<p>Kate,
I'm a mom who scrounged for good lists last year when my D went off to college. This year, your list is perfect for S--it's his turn now.</p>
<p>As many have mentioned, there's more than enough on your list to just about cover everything. And perfect to edit to get to what each person needs.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for taking the time to do this. I think most people don't realize how much you really DO need to be living on your own for the first time!</p>
<p>This list has already helped me, as there were items I hadn't thought of earlier, and I'm sure it's helping many others.</p>
<p>... I gave the link of your list to some (college) friends to see what they thought, and they said people MIGHT want to use these things that weren't listed:</p>
<p>Extension Cord
Phone Cards
Air Freshener
Ruler
Watch
Thermometer
Bed Raisers
Checks
Bathroom Scale
Garbage bags
Shoe rack/sweater rack
Printer Ink
Safety pins
Storage crates
Insurance card/health insurance info
Bookends
Airtight plastic containers for food
Cinder blocks
Key chain
Slippers
Blank CDs</p>
<p>Just trying to be helpful here:
for people who are crossing state lines for college, you may want to hold off on purchasing a lot of these items (the ones you dont have already) until you get to wherever you're going. I know for me, moving from San Francisco to Chicago... shipping things like a bed set, new computer, desk lamp, chair, and so forth can be very expensive, and there's no reason why I can't buy them all there during the week of orientation (or arrive a couple days early, stay up in a hotel and shop for them during the day)</p>
<p>Many colleges (I know Northwestern does) offer "shop and ride" shuttles during the first few days, so that parents and students who've flown into town can get a ride to shopping centers and have a ride to take the goods back to campus. This was incredibly helpful for my older brother when he moved in, so he and my dad, along with his roommate and his dad, could all go together to purchase the shared items for their room. </p>
<p>On that note, let me just say THANKS for the list! Printing out my own list (pretty much a copy and paste of yours, with minor revisions) will save me lots of stress when september rolls around... and i can hand it to my parents, theyll buy the things, and that way I wont have to spend what little money i have for social things on stuff like cough medicine that, had I planned ahead, would already own.</p>
<p>Oh, and here are some more disclaimers:
many colleges don't allow halogen desk lamps.. they generate a lot of heat and possibly could start a fire</p>
<p>check if your college allows you to have an ironing board in your room... for some reason mine doesnt.</p>
<p>BLESS YOU!!!! YOur list is well beyond helpful (and I'm a parent!)...yes, things forgotten can be purchased...but much of the stuff on the list is already here and it's a matter of remembering to pack it so that money doesn't have to be spent on reacquiring it! And we do take for granted that things will be around (e.g., safety pins and needle & thread & aspirin)...then when we need them, we usually need them immediately and so having to go to a store to get them is a real pain. And yes, things can be borrowed. But I think this list is WONDERFUL and I am very grateful to have it. THANK YOU!</p>
<p>Thanx Kate. Where do you have the time to come up with all of this?</p>
<p>Some of the things you said are unneccessary (a blender??) but thanks for the list!</p>
<p>Good list, but you are missing one item:</p>
<p>Stickies.</p>
<p>Learn to love them. I hear they love you in return.</p>
<p>What are stickies?</p>
<p>Sorry... I used a different term. They are, indeed, on the list, but as 'Post-its'.</p>
<p>wow wow wow wow</p>
<p>Re: towels. I needed at least three - one for body, one for (very long) hair, and one for swimming - got all sorts of chlorine on the last one that I didn't want on myself after showering.</p>
<p>Get about twice as much printer ink (or toner, if you have a laser) than you think you will need. Invariably, everyone runs out of ink around finals time. By the way, I did need colour ink for one of my classes - engineering computer design (AutoCAD), so consider bringing extra colour ink as well.</p>
<p>AMAZING list- you rock.</p>
<p>I could only think of one thing to add...</p>
<p>earplugs!</p>
<p>Wow! Can all of that stuff fit into a dorm room?</p>
<p>Thanks for the list! I need to go dorm room-shopping soon and this is a great list!</p>
<p>Slippers </p>
<p>humidifier (although a drying rack & wet laundry (think a nice, thick towel) will keep a dry room humid during the winter). I get sick when it gets too dry. </p>
<p>Staples has a folding bookcase, which is good for those who don't have a lot of space in their cars. Problem is that it takes up a lot of floor space.</p>
<p>If you don't know what your dorm room looks like beforehand, don't bring too much - buy stuff there. I'll confess to packing by where I wanted stuff to go in my room - so all of the top-shelf-of-closet stuff went in one box, the desk stuff in another.... Trash barrels are good for cleaning supplies.</p>
<p>
[quote]
By the way, I did need colour ink for one of my classes - engineering computer design (AutoCAD), so consider bringing extra colour ink as well.
[/quote]
Thanks for that info, ariesathena. Until I read this, I had been planning to buy a B&W Laser, but that plan might now change.</p>
<p>a suggestion I have for any one who might have the time or inclination, is to organize this list by categories, things like entertainment, cleaning, bathroom, toiletries, bedding, eating, etc.</p>
<p>Kate,
I, too, am the listmaker/planner type, and I cannot describe the joy I felt as I read over your list! It was just like Christmas! (Okay, maybe that's saying a bit much, but I do really appreciate your taking the time to compile "What To Bring To College").</p>