<p>Since we live overseas, D will only be able to bring what is absolutely necessary to college. I realize she will need bed sheets, comforter-cover, a laptop, and everyday clothes and, since it's for New England,--warm outdoor clothes. </p>
<p>I also realize there are many things that it would be nice to have in theory--but what are the absolute essentials for students coming from far away who do not have unlimited budgets?</p>
<p>Hmmm, I suppose the answer depends on each person's definition of "absolute necessities." My Ds would probably say laptop, four sets of everyday clothes, purse and wallet, backpack/bookpack, and a two week supply of personal items. Sheets and comforters are readily available, and New England weather won't require warm outerwear until late October, by which time your D will have a better idea of what outer clothes she wants/needs. If she decides she likes something left at home you can always send it via UPS. JMHO.</p>
<p>one thing to consider - i think bed bath and beyond will ship stuff to a store near your college (if there is one) and you can pick it up after you are there. other on-line places can ship directly to the college - just make sure you know when then school is accepting deliveries for incoming freshmen. this could help you with transporting things from where you live, so that things are there waiting for you. there are usually places near colleges that will store stuff over the summer so you don't have to worry about transporting the stuff back and forth each year.</p>
<p>have you looked at this thread: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=82285%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=82285</a>
there have been others in the past too about college essentials. these lists tend to be very extensive, but you can look through with your d and see what elicits a "oh yes i NEED that!" response.</p>
<p>You can make up a list. Then if you can come a day early, you can finish all your shopping at local Walmart or Target. Other options might be order stuff (like bedding) on-line and have them hold for you at their local B&M store. Many universities do accept packages few days before the arrival. You will not need winter gear in September....buy them on-line and have it delivered at her dorm.</p>
<p>One thing my D learned via Hurricane Katrina is that you don't really need much. Computer is great to have but if you don't the library and computer labs are available. She didn't have a printer the first quarter and she realized it is nice but not absolute.
Clothes, shoes, sheets and towels.</p>
<p>Coming from overseas. Much of what she needs she can buy. Some of what she might truly like to have (like a comfortable chair, for instance) she may not be able to have because of storage issues.
Some things you might not think of - instructions for self-care during illness (there are a couple of books about "Surviving Freshman Year" that have pretty good simple instructions for minor illnessses, when to get help, etc, as well as other useful stuff about laundry, money, drinking, roomies - I think one of these books might be a good investment for someone so far from home) and a small pack of meds in case she gets sick during the first few days rush of moving in, some pictures of home (can't buy those there), some sort of dishes - cups. plate, forks and spoons including some microwaveable, a Swiss army knife or other multi-use tool, shower shoes, an organizer stocked with her important papers (like an accordion file) with instructions on how to use it, what to keep in it, a small sewing kit.
As for the other stuff - she'll need at least one set of sheets, 2 towels, 2 washcloths or face towels, one lightweight comforter and one blanket (unless she's in Florida), a pillow. Clothes and shoes. School supplies including a computer, a backpack or tote or messenger bag as well as pencils and notebooks. A shower caddy. Personal toiletries. A cell phone or room phone (may or may not need this). Something to store all this stuff in over the summer - a trunk, big suitcase, something, depends on where she can keep this at school.</p>
<p>One step up from absolute necessities, I would put an egg crate, or other mattress pad (in fact I would have her buy one, then throw it away, and buy another next year, not that expensive), another set of sheets, a couple more towels. </p>
<p>Beyond that it depends on her room, what the school provides, and her interests. Some people may really need a printer, some a refrigerator, some an iron and board, some a Dustbuster, some a rug or floor pillows or bed buddy. SOme may need musical instruments or sports equipment.</p>
<p>Oh, and if I was truly limiting cost and amount of stuff overall, I would get 3 towels - 2 regular and one beach towel or very large towel. There are a lot of other things you can use a good quality beach towel for - extra covers in winter, a rug, a picnic blanket, etc. Also, I've wondered why we don't buy kids those microfiber travel towels - i know they are small and more costly, but they dry so fast, and they don't hve much hanging room.</p>
<p>Pyewacket: If you are ordering a laptop via the Brandeis discount program, it will be shipped to the school. There is a Sears Roebuck not far from the school where you may be able to order some things for pickup. Also not far from the school are a Costco, Home Depot, Staples and pharmacies, and other stores where you can do last-minute shopping. PM me for details if you need them.</p>
<p>If your D will be in a triple, as many Brandeis freshmen will be, don't even think about buying any extra furniture. There ought to be room for a minifridge, maybe a microwave, and that will be it.</p>
<p>If possible, arrange for things in advance, as the whole area will be full of parents doing last-minute shopping.</p>
<p>Absolute necessities:</p>
<p>mp3 player with all of her music--cut down packing because you don't have to bring the actual CDs</p>
<p>digital camera so she can send photos of herself at school to keep you informed</p>
<p>those little knickknacks from home that will remind her of you</p>
<p>most everything else can be purchased on site.</p>
<p>Family photos. Everything else can be bought there.</p>
<p>Cangel - thanks for the idea on the towels. They fit much better in a suitcase than regular towels. They also take up less room in the washer, which is an advantage for students who delay laundry until the dirty clothes pile is huge. Young women may need more towels than their male counterparts, especially if they use two towels when showering, as many do. </p>
<p>As for bedding, check with the college. Some supply part of the bedding.</p>
<p>Pyewacket, MA can have snow in October, so your daughter may want to purchase winter clothes in September. Also, I've forgotten where you are now. If you live in a warm climate, your daughter may find September cold and may need a winter coat earlier than the natives. I agree with the suggestion to buy winter clothes here, though. Warm ones, which she'll need, are too bulky for shipping.</p>
<p>Now is the time to buy winter clothes and boots - when the outdoors stores (North Face etc.) are having the closeout sales. Just be sure to buy a parka big enough to accommodate the Freshman 15 (LOL).</p>
<p>If the school is in an urban or suburban area, don't make the mistake of buying & shipping stuff that your daughter can buy locally. I've honestly never met anyone who complained that they packed too lightly or didn't bring enough. A good deal of stuff can be purchased on line as well, if there is not shopping near campus. Even all of the "essentials" we hear about, from duct tape to flashlights to shower caddies -- are items that can be easily purchased locally.</p>
<p>an open mind
common sense
phone numbers, email addresses, snail mail addresses and IM of friends and family
identification (passport, drivers license)
a few photos of family and friends
a credit card for emergencies and/or to purchase the things she will need </p>
<p>....all of the above will fit in a small purse</p>
<p>Yes, I wsn't sure which question Pyewacket was asking - what she absolutely needed to bring from her home overseas OR what was the absolute minimum amount of stuff she would need overall, because it would all have to be stored.</p>
<p>We bought my daughter one large towel, which she didn't use much because it took so long to dry in the clothes dryer. Her other towels came from our stash of old "camp towels" that go for extras at the beach and to the boys' camping trips - she's going to throw those away at the end of the year. I would recommend that for freshmen especially.</p>
<p>Thanks you all, on the plus side, I have a good friend who lives 20 min from D' s university, so we can ship stuff to her. </p>
<p>What's weird about our family is that none of us drives a car. We'll be bringing stuff in suitcases and travelling up to the college via Amtrak and Commuter rail--so I am asking ..what needs to be in those suitcases apart from clothes?</p>
<p>Pyewacket:
My list:</p>
<p>raincoat: a must for October & November as well as spring (we just lived through the worst rainstorm in decades).
Hoodies,
windbreaker and/or windproof fleece jacket.
waterproof shoes.
sneakers
shoes
parka (if you can buy now on sale and store, do it; if you have to ship, the savings are not worth it).
Ditto silk underwear.
winter boots (to be bought later).</p>
<p>Non-clothes items (most can be bought later rather than shipped):
stationery,
staples, staplers, paper clips, eraser, scissors, letter opener, pencils, pens, box of CDs; bookends.
laptop
printer (a 3-in-1 printer/copier/ scanner does not take much more space than a printer).
camera
MP3
cell phone </p>
<p>Bedding: check bed size. Do not buy from campus as the quality is not good. Most discount stores have good sheet sets at good price.
Will she need to bring her own pillow?
Towels
toiletries
knickknacks from home.</p>
<p>Pye, post your question on the forum for her school - somone's answer here sounded as if they were familiar with the school. You need to know which stores, etc are convenient for someone with no car. Could the good friend drive you and your D to a couple of stores in a pinch?</p>
<p>If not, then the question is what reasonably should be bought on the internet and shipped. My daughter's school doesn't have many conventional stores in walking distance, but at move-in time the bookstore had shower caddies, small personal fans, and other little shops had some dorm room accessories. It might of been more expensive, but in a pinch you could have bought what she really needed without a car.
Someone who is very familiar with the college and immediate surroundings could be quite helpful.</p>
<p>My only advice is to NOT overbuy:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>regarding clothing, especially winter clothing, give your kid a chance to see what the locals wear. You don't want your kid to be the only one wearing a fur rimmed down parka when everyone else wears fleece! Your kid has gloves (nice ones at that!) when classmates have mittens...</p></li>
<li><p>fridge, microwave, printer etc.? When my D moved into her dorm, there were collisions in the rooms. You don't need three fridges in one room...there will be plenty of time to coordinate with roomies.</p></li>
<li><p>audio gear? other than personal players, this stuff gets shared, too.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Final thought:</p>
<p>** Let your kid decide. You should focus on eliminating, not adding to the list. If you put it on the list, it will just stay in the box. ** As others have said, on line ordering works well, and Brandeis has easy access to more shopping than you can imagine.</p>