What kinds of things do you need to take to college with you?

[stinkerbelle]

is she going to have a car on campus?
If so I suggest a mini-shovel to keep in her trunk.

I can't tell you how many times I was 'plowed in' on my campus...I was the only one to have a shovel to dig my car out! Came in VERY handy.

and to the person that said a small tool set - YES! and a ratchet set for dismantling bunk beds which are ONLY a good idea for the first week! heheh

first aid kit too - of course - we turned the rubber gloves into water ballons when we got bored one night! heheheh

mini fridge
some sort of storage for dry goods/munchie
cheap flip flops/slides for the shower - trust me
shower caddy (to fill with body wash/face soap/shampoo/conditionar/razor/etc...)
make up bag (easier to have everything in ONE place)
extra towels
laundry basket
a MAP of the surrouding area so she can find her way around

i KNOW most campuses don't allow this stuff - but I brought a hot plate, an "electric kettle", and a coffee maker. I DO know candles are a big no-no as well...so maybe some of those yankee candle car-jars to hang in her closet to keep everything smelling 'fresh'? (clean cotton is nice...I still do this in my closet now! heheh)

 

[Saffron]

I don't know if anyone has said these yet, but the clip things that you use to clip potato chip bags and the like shut! They come in handy for lots of stuff, not just potato chip bags.

Extension cords, if allowed.

Extra shoe laces. Nothing like on your way to class and *Snap*.

 

[minniecarousel]

Roll of quarters
phone card
fast food or chain-type restaurant GCs
X-long twin sheets (are dorms the ONLY place you find those x-long twin beds?!)

 

[HeyMickey]

A George Foreman grill comes in handy a lot. Also lots of extension cords and surge protectors. A mattress pad is nice to have because the dorm mattresses aren't always the greatest... I have one of those bumpy foam ones and it really helps. Also, one thing my parents buy me every year at the beginning of school is a whole flat of bottled water (from someplace like Sams Club or Costco). It's much less expensive that way than buying individual bottles, and if you want one you can just grab it in the morning and go.

Another thing - twin size jersey knit sheets (the ones that are made of T-shirt material) will stretch to cover the extra-long mattresses, and they're really comfy

 

[Bumbles]

Originally posted by southernclass
Booksack
Water bottles
Lots of clothes
Pens, paper, etc.
Laptop
Television
Radio
Mace, or some other form of protection
Make-up
One of those dolly things that pulls your books(must have)!!
Pictures and cell phone
Camera

If you plan on living in a dorm, please keep in mind mace may be classified as a weapon and you can face disciplinary action for having it

And no one on campus here uses those wheeled backpacks..not like it's high school where you have to have all of your books with you at one time

 

[stinkerbelle]

Originally posted by Bumbles
And no one on campus here uses those wheeled backpacks..not like it's high school where you have to have all of your books with you at one time

true - but it depends on her schedule...she might not have time to get back to her dorm between classes. sometimes a big backpack is necessary.

 

[kylara]

As someone who worked in Residence Life as a hall director, please contact the college's housing and Residence Life office to find out what is allowed. Many colleges do not allow hotplates, grills, toasters etc due to fire codes. And usually this is strictly enforced with "fire and safety" inspections done by the hall staff. If the items are found, often they are confiscated. This is taken very serious at most colleges due to the number of students shoved into one residence hall. Also depending on the electrical capacity, sometimes mini fridges are not allowed (usually in older dorms). If mini-fridges are allowd, I strongly suggest one.

Also as another stated, Mace is another item that could be banned from the halls. One place I worked banned any kind of steak knife since it was considered a weapon.

Anyway, most housing and residence life offices will provide you with a list of items that are not allowed in the halls.

As for what to get...that can vary depending on the type of hall she will be living in. As someone stated, sheets are good, check with the housing office to find out if they are twin or twin long. Towels, bathrobe, shower shoes (specially if common baths are used).

Another big item that I haven't heard anyone mention is ROLLS OF QUARTERS for laundry, unless they have a smart card for the college ID, then she can probably use the cards on the washers/dryers/vending machines.

Some kind of laundry bag is another item needed. It helps to have all the dirty laundry in one place.

I also liked the idea of gift cards for area resturants and/or fast food places. Also maybe for Wal-mart or Target for last minute items after she gets there..or food.

Another item that was popular when I worked in Res life was a VCR or (DVD player). Those student who had VCRs were very popular...haha.

If you can find out, check to see if the floor will be carpet or vynal tiles. If tile, an area rug for next to the bed might be nice.

That is all I can think of for now.

 

[bballmom56]

I like to give them a gift certificate to their college's bookstore. It can be used for books or any other necessities.

 

[dmadman43]

A Windows Media Center PC.






TV
Pause and rewind live TV! Featuring advanced TV control functions, including pause, instant replay and frame advances. Plus, easily find your programs with the Electronic Program Guide, a grid-based view of current and upcoming programs.¹ Watch and control live TV no matter what kind of TV signal you get --cable, satellite, or antenna. New enhanced programming makes certain you will not miss your favorite program or movie.
Personal Video Recording
Watch your favorite shows, whenever you want. Record a single episode or capture an entire series. You can also watch a previously recorded show while recording a live TV program. With the new Media Center 2004, you're able to record a TV show directly to a DVD so you can start your own DVD collection or take it on the road and watch it later.

Music
A new feature lets you convert a CD into MP3 files from the convenience of your remote. Now, you don't have to lug all those CDs with you everywhere you go.

Your music jukebox for the digital age. Browse audio files by scrolling through album cover art, or list views.¹ Play or shuffle your library by album, artist or genre with one remote control.


3rd Party Entertainment¹
Download music, movies, games and more with access to third party entertainment via your remote control. Link to online services such as Music On Demand (MOD), Video ON Demand (VOD), online games and Napster² - now partnering exclusively with Gateway. And, with the new integrated FM Tuner, you can access your favorite live FM stations.
Photos
Enhance and manipulate your photos through your remote control! New functions include red-eye removal, rotation tools and contrast adjustability.

A new way to enjoy snapshots and pictures. Sort your images, then view them one at a time or launch a slideshow.
Video
An easy way to access your collection. Thumbnail views allow for quick browsing of My Video or Shared Video folders. Use the full transport controls on the remote to play back.


DVD
The feature-packed DVD player uses full transport controls on the remote to play and access chapters, synopses, multiple camera angles, and more.

 

[meuseman]

Fake ID

Fire Extinguisher (for Spring Weekend and Final Four)

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Great thread.

My oldest will be starting college in August. The link was very helpful.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

She's going to a cold place-

How about hats or gloves?

screamer/mace- (don't want to be an alarmist, but if she walks alone at night)

tea- those cute little herbal tea packs that she can take to the cafe!

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

laundry detergent, lysol spray, bug spray, vitamins.

 

[MHopkins2]

Multiples of every beauty product she uses, and a big Rubbermaid container to store them in. Grocery stores and drugstores are hard to get to when you don't have a car on campus (like 99% of freshmen), and they rob you blind at the campus Quick-E-Mart places.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

WALMART GIFT CARDS!!!!!

they are a lifesaver

 

[TerryKitten]

If she is going to be taking a bike to campus a good bike lock, a cable to lock her seat to her bike if its the quick release kind, a good head light and tail light.

 

[kylara]

Originally posted by MHopkins2
Multiples of every beauty product she uses, and a big Rubbermaid container to store them in. Grocery stores and drugstores are hard to get to when you don't have a car on campus (like 99% of freshmen), and they rob you blind at the campus Quick-E-Mart places.

nah, ya gotta save this for the mandatory care packages parents must send. It is obligatory that a care package be sent every two weeks filled with beauty products (soap, hair care stuff, lotion etc) and munchies. After all, you want to make the kid popular. Trust me, everyone in the hall will know who is getting care packages and when.

 

[Jungle Skipper]

Power Strip and extention chords

DVD Player

A small bedside table

Alarm Clock (thank goodness for alarm clocks)

Asprin

Duct Tape

 

[Jcricket Fan]

Here is a list of things you can & can't have at UConn in the dorm rooms.
http://www.reslife.uconn.edu/itemstobring/itemstobring.cfm

Also, here is the campus bookstore web site:
www.uconnco-op.com

If she doesn't have a car there isn't much for shopping unless she takes a school van or buddies up with some who has a car.

Walmart & Target are about 1/2 hr. away in Manchester but once you get to Manchester I don't think there is a store that is missing...it's a shoppers paradise!

Colleen

 

[BarryHom]

Other than a computer, I'd say two cylinder blocks and an old piece of wood. Why? Instant table! Plus, the holes in the cylinder blocks make great storage spaces.