given up after about 30 minutes and gone to the bar (whilst everyone else is at the Fair, once the Fair closes it's too busy to be in the bar ).

I kinda miss college life. I definitely miss the curly fries and chicken nuggets I also miss the interest free overdraft which has subsequently been cut in half having graduated!

The best money you can spend here is a $48 rail card which gets you a third of rail fares - since February I've saved over $100 AFTER the cost of actually buying the thing, and my card still runs until February 09! Unlike the Amtrak card, you don't have to book in advance, either.

 

[mouseclick1]

I finally got out to Target yesterday and bought a few things. They had comforters on sale for $13, so I picked one up, along with two sets of X-long twin sheets. I also got a couple packs of hangers, band-aids, and a body-pillow cover.

OK, silly questions, but how many towels, socks, etc. do you plan to send up? Enough to last one week, assuming that's how often they will do laundry?

I am also concerned about him bringing too much "stuff". His room is only 11 x 17, not a whole lot of space!

I still plan to send him with just enough to get him started, since he is only a 45 minute drive away. In fact, we used to live in the town where he will be attending school, and DH used to make the drive from there to our current city every day. So the drive is not that bad. DS was even born at the University Hospital where he will be going. Hard to believe he is old enough now to be going there as a student. Time sure does go by in a blink, doesn't it?

 

[Kath2003]

OK, silly questions, but how many towels, socks, etc. do you plan to send up? Enough to last one week, assuming that's how often they will do laundry?

Yeah you won't need more than a week's worth, or he won't do laundry Look at his clothes, though - if he wears dark coloured clothes, send up dark coloured towels, otherwise he'll be stuck doing a wash of just towels.