Here is the challenge: Can we agree on what should be brought up to school for a New England prep school with a shirt/tie/jacket dress code? Clothing, personal supplies, room stuff, bedding . . ?
I swear I had done a write-up on this over the years…for both genders. I don’t know HOW minimalist it was, as I’m a big believer in having certain garments for specific reasons…and not just for outerwear.
Will try to find it.
I didn’t start (the fire), but here are a few that I contributed to over the years:
Another clothing thread:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1425138-what-to-wear-to-a-bs-visit-interview-boys-edition-p1.html
Not necessarily “minimalist”, but…
Your son is going to Berkshire right? Here are the links to the students handbook and parent information guide. This can give you some insight into what to bring and such. The 2 dorms that freshman boys are assigned to live in are relatively small so for boys I would reccomend packing light until you know what you need.
http://www.berkshireschool.org/uploaded/Document_Files/Student_Life/Student_Handbook_2016-2017.pdf
http://www.berkshireschool.org/uploaded/Parent_Portal/Parent_Info_Guide_2016-17.pdf
Feel free to pm with any questions:)
OK-so more specifically. I am buying sheets. The school handbook states: Sheets (4‐6), mattress pad, bedspread/blankets/comforter pillow, pillowcases (4), bath
towels (6), washcloths (3). I don’t follow why we would bring 4-6 pairs of sheets or 6 towels! That seems like we would need a lot of closet space. My logic would be one set in use one set in the laundry. . .Thoughts?
It sounds like they anticipate a towel a day and weekly laundry. We have this discussion in our house. One of us doesn’t want to try a pristine body with a used towel. The other notes it has been used only on a pristine body. Not sure how to proceed.
Under bed bins, especially the deep ones that roll out like drawers, can be perfect for this kind of storage. One extra set of sheets seems like plenty.
For the mattress pad, the memory foam, thick ones are generally what they mean, not the kind you would put on a normal, comfy bed. School and college mattresses are similar to box springs in comfort.
Thanks gardenstatelegal. It hadn’t even occurred to me that you would put a towel in the wash every day since they would be damp and . . yuch. OK-I think I will compromise and do 3 towels. As far as the comforter–I thought if I sent a blanket and a comforter (not a type with a duvet cover-just a traditional comforter) he could send one of them to be washed from time to time. I had bought the mattress topper for my daughter (thick tempurpedic thing) for college. It was cumbersome but worth it for comfort. Thanks!
@sadieshadow having moved kids into more dorm rooms then I care to remember- 2 sets of sheets is perfect. Especially with services like Amazon prime etc… to order replacements if necessary. The kids have weekly laundry service and would never think to change sheets more than once a week (more likely once a month).
For towels our kids have always brought 2 ( unless they had a water sport). The most important thing is to ensure they have a hook in their room to hang damp towels to dry.
Mattress pads are worth the investment. We bought ours on Amazon and they were a quarter of the price of Bed bath and beyond. I suggest at least 2-3 in thickness.
We got 2 sets of sheets, 4 towels, and a 2-inch memory foam mattress topper. The setup has worked well. BTW, the 3-inch mattress topper I got for her home bed it too thick and she hates it - you are trapped and feel like a whale when trying to get out of bed.
How did you guys handle blankets. I won’t do a duvet cover. Too much hassle. Did kids even wash blankets much? I am figuring one set only a blanket and a traditional comforter. I assume rooms are hot in winter.
Now that I live close, they bring home blankets a few times a year to wash. We buy a thin blanket (cotton or microfiber) and an inexpensive comforter. Our kids dorms are kept very warm in winter.
I say this as an alumnus of a BS: You realize that will never happen, right?
2 sets of sheets and 3-4 towels is plenty.
Never used one - still don’t. But that’s personal preference.
I don’t think my kids ever use washcloths. Tmi?
Skieurope. Kid says he doesn’t need a blanket. So does that mean I need 2 comforters? Or just one. If it gets dirty you can do without for a couple of nights. Or better yet use the washing machine!
TMI? No.
Another invention I never understood. I have soap and I have 2 hands. So, why do I need a face cloth?
Please note that the above question is rhetorical; I know about exfoliation, but no teen-aged guy will admit to exfoliating. 
I appreciate the help with not buying nor bringing stuff he won’t need. Sons are simple compared to daughters. I don’t want to complicate his life.
I would go with duvet cover system…you just pop it off and put it in with the sheets.
FWIW, we generally go IKEA-level quality for the kids’ dorm stuff.
@sadieshadow , I would go with one comforter and one washable cover. And just know that it’ll probably never be washed (except maybe when you visit.). They are too bulky to have 2.
No. One comforter is enough, although IMO a duvet and cover would be better.
Agreed. Although again, if, and this is a big if, DS does “pop it off,” there’s no guarantee he’ll put it back on. I did/do, but I’m in the minority.
Exactly.
FWIW, my towels came out of the linen closet. If anyone was getting new towels, it was my parents, not me. Obviously bedding is a different issue.
skieurope Now that I know to distrust the figures produced in materials for parents . . how many blazers? Where it says “sweaters” can substitute in the Winter. . what if you have a kid who may have never worn a sweater in his life? What do boys in boarding school really wear to sleep? (My DS wears sweats and a t shirt at home).