<p>My D will go to Wellesley College soon, I am working on her campus checklists. Who knows what kinds of comforter and throw/blanket I should prepare for her. I don't know the room temp in the dorm. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>It may depend on the dorm(?) but my D found the dorms to be warm in the winter. This past year for a time the radiator in her room was stuck in the “on” position and it was not possible to regulate it in any way, so she opened the windows to counteract the heat. She never complained of being cold in any of her dorm rooms all four years, and she’s not fond of cold weather.</p>
<p>Thanks, CQ. Have you prepared floor lamp, hand vacuum, shoe storage, door mirror, microwave, iron, ironing board, tower rack, coffeemaker and fan for your D?</p>
<p>I don’t believe Wellesley technically allows small appliances with heating elements in the dorm rooms (microwaves, coffeemakers, hot plates). There are microwaves in the kitchens on each floor. My D’s floor kitchen had a hot water spigot for tea and instant coffee. Students can fill up portable mugs of coffee in the dining halls. There is a vacuum cleaner available for use on each floor. </p>
<p>My advice would be not to buy/bring much stuff; some of the rooms, especially in the older dorms, can be quite small and closet space is limited. Students can share items (i.e. folding drying rack, iron, fan). My D was assigned a freshman triple and there is no way that an ironing board, etc. would have fit in their room. There were two small closets and three girls. After they got their roommate assignments in the summer, they contacted each other and coordinated on bringing large items (i.e. one brought a refrigerator, one brought a printer, one brought a large wastebasket, etc.)</p>
<p>During orientation last year, the greenhouse by the Science Center gave a little plant in a container to each new student who asked for one. I thought that was a nice touch. </p>
<p>My D had the same experiences as college_query’s D. Her room was stuffy in the winter because the radiators were going full blast. The rooms can be quite hot in September; a fan was a must. There is no AC.</p>
<p>My D brought a medium-weight duvet with removable covers and a lightweight fleece blanket in case the duvet was too much. It worked out okay.</p>
<p>Thank you for giving so much useful information.
What’s the size of fan suitable for the room, table or floor? I am not sure if they really need iron or not for living in the campus.
Another question, in summer if the college provide the storage for students, free or will be charged by number and size of the packages.
My D is my first kid to college, I just don’t know how to efficiently pack stuff for her.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I’d get a fan that is small enough to perch on a dresser top or window ledge. My D had a 12-inch fan–large enough to make a difference but small enough to be put where needed.</p>
<p>Summer storage depends on how far away you live from campus. We didn’t get any as we are within 300 miles of campus. The on-campus storage is free if you are eligible, but I believe many students also rent storage space off campus because can be easier and there are fewer dimension restrictions. </p>
<p>There was a recent discussion about summer storage here:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/wellesley-college/1492374-year-end-storage-new-dorm-basement.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/wellesley-college/1492374-year-end-storage-new-dorm-basement.html</a></p>
<p>A “box fan” for the window does wonders.</p>
<p>Julialee, regarding your list of items:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I don’t think we sent her to college with any of those items! By her senior year I know she had a floor lamp, a hanging shoe storage thing for her closet, and an iron, but that’s about it. </p>
<p>We lived far enough way that she qualified for the maximum summer storage, but in addition she went in with other students and used some off-site storage. Here is the summer storage policy:</p>
<p>[Storage</a> Policy | Wellesley College](<a href=“http://www.wellesley.edu/reslife/halls/storage_policy]Storage”>Resources & Policies | Wellesley College)</p>
<p>In retrospect she says she took way too much stuff with her to college, for what it’s worth. Since we just moved her stuff back home after 4 years at Wellesley, I’m inclined to agree!</p>
<p>Here is the link to the official Wellesley Residential Life policies regarding what to bring/not to bring for your dorm: (and NJSue is correct that microwaves, hot plates, coffee makers,etc. are not officially allowed) </p>
<p>[What</a> should I bring for my room | Wellesley College](<a href=“http://www.wellesley.edu/reslife/first_year_students/what_should_i_bring_for_my_room]What”>Life on Campus | Wellesley College)</p>
<p>And keep in mind that they don’t have a lot of room! I would agree with college_query that I wouldn’t send any of that stuff–other than a fan, which I think is an essential in un-air-conditioned dorms!</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, the one item we had to run out and purchase on move-in day was an extension cord. </p>
<p>I think one of the other girls in her room had a fan (she was in a triple). She also used those clear plastic boxes for storing things under her bed, which was handy for out-of-season clothing.</p>
<p>My rising sophomore had sufficient blankets (King sized T-Shirt quilt) and another throw. She did end up needing a fan and it was probably also about a 12" fan for a desk top. She didn’t get a floor lamp but I did Amazon Prime ship to her a light she could clamp onto the rail of her lower bunk bed (TINY room). They only had a Keurig mini coffee maker and a steamer for clothes - agree heating elements are not allowed unless the heating element is contained within the item (like that mini coffee maker).</p>
<p>We just went through the summer storage thing and are far enough away to have gotten 4 labels. She and her roomie will room together next year so combined they had 8 labels and found a friend(s) who wasn’t using 4 others and were able to store everything on campus. She did bring two GIANT duffles of stuff home too. I expect storing her stuff off-campus next summer b/c of study abroad fall 2014 (cannot use summer campus storage if you won’t be living on campus the following fall)</p>
<p>Thank you for all kinds of info. I will prepare extension cord and clear plastic boxes. </p>
<p>After my D receive roommate assignments, they need to contact each other and coordinate on bringing large items (i.e. a refrigerator, a printer, a large wastebasket, etc.) </p>
<p>Is one box or 12 " fan enough for the whole room? Does she need floor lamp or second clamp lamp to her bed? Maybe they can contact each other to share a mini coffee maker and a steamer for clothes. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>The 12" fan was more a personal size and doubt it would work for the whole room when needed. Actually it was probably more like 10". My D and roomie shared the mini fridge, coffee maker, steamer, printer and pretty much everything you can think of sharing except the clampable lights for in the bunk beds (they do provide lamps for the desks) and personal fans. They DIDN’T have the room for extra anything in their first dorm. IT was tiny!!! I took two huge duffles full back with me from move-in day b/c it wouldn’t all fit. They also shared a postage stamp closet and not sure how they made it!!!</p>
<p>They shared a small wastebasket too!</p>
<p>Next year they scored a MUCH larger room with separate closets - they are overjoyed!</p>
<p>Thank you so much. Since they only have tiny room to share, except comforter set, changing clothes, towels, hangers, mugs and perosonal stuff, what else I should prepare for my D? 12" fan and someting elase?</p>
<p>Coordinate on large items, like mini fridge, coffee maker, steamer, printer and wastebasket, what else they will really need in the small room to share?</p>
<p>My D and her roommate have never had a printer—free printing is available pretty easily on campus and they never had an issue with not having their own. A printer can take up a fair amount of desk/shelf space, all of which is really at a premium–the dorm rooms are quite small! (although the East side dorm rooms are a little bit bigger)</p>
<p>Julialee - you sound like you have a solid starter kit and I would recommend becoming an Amazon Prime member for the 79 bux a year. I was reluctant but I saved that in shipping (b/c for prime items you pay none) probably by the end of the second month. I cannot remember not being able to find an item my D needed (from tampons and advil to fans and blankets) and have it shipped to her in no more than three days. It was so much easier than her taking the shuttle to Natick or even walking to the CVS and no more expensive and often cheaper.</p>
<p>I used it more then the average bear would have to b/c we had a flight delay of 5 hours the Sunday before move-in Monday and couldn’t to our BB&B trip Sunday. Move-in Monday was a cluster and I never got to do the toiletries trip.</p>
<p>mamalin, I am glad to hear you say that about a printer. Home printers can be a real hassle (and expense) to maintain. I’m all for letting the pros on the Wellesley staff maintain enterprise-quality printers and advising my daughter to use those.</p>
<p>Thank you for info, I do have Amazon Prime account. My D will take her violin, guitar and tennis racket with her, I will pack as less as possible. If she need some items, I just order from Amazon.</p>
<p>Holy cow, Julialee, that’s quite a list!</p>
<p>I’d skip the microwave (not allowed) and the iron and ironing board (seriously, does your daughter iron now? I don’t think mine has ever touched an iron! If yours does, can my D send her wrinkled stuff over to yours?) and add a metal waste basket (it’s the only kind allowed and who doesn’t need a trash can for her room?) She may not have room for a floor lamp, but should get another desk lamp with a clamp.</p>
<p>We’re holding off on the fan until we see what kind of window(s) her room will have. A window fan is ideal, but doesn’t work with casement windows, which I believe some dorms have. However, there is shopping right down the road in Natick, so getting the right fan at the last minute won’t be too hard. It can be really warm and muggy here in MA in September, so I think any fan is better than none.</p>
<p>My D is already coordinating with her roommate-to-be on stuff like the fridge and electric tea kettle, but I don’t know what they’ve decided. I do know that Bed Bath and Beyond is having a massive sale right about now, so if she wants bargains, she’d better go soon and spend those graduation gift cards!</p>
<p>Great suggestion, maidenMom on the Amazon Prime. I have an account but it didn’t occur to me that I could have basics like tampons and laundry soap shipped. I was just planning on hauling that stuff down with her (we live in Lexington, MA) but now I won’t even bother.</p>
<p>My approach in general is to send minimal stuff (bedding, towels, trash can, cleaning supplies–she doesn’t iron, but she hates clutter and dirt!) with her, then if she needs something, she can let us know and we’ll get it to her or she can get it herself. Still haven’t figured out the checking account thing yet, but that’s next on the list!</p>
<p>I can chime in on checking account - at least what we did and it works great. D has her own BofA account and W does have a BofA ATM on campus, but I opted to open her an account at my credit union that I put a monthly stipend into and can easily monitor. My credit union acct for her is a student acct and reimburses all ATM fees so that is not an issue.</p>
<p>BTW - I started out putting 200/mo in her acct and saw she was using practically none of it so at winter break, I bumped it down to 100/mo - she still barely touched it. They don’t spend much there and she went into Cambridge fairly often - just never shopped!!!</p>