<p>Please, help! In recent days I have been reading about packing two weeks in advance and driving a loaded van. Looks like I am missing something. What does one need to pack?
Daughter is heading for Cornell (=may get cold in October). She will come back for Thanksgiving and maybe in mid-October (or we will visit her and do some shopping there).
How much clothes for the girl? [approximate list?]
We usually pack one bag per person for a month-long vacation. I thought a slightly larger bag of mostly summer clothes couple warm things should be enough for two months?
What else? I onlycame up with:
1. laptop, calculator
2. some textbooks that may be useful
3. bedding
4. a few plates/cups
5. iron, ironing board
6. shower stuff
7. Documents
Does anyone have a really long list or can remind of other things?</p>
<p>Don't panic. If she needs something she left at home, you can mail it to her. Or if she needs to buy something, internet shopping works just as well from Cornell as from home!</p>
<p>With the plates/cups, include some silverware.
A power strip with a surge protector is really useful for plugging everything in.<br>
Clothes - bring a fleece jacket for chilly evenings in October in NY.
A collapsable hamper & laundry detergent, dryer sheets.
Desk lamp (unless Cornell provides them). Office-type supplies (stapler, tape, envelopes).<br>
A book of stamps.</p>
<p>A fan, if the dorm does not have ac. A couple of basic hand tools. First aid, perscription, medical needs (nothing fancy, just the basics). Extra pair of glasses if she wears them. A dozen or so clothes hangers.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that snow in late October is not unheard-of in upstate New York. When my kids were small, my rule of thumb was to choose Halloween costumes that could fit over a snowsuit.</p>
<p>Thank you! Now I start understanding. Power strip/first aid kit/tools didn't occur to me. Will be grateful for other additions!
1. laptop, calculator, printer
2. some textbooks that may be useful
3. bedding
4. a few plates/cups/silverware
5. iron, ironing board
6. shower stuff
7. Documents
8. power strip with a surge protector
9. lawndry: collapsable hamper, detergent
10. office supplies: stapler, tape, envelopes, stamps
11. First Aid kit: antibiotic oniment,
12 extra pair of glasses, prescriptions
13 clothes hangers
14 tools: scissors, needles, buttons</p>
<p>If you are short on space, I'd drop the printer. D didn't seem to use hers much--used campus printers except for printing photos that she wanted right then and there.</p>
<p>May want to add on_
Printer
Towels/bathrobe
Laundry baskets
Detergent and dryer sheets
Ipod and charger
Alarm Clock
Camera and cables to load pictures on computer
Desk supplies- tape, scissors, etc...
Extension cords
Raincoat or poncho
Umbrella
Backpack
Ream of computer paper
Under the bed storage if closets are not that big
TV or microfridge (is roommate bringing one and you the other?)
Any sports equipment, ie- baseball glove, tennis racket? There may be intramurals or dorm sports.
Shower caddy to hold shampoo, razor...
Back up hard drive. We bought ours at Newegg.</p>
<p>Walk around Bed, Bath and Beyond or target and I bet you'll find more things we missed.</p>
<p>do not bring desk lamp - Cornell provides.
my d dresses wear, took care of her clothes well...but the iron never left the box, mini iron board still in plastic wrap at end of year.</p>
<p>Before starting another thread on what to bring to college, review this one. </p>
<p>if I remember correctly the prices for printing at Cornell are kinda steep, like 9 cents a page black and white, and much more for color.</p>
<p>btw just so you know, it is sure to be cold on some days in both September and October. I'm only traveling an hour to get there (I'll be a freshman too actually) but I will definitely be bringing some warm clothing like jeans, sweatpants, hoodies, long sleeved shirts, and probably one coat/mittens/hat set that go together. many years kids go out trick-or-treating in parkas, and we have had snow by then too. this is not to sound like "oh we are real tough weather people" cuz it's really not that bad--just wanted to give a realistic perspective.</p>
<p>Welcom Citymom to Cornell. Pack rain coat, rain boots, umbrella, sweaters. Cornell is either raining or snowing. At night it's already dropping down low 60s. You could get almost everything you need at the local mall once you get there.</p>
<p>I agree with the previous poster, it can be very cold in both Sept. and Oct. You get maybe two weeks where it is really warm but thats about it. There are exceptions but generally it will be cooler rather than warmer in the fall. I'd worry more about staying warm than staying cool. Bring sweaters and jackets they will get a lot of use.</p>
<p>Correction on my part - you would not be able to get anything fashionable in Ithaca, so bring clothes your daughter likes from home, and get everything else up there.</p>
<p>Some of the dorms at Cornell do not have overhead lighting - so you may need to bring a floor lamp. Cornell does provide a desk lamp, but in the older dorms it's not enough.</p>
<p>Thanks even more everyone!
I could not imagine that there is such a difference in weather between New York and Ithaca (a used to consider a dress warm enough for a Halloween costume). As for fashion, I was not sure how Cornell style is different from what kids wear in the city, but I guess she should buy enough to last now and adjust later. </p>
<ol>
<li>laptop, calculator, printer (what kind is better and more price efficient - laser?)
<ol>
<li>some textbooks that may be useful </li>
<li>bedding</li>
<li>a few plates/cups/silverware</li>
<li>iron, ironing board (????)</li>
<li>shower stuff: towels, flip-flops, caddy, shampoo etc. (does one use a bathrobe in a mixed dorm?)</li>
<li>Documents</li>
<li>power strip with a surge protector, extension cord</li>
<li>lawndry: collapsable hamper, detergent, basket</li>
<li>office supplies: stapler, tape, envelopes, stamps, ream of computer paper</li>
<li>First Aid kit: antibiotic oniment,
12 extra pair of glasses, prescriptions
13 clothes hangers
14 tools: scissors, needles, buttons</li>
</ol></li>
<li>I-POD, charger
16 Camera and cables to load pictures on computer
17 alarm clock
18 raincoat, rainboots, umbrella
19 underbed storage (what exactly is it?)
20 microfrige
21 Is TV really needed for the room? Are there common ones? (she doesn't watch much, and I am happy she is not yet addicted)
22 floor lamp</li>
</ol>
<p>Due to some reason I couldn't read the links above. What was on that list?</p>
<p>No need for TV. My daughter uses her computer and watches all shows and movies on surfthechannel.com. You can get collapsable under bed storage at many discount stores. They are great for off season clothes.</p>
<p>^^^ My son found a TV to be a necessity. It is used not only for TV, but for playing video games (big social activity, at least among the boys) and watching DVDs. He also said having a printer in the room was VERY convenient.</p>
<p>Citymom, there is a current thread called "Stupid Stuff My Parents Packed for Me" that lists things kids brought that they didn't use.</p>
<p>Don't know about these lists. Our kids are not going to Siberia. They are going places where they can buy things. My inclination is to pack very lightly, let her figure out what she needs and doesn't need and then let her use her credit card to make some purchases. I just hate arriving at any destination with a ton of stuff and my D seems to feel the same way. Home is still home. I don't think she views her residence at college as her new home that requires lots and lots of personal touches. Maybe that will change.</p>
<p>heh heh! mammall, I take it you have not been in Ithaca in December! :D And it's true that there are not a lot of fashionable places to shop. (IMO, that's one of the things that is so charming about Ithaca.)</p>
<p>OP, Ithaca gets a lot of lake effect snow. Not necessarily a lot at one time (though that can happen, too), but it can get snow every single day for days on end (and have blue blue clear skies both before and after the snow squall). Hat and gloves/mittens and warm outerwear recommended from the get-go.</p>
<p>"Home is still home. I don't think she views her residence at college as her new home that requires lots and lots of personal touches. Maybe that will change."</p>
<p>Many dorm rooms are over flowing with personal touches - tons of photos, stuffed animals, etc. Some kids bring a lot of stuff from their own homes, others make a fresh start. I think it is very important to make the room feel like home, and one of the best ways to do that is turning it from a bland dorm room to something more individual. I'm perfectly OK with my kid calling her college dorm "home" because that means she's happy there.</p>