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

[madge]

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 talked to a friend yesterday about some of this (her DS is at the same school as my DS is attending ... just a year ahead) and her advice to me was not worry much about sheets. They'll likely get washed over holiday breaks, and not much more often than that. LOL. She said to definitely pack more than a couple of towels... because they'll only get washed when they start to stink

I didn't think to ask about socks/underwear. 10 days worth? is that too much?

 

[Kath2003]

I didn't think to ask about socks/underwear. 10 days worth? is that too much?

Probably too much at the beginning. Buy them extra for Christmas Having less of items forces them to get into the habit of washing regularly. Plus remember that you need more socks in the winter than you do in the summer (I haven't needed a pair of socks in weeks, because it's been sandals weather), so I'd send more at Christmas.

Trust me, college students, particularly boys, won't think twice about wearing socks twice! Your friend was also right about the sheets - a guy I knew in my first year of university changed his bed TWICE during the entire year. That's an extreme case, but many students change them only a couple of times between beginning college and Christmas.

 

[ozarkmom]

My DS will actually be a college senior this year but I remember that freshman year like it was yesterday. I cried starting his senior year of high school. I cried at the last football game the last baseball game etc. Graduation night. I was sick all summer then moving day came and we helped him move got everything in his room. His first year he roomed with a friend they finally asked us (roomate's parents and us) to leave they were excited and wanted to hit all the activities going on. When he would come home to visit I cried as he was leaving. Eventually it got better and he actually came home less and less and people told me that was a good sign. He was happy and doing well and involved and didn't need to run home. This summer was the first time he didn't come home to work. I was a little disappointed but once again I realized he's became an adult and I'm so proud of him. It will be hard for a while but it gets easier.

 

[mskani]

I left home for college twenty years ago, next month. Gosh, has it been that long?! My mother, aunt and uncle accompanied me to college--it was only fitting seeing as how when my mother went into labor with me, my aunt and uncle drove her to the hospital. All three bawled like babies after they got me settled. That was one of the few times that I had ever seen my mother cry.

I arrived on campus with a clock radio, two suitcases, my footlocker, and a beanbag (which turned out to be a big hit with my new roommate!). Four years later, it took nearly four carloads to haul all of my junk out of my dorm room back to my mother's house!

Someone mentioned about the expense of buying so many things for their child. A lot of parents that I know hold "Trunk Parties" for their kids. The idea is to have guests give items that would fit in a footlocker (do they still sell these things?) like toiletries, towels, sheets, etc. Sometimes, they just give gift cards to Wal-Mart or Target--since they are usually located in most college towns.

The last Trunk Party that I went to, we played games relating to how well we knew the honoree, the house and yard were decorated in her new school colors, tons of food, and even a pinata. We had a great time.

Good Luck to all of the new college students (and you parents, too!) Glad that I don't have to go thru this until 2014!

 

[ColoradoBuffaloMom]

My daughter and I hit Target, Walmart, and Bed, Bath, and Beyond this weekend. We decided not to buy too many storage type items till we actually see how it will all fit in her room and see what she and her roommate want to do with their room. Her school is about 40 mintues away so we don't need to bring everything that first day although I've encouraged her to not come home too often. (Remind me I just said that when I am cryng
constantly after leaving her in two
weeks :-( )

 

[Traveliz]

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....

Our insurance agent just totally took our daughter off insurance. Now she was in FL and not coming home for the whole year so there would not be times she would be using the car .... when she came home for summer we called and added her back.

Liz

 

[madge]

Probably too much at the beginning. Buy them extra for Christmas Having less of items forces them to get into the habit of washing regularly. Plus remember that you need more socks in the winter than you do in the summer (I haven't needed a pair of socks in weeks, because it's been sandals weather), so I'd send more at Christmas.

I'm actually worried less about socks and more about underwear. LOLOL. From what I understand, doing laundry on his campus is not cheap. And while I want him to be in the habit of having clean clothes ... I don't want him to have to spend all his money on laundry.

 

[Kath2003]

I'm actually worried less about socks and more about underwear. LOLOL. From what I understand, doing laundry on his campus is not cheap. And while I want him to be in the habit of having clean clothes ... I don't want him to have to spend all his money on laundry.

Relatively, though, pants take up very little room in a laundry wash, so if you're fussed about him having clean clothes, work out how long it'll be before he needs to wash jeans, t-shirts, sweaters etc. and send that number of pants. College laundry is a necessary expense, unfortunately - in my first year (5 years ago), it was $3.20 for a wash and $1 for 10 minutes of drying. My only requirement when looking for a house in the second year was that it had its own washing machine!

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

DS & I toured his campus yesterday and got him signed up for his fall classes. We saw a dormroom that was similar to what he will have so at least I have an idea of what to line up for him. There is enough room under the beds for several large rubbermaid storaged "drawers" so I'm going to get a couple of those for him.

Thanks for all of the great ideas for the dorms. It's been a big help getting us organized with what to bring.

 

[Kath2003]

Conversely, I have spent the afternoon clearing my stuff OUT of my parents' house...I don't own very much stuff but it's hard deciding what I want to take and what gets binned forever...

 

[madge]

Relatively, though, pants take up very little room in a laundry wash, so if you're fussed about him having clean clothes, work out how long it'll be before he needs to wash jeans, t-shirts, sweaters etc. and send that number of pants. College laundry is a necessary expense, unfortunately - in my first year (5 years ago), it was $3.20 for a wash and $1 for 10 minutes of drying. My only requirement when looking for a house in the second year was that it had its own washing machine!

thanks for the advice, it's very simple to figure out when you put it that way - I just hadn't thought it all the way through, obviously.

If DS is smart, he'll bag up his dirty laundry and drive 45 minutes to visit his grandparents every few weeks. My MIL would love to feed him a home cooked meal and do his laundry.

 

[mamacatnv]

thanks for the advice, it's very simple to figure out when you put it that way - I just hadn't thought it all the way through, obviously.

If DS is smart, he'll bag up his dirty laundry and drive 45 minutes to visit his grandparents every few weeks. My MIL would love to feed him a home cooked meal and do his laundry.

I'm thinking along those lines, I think DS will pack up his clothes and bring them home also. When we were touring Orgeon State Univ. one of the dorm perks was free laundry, kids only had to provide the soap. I thought this was a great deal and a wise decision on the part of the Univ.

A few years ago my cousin was attending our local Univ. Her parents were an hour and a half away and we were 15 minutes. I gave her a key to our house when she was a Freshman since she was having lots of roommate drama, that reminds me, she still has that key....... She used to come by every 3-4 weeks with a car full of dirty clothes She would spend all day doing her laundry, raiding my pantry and just hanging out.

I figure DS does his own laundry now, he will sort it out one way or another.

 

[MerryPoppins]

One thing to remember, especially with some boys, is that as long as they have some reasonably clean items - they'll avoid doing laundry. DS's shared a room last year with a fraternity brother that is a really nice guy. They got along fine. But the kid hated to do his laundry. It wasn't the cost because they have free laundry in the frat house. He'd let it pile up on the floor for several weeks until he literally ran out of clothes. My DS bought febreeze and air fresheners because the kid spent a lot of time involved in sports. You can imagine how his 3-week-old sweaty clothes smelled. It caused a lot of friction between them.

So send enough clothes, but not too many. Plus there has to be room to store all the clean clothes. Dorm closets and drawers are usually on the small side.

 

[aprilvaca04]

My daughter and I hit Target, Walmart, and Bed, Bath, and Beyond this weekend. We decided not to buy too many storage type items till we actually see how it will all fit in her room and see what she and her roommate want to do with their room. Her school is about 40 mintues away so we don't need to bring everything that first day although I've encouraged her to not come home too often. (Remind me I just said that when I am cryng
constantly after leaving her in two
weeks :-( )

Sounds like our situation only DD is a bit farther away and starting sophomore year. We did the same thing, encouraged her to stay around campus esp in the beginning when things are forming and whatnot so she would not miss out on anything she was interested in and "feel funny" about joing things already started. It worked out well although I did miss her so much butthen she would call or text about doing something fun, meeting new people and I was so happy for her! I hope she does the same thing this year

 

[mouseclick1]

One of DS's professors just emailed him his required text books. Ugh...11 books for one class. Every day, the reality just keeps setting in more and more!

 

[madge]

One of DS's professors just emailed him his required text books. Ugh...11 books for one class. Every day, the reality just keeps setting in more and more!

wow! DS has a class that requires several ... but it isn't as many as 11!

 

[Mermaid02]

We went to orientation at dd's college Saturday... we even got in to see her dorm room... One thing that we did was get her list of books for her classes and we are saving HUNDREDS buying them on Amazon.... and I'm not kidding! The girl in the bookstore went over the list with her and when Meg came home and looked them up she will save over $200 on them.

 

[mamacatnv]

We went to orientation at dd's college Saturday... we even got in to see her dorm room... One thing that we did was get her list of books for her classes and we are saving HUNDREDS buying them on Amazon.... and I'm not kidding! The girl in the bookstore went over the list with her and when Meg came home and looked them up she will save over $200 on them.

we have been trying to get our hands on a book list but so far no luck. DS has a 4 unit class that due to some scheduling issues he won't even know who the professor is until the 1st day of class.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Another good website for buying books is half.com

 

[Lynn CC]

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....

Our insurance company here in MA lets us sign a waiver stating DS will not drive any of the family vehicles. There is a separate waiver for each vehicle.
If he does plan to come home and drive I can just call ahead of time and add him to the vehicle I would like to add him to. I've only had to add him once for a week in 3 years. He takes public transportation or walks in Boston.

This saves thousands on our insurance! He's still covered if he borrows anyone elses vehicle like his Grandmother, Grandfather etc.