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As a parent of a soon to be college freshman, I have been trying to find out what my daughter will need to bring for her dorm room and college life in general. I've gotten some great info from this forum, but still felt we were missing things. I want to make sure when I finally leave my daughter at college and fly back to Oregon that she will have everything she needs. I just found this Bed Bath & Beyond site titled appropriately "College & Beyond". It's a great site with a lot of useful information for college students plus all the stuff they could possibly need for college. There is a checklist that is quite extensive, but at least it gives you a good idea of what you might need. You can even create a personal dorm shopping list and share the list with your roommate to coordinate purchases. The "Survival 101" section has some great tips. I thought others might find this useful.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/BTSHome.asp

By Rhonda63 (Rhonda63) on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 12:59 pm: Edit

Warning about the BBB and other similar lists -- I'm probably stating the obvious, but these lists have LOTS of things your kid will probably never need. But the lists are good for looking through, because you may see something and think, "oh, that would be useful and I never would have thought of it!"

By Shennie (Shennie) on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 03:14 pm: Edit

I, too, would add my caution. Planning for all contingencies is going to mean your daughter has WAY too much stuff. We looked over the lists, got the minimal amount of stuff we figured he would need and still had to bring stuff home because his room was so small! There was also a bunch of stuff that I bought for him that he never used and a few items he swore that he didn't need that he ended up having to purchase for himself.

So for #2 who will be 2000 miles away, I am putting him on the plane with 2 pieces of checked luggage, his small backpack and his laptop. All of his bedding and linens will be ordered on line and delivered to him. We are renting a fridge from the college. The rest of the stuff he can either order on line as he needs it or pick it up at local store. If all else fails, I will shop for it and mail it to him. He will need to see what things he wants and needs rather than me deciding that for him. And you really won't believe how small some of these dorm rooms are!

By Sybbie719 (Sybbie719) on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 03:45 pm: Edit

My suggestion would be to go directly to the college website as many of them do have lists stating what to bring and not to bring specific campuses.

For example, my D's school has a freshmen guide where this is covered and here is their list (D is attending school in NE, so some of these things maynot pertain to you.

Room

posters, hangers , a lamp or two, full length mirror (if you need/want it), pictures/picture frames, anything funky you might like to make your room “yours” example: Christmas lights, Wall hangings, Plants, Neon signs

Bedding

1-2 sets of Twin extra long sheets, 1-2 pillows, comforter, blanket, featherbed / cushy mattress pad (if you’re a sensitive sleeper – the campus mattresses aren’t overly comfortable).

Clothing

Underwear, Socks (especially Smartwool or something of the sort; warmth can be key) Your normal wardrobe, bring what you’d be comfortable in. However, your normal wardrobe should include: Many warm sweaters (if you aren't used to cold weather) Pants, A couple dressy outfits (receptions, matriculation, formal events, church, plays, etc….) Shorts and tank tops (yes, in the early fall and late spring you will want them) , Shirts (short sleeve, long sleeve…etc) ,Bathing suit , Shoes- In addition to what you already have, you’ll want some substantial enough to make it through the snow; something that can withstand wetness and salt.

Bathroom stuff

Shower caddy, Bathrobe, Shower shoes, Towel, washcloth, All your normal toiletries

Furnishings

Basically, you’re pretty much set with the bed, desk, closet, drawers, and chair provided by ORL (Office of Residential Life), but if you don’t want to do cardboard boxes for little tables and putyour leftover food on the windowsill to keep it cold, then you may be interested in the following items(you might want to coordinate with your roommate(s), however)

Refrigerator, TV, VCR, DVD player, One of the many varieties of game systems , TV Stand Sound system, Small shelf unit thing (for food, clothes, books, etc) , Futon Comfy Chair (such as a papazan chair, desk chair, etc.) ,Coat Tree, Fan Trunk (aside from storage, also functional as table or bench) Tupperware containers or laundry baskets for convenient under-bed storage units…

Miscellaneous Items
Iron, Small Ironing Board, Laundry basket , Brita filter, Dictionary, Printer (check school as it may not really necessary unless you like having your own) Basic school supplies (can also be bought once you arrive)

I know that walmart is usually a staple in most college towns (exception : NYC, it is on Long Island) so some of the things can actually be purchased when you get there if you have to come a long way. It is a 5 hour drive to D's school, I will not be dragging stuff with me.

Hope this helps

By Anngold (Anngold) on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 03:48 pm: Edit

Good advice from both of you.. When I said the checklist was extensive, I meant that I wasn't planning to buy it all. However, I did find things on the list that I didn't realize she needed like shower shoes and a shower caddy. I also found the roll of quarters tip on the "Survival 101" to be a good idea - one I probably would have overlooked.

Shennie - Would you share with us what you bought he didn't need and what you didn't buy he did need? Thanks.

By Gabushida (Gabushida) on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 04:11 pm: Edit

FLIP FLOPS for the shower.

By Bookiemom (Bookiemom) on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 04:56 pm: Edit

Here are some things my D didn't have or didn't have enough of: tape to hang things on walls, small storage rack/table to put next to her bed, microwave safe bowls for reheating food, Britta water pitcher (dorm water tasted awful at first; after a while she got used to it), silverware, stamps. bulletin board.

By Anngold (Anngold) on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 05:13 pm: Edit

Bookiemom - Thanks for these ideas.

By Shopmom (Shopmom) on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 05:16 pm: Edit

Your kid has what they need to live at home so they likely have all they need to live in a dorm.
That said, college shopping is fun and we've done our fair share - and then some. Some things were needed, her bed at home is larger than the one she'll have in school so she needed bedding. And some things were not. Does anyone really 'need' an electic quesadilla maker?
One item I could not talk my daughter out of was a wicker laundry basket. I begged her to get one of those laundry bags that fold down to almost nothing, but she chose beauty over function. I'm betting she regrets the purchase the first time she has to haul that bulky thing to the laundry room - chock full and with detergent in tow.
We were at Berkeley for CalDay and saw a student taking his laundry to the laundry room. This kid was pulling his laundry in a small, wheeled suitcase with the detergent strapped to the top. I thought it was an excellent idea - convenient and easy to get from point A to B.
By the way - I would nix the Dictionary if your kid is bringing a computer with them. Why use valuable space to store a good dictionary when your kid will have internet so available? All the more room for a quesadilla maker
And the water purifier - that was a great idea.

By Sopranosmom (Sopranosmom) on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 06:07 pm: Edit

Re: What to take to college -- someone posted this site on CC a few months ago - http://www.belmont.k12.ma.us/bhs/ptso.htm. It lists everything a freshman may need and more! Got to the site and click on 'The Complete List of College Supplies.'

By Trackstar (Trackstar) on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 07:17 pm: Edit

Some things that I needed and didn't think of at first...
a wall clock; hooks that hang over the door (also hung off the top bunk); I used cup hooks screwed into my bulletin board to hang my necklaces; I had a hanging sweater organizer in my closet for my underwear and athletic wear and socks; my wicker basket had a hinged lid, I stored my bulky sweaters in it and used it as a stand for my alarm clock; I used a collapsible hamper for my laundry(actually I had 2 - one for clean and one for dirty) and don't forget the duck tape! Desk stuff - you have to have a good stapler and a good 3 hole punch. I always had a couple storage crates- I kept my rollerblades, rackets and balls in one and put the other on the shelf in my closet to hold my jeans (cause my stacks of clothes are never tidy). I went home for break in a couple rubbermaid tubs... they stack easily for the parents to bring along and hold a ton of stuff.

By Ticklemepink (Ticklemepink) on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 07:51 pm: Edit

Sopranosmom- thanks for that list!!!!!

Anyone know how to get curtains or shades for a room? My college won't provide them I don't want to "ruin" anything so I need something that can be put on and off easily...

By Shennie (Shennie) on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 08:46 pm: Edit

Things needed that he didn't have: a floor lamp, postage stamps and various size mailing envelopes (he is a music major and had to send out audition CD's for summer programs), and another music major item -an electric keyboard. He ended up taking his back with him at Thanksgiving. A third music major thing he needed was ice packs for his wrists after he started to develop tendonitis.

He didn't use any of the kitchen type stuff I sent with him - no dishes, no cups, no silverware, never used the coffee maker. His dorm doesn't permit microwaves in rooms. We took a window fan but came home with it as there was no room for it. I also packed a tool box for him which he uses occassionally but could probably borrow a hammer or screw driver from someone if he really needed something.

The other thing to remember is that I think boys can often do without more stuff than girls. We also economized for space on the electronic stuff. His laptop is also his DVD player and he used it for his stereo all freshman year also. He didn't have a TV but downloaded stuff to watch on his computer and borrowed DVDs.

By Marite (Marite) on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 08:52 pm: Edit

If you want to improvise, how about a retractable shower curtain rod and hooks? These would need no nails or screws. You can buy window curtains at most department stores or online. You could probably buy the rest of the gear online as well.

By Thumper1 (Thumper1) on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 09:33 pm: Edit

www.getschooled.com/guides/19/page1.html

This is a "what to bring...what to think about...what not to bring" list that I found pretty amusing to read and it was also very helpful. Their hints on what absolutely to leave at home were VERY accurate as far as DS was concerned. It's fun reading and may be helpful to you too.

By Thumper1 (Thumper1) on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 09:38 pm: Edit

For curtains that won't "hurt anything". Find out the width of your window and get a compression rod. It is spring loaded and does not screw into anything...it just gets twisted until it fits tight into the window opening. Then get whatever curtains you want. I would suggest a room darkening tab type curtain. Then you don't need curtain hooks or anything like that and the curtains will move easily. We have Country Curtains insulated tab curtains (that have a backing on the fabric that is room darkening) and they are great.

By Marite (Marite) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 08:16 am: Edit

For parents who are sending their kids off to college with an iron and ironing board (as I did), but fear that those may not be used (as my S's probably were not), here is a new take on ironing: Extreme ironing. It marries the thrill of danger with "the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt."

For more information about this new way of tackling the laundry, see the NYT, "Get Out Your Boards: Extreme Ironing May Soon Be Hot."

I, for one, will not try to do any ironing while strapped to the outside of a duck boat.

By Gtownmom (Gtownmom) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 08:51 am: Edit

Thanks for posting all the great list sites. I've printed them and will condense them and I know I will better about leaving my son so far away if I think he's all set up. It's a mom thing!

By Thumper1 (Thumper1) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 11:56 am: Edit

I know most folks here will find this odd...but DS USED his iron AND ironing board. He also had it available for many of his friends who didn't have one. He is a music performance major and NEEDED dress clothes at least once per week. Performers learn very early in life how to iron...wrinkled clothes don't make a very good impression at one's auditions, juries, or concerts! Of course music majors are probably the only ones with suits, ties and tuxedos hanging in their closet above their black dress shoes

By Marite (Marite) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 12:07 pm: Edit

Thumper,

There are plenty of students who perform without being music majors; they probably need to look a bit more spruce on those occasions as well. I think S2 will inherit S1's iron and ironing board despite the fact that he is unlikely to perform.

By Lamom (Lamom) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 12:18 pm: Edit

Wow, my son, the music performace major, is going to learn to iron! So all I have to do is teach him how to wash. You are correct about his closet-probably the only one of his HS friends who has the tux etc and stuff next to the torn jeans and t shirts.

By Daffodil22 (Daffodil22) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 04:08 pm: Edit

Marite, what is extreme ironing?

By Marite (Marite) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 04:26 pm: Edit

If you can, check the NYT article. It seems to involve ironing clothes, a mundane chore to say the least, in extremely unusual and rather dangerous conditions. There is a picture of one guy crossing from one cliff to another on a tight rope while doing his ironing, and another one doing the same while hanging out of a Boston-duck boat (a WWII era amphibious vehicle that is now used to ferry tourists on land and on water).

By Shennie (Shennie) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 06:53 pm: Edit

Well, my son is a music performance major and I don't think he even knows what an iron IS let alone how to use one...

By Dmd77 (Dmd77) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 07:52 pm: Edit

Wow, you all are sending a lot of stuff with your kids. It shouldn't all go when they first get there--let them ask for it, and use it as excuse to go visit. My son went to college with three large duffel bags, and one of them was SCUBA equipment, and another was computer and robot parts. He did ask for a rug and another blanket at Christmas.

Many many dorms have a room with an ironing board and an iron. Find out first if they actually need one.

Here is what my daughter took for freshman year that she's not taking back next year: small dorm room refrigerator (the hall shared one worked fine); two pairs of shoes (she took four); about half her clothes (she never wore them because the style was different on her campus).

The main thing she plans to take again is her cat. The cat loved being a dorm cat. (A surprisingly large number of schools allow cats in some dorms. It's a good way to make the older dorms more popular.)

By Anngold (Anngold) on Sunday, May 23, 2004 - 08:23 pm: Edit

So much great advice to be found on this board. Thanks to everyone who took the time.

By Thumper1 (Thumper1) on Sunday, May 23, 2004 - 08:49 pm: Edit

Just a small note...remember...everything you send to college with your kiddo (and whatever they get there themselves) will come home with them at the end of the year (unless you are renting storage). DS came home three weeks ago and we are still trying to figure out where to put the underbed boxes, HIS ironing board (and yes, he uses it), all the files of "stuff", his stereo, his computer, all the books and cd's, the extra clothes (and he's a boy who really didn't buy much), the fridge, the stacking drawers, the extra long sheets and other linens...etc. It ALL came back here. To be honest, I wish we had just taken what he already had here, with no new purchases!

By Dmd77 (Dmd77) on Sunday, May 23, 2004 - 10:14 pm: Edit

Both my kids' schools have storage areas for a limited amount of stuff.

However, my son solved the problem by getting an on-campus summer job and applying to stay in his room over the summer. (He's already got the same room next year.)

By Rhonda63 (Rhonda63) on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 10:12 am: Edit

A couple of comments to add, having just picked D up on Friday. She (and her roommate) seemed to have MUCH less stuff than other kids -- two others in her hallway had stuff filling the room, and had also taken over part of the hallway for additional stuff while they were packing! Meanwhile, D, H, and I loaded her stuff into the car in about a half hour! She also said there are some things she will not take next year, because she didn't use them.

What may also be of interest to those sending off freshman in the fall is what she DIDN'T take but decided she needed. Here's a rundown of some of what she decided she needed, and some of what she didn't --

1. Microwave (need) -- she did not initially take one, not sure if she would use it. Ended up buying one over winter break and taking it back up w/her. Roommate doesn't have one, so they can both use it. Having the microwave means she no longer needs the "hotpot" she initally took for boiling water -- roommate has one, and she said in light of having microwave, it's unnecessary. So the hotpot will stay home this year (maybe I'll take it to the office to make tea...). Each of them has a small fridge, and she did say it was better to have your own fridge -- those roommates she knew that shared one, even a larger one, sometimes had trouble fitting everything in.

2. Drying rack (need) -- for drying sweaters and other things that she doesn't put into the dryer. Didn't take one up initially, bought one at Ikea over winter break and took it back up with her (I really like it, may buy one for myself so I'm not hanging sweaters up all over the house to dry...)

3. Clothes (don't need) -- She said she will not be taking back some clothes that she just didn't wear during the year. Too many sweaters, I think...

4. TV (don't need) -- she didn't take a TV, and her roommate didn't have one either (she was very happy about this). Others in the hall had a TV, so she would go to watch there whenever she wanted to (which was pretty rarely -- e.g., the Grammy awards, last episode of Friends, etc). She is living with the same roommate next year, and neither plans to bring a TV (yay). I know a lot of kids take one as a matter of course, but I would seriously consider asking your child if they REALLY want one -- college is only four years, and they have the rest of their lives to watch TV. Hopefully they can find better uses for their time in college. Also, if they want to watch a movie, most will have computers that can play DVDs.

5. Under bed storage (may need) -- didn't take any sort of rolling drawers or anything like that, but says she may want "rack raisers" to lift her bed higher off the ground so she can store things underneath, possibly one of those sets of plastic drawers that roll around (you can get them at Target, I think).

6. Egg crate (need) -- she said her mattress was not comfortable (although she didn't mention this over winter break), and many kids brought egg crates or even mattress pads. A comfortable bed is important, imo!! So she'll be taking an egg crate for next year (although her dorm next year is supposed to be getting new furniture)...

7. Fast drying hair towel (need) -- as someone with long hair who doesn't blow dry, she loved this. I bought it at Body Shop (for myself, actually, but whatever...) and it's made of some superabsorbent material. She wraps her hair in it, and it gets much closer to drying by the time she's dressed than w/a regular towel. Along the same lines, she took up a nice, full length terrycloth robe (from Lands End, I think) which she said was very useful coming back from the bathroom esp during the cold months.

8. Flip flops for shower (NEED!!!) -- she thought this was a stupid thing to take initially, but definitely needed them!!

As a side note, I'd just like to say it's GREAT having her home (although it would be nice if she got some of her stuff out of the living room...)

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 10:57 am: Edit

Thank you Rhonda for sharing what your daughter's feedback is after one year of college (particularly at the college my D is entering!). I cannot begin to think too much about this til this summer cause too much going on here right now. But I copied your list down for my daughter, though most of those things were on my mind, it helps to hear what a current student thought from experience. I also have been curious about the rack raisers cause I noticed on the website that beds at Brown are just 11" off the floor and I really really think she will need underbed storage for things in tubs...that truly most kids will need but I am also thinking of various sports equipment and attire, etc. etc. Some schools, like Tufts, have dorm beds that can rise up to accommodate the underbed storage but I noticed that Brown does not, so one must buy something, though I am not sure what this something is, to rise the bed up higher. What is this exactly and do you get it at Brown or ahead of time?

While your list has things on it that I had thought about, I did not think of the drying rack and that is a good idea as at home we drip dry a lot of things and she likely will need that. Also I only recently have learned of these egg crate things so that is helpful to hear about as well.

Enjoy having your daughter home this summer! Maybe our girls will meet sometime!

Susan

By Rhonda63 (Rhonda63) on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 11:19 am: Edit

Susan -- her bed (in Keeney, the biggest freshman dorm) had two levels you could adjust it to -- one about 3" higher than the other. I think she kept hers at the lower level all year, while her roommate raised hers and stored some boxes underneath. The closets were quite deep, and my D was able to store things in the back of the closet.

As for rack raisers, I'm not completely sure what she's talking about (she mentioned it in the car on the way home). I think she means these sort of cylinder-shaped things you can get, and you put one under each leg of the bed. I think they are probably no more than 6" high. I believe there are more complicated rack raisers which raise the bed high enough that you can put furniture underneath, which is not what she wants.

She has seen her room next year, and is happy to be living with the same person (and two of their friends will be across the hall), since she knows they get along. Her soph dorm is small, only about 90 people in the entire dorm, and it's split up into 4 "towers." The bathroom will be smaller, but only six people will be sharing it. Her room next year is apparently larger than this year (and I thought her freshman year room was quite large, and it had two big windows that looked out onto a very nice street, with trees, etc), and her soph room also has a fireplace with a marble mantel (she's very pleased with that!). Not a working fireplace, of course, but still...

Your D may well end up in Keeney, which houses about 600, most of whom are freshman. I was a little concerned that it would be too loud and rowdy for my D, who can be a little reserved. But she loved it -- it was great as a freshman, because she met a lot of people, and she said it was usually quiet enough that she could study in her room if she wanted to, except for Fri and Sat nights, when she was usually out anyway. The furniture was old, but pretty nice (heavy wooden desks and dresser, although the bed was metal), and you could move it around. It had pretty high ceilings, too -- definitely did not feel cramped, and the fact that D and roommate each had minimal amount of stuff helped it feel quite spacious.

By Rhonda63 (Rhonda63) on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 11:28 am: Edit

One more in the "need" category -- an area rug. My D's room had a grey linoleum floor, and she appreciated having a 4x6' area rug we had taken up (just an old rug we had, I think one of my sister's may have used it in her college dorm room). Some other kids' parents who saw it thought it was a great idea and promptly went out and bought their kids rugs, too (this was during freshman move-in). D's roommate eventually ended up buying a rug for her side of the room, too. It makes the room look much nicer, and if the college is in a cold climate, it's nice to have something other than cold floor to stand up.

I should note I got her a little vacuum sweeper (rechargeable, about $30 at Amazon.com) for the rug, but I don't get the feeling she or her roommate used it very much! I remember when I was in college there was a "dorm vacuum" that looked like it was about 100 years old!

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 12:19 pm: Edit

Thanks again, Rhonda! I made notes but won't deal with any of this til summer. I had a feeling that rack raisers were something you put under each leg of the bed to raise it up enough for storage underneath.

My daughter stayed in Keeney Quad during the April Open House. I did not see in it myself but she said the room sizes were quite decent. On a previous visit, I only saw inside Hope College dorm, where a boy from our high school lived as a freshman. Also a decent sized room.

I think it may be easiest to buy stuff before heading to college, and do some coordination with future roomie. I figure there is just one move in day so not alot of shop time but more getting situated time. At least I got a hotel room the night before, wasn't easy!

Anyway, it will be fun to pick out these items and it will surely feel that it is all very real at that point! Right now, tons of events my kids have almost daily, still another month of school, then graduation, and one child leaves for summer immediately after that. THEN I will have this one to myself with a bit less hectic lifestyle than we are used to. She will have two summer jobs but still more time free than ever. Also it is the first summer she will be home since she was quite young. So, I'll deal with this stuff with her then but saved your hints/list for that time and thank you again!

Susan

By Momofsenior (Momofsenior) on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 12:48 pm: Edit

Susan -- There's a Bed, Bath & Beyond in Providence Place Mall which is close to Brown (I assume you've seen it). There's also a Staples about 5 minutes away.

By Rhonda63 (Rhonda63) on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 01:12 pm: Edit

There's a Home Depot not far away -- that's where a couple of parents headed out during move-in, to buy a rug (mentioned above) and they also came back with a HUGE bookshelf, lol. It may be in Massachusetts, but still not far from Providence by car.

By Momofsenior (Momofsenior) on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 01:24 pm: Edit

There is a Home Depot in Seekonk, Mass which is right over the border.