<p>Hi, I love a good bargain and hate to leave anything to the last minute (control freak in me).</p>
<p>Anyway, are there certain items I can look for now on sale that D will need for her dorm room? I know obvious things like towels and sheets but anything else I should think of now? </p>
<p>Do most college dorms allow for coffee makers in the room? I was thinking of sending D with a small steam driven espresso machine as I know if I don't she will spend all her money on coffee.</p>
<p>I have been checking on this and I think that most college dorms don't allow coffee makers or toasters to be used in the dorm rooms. (My D would love to have a toaster in her room.) There may be somewhere else in the dorm where she could plug it in though - a laundry room or a shared kitchen-type area.</p>
<p>I know how you feel - whenever I see a deal on XL twin sheets I want to buy some for next year, but then I'm sure she'd end up in one of the rare rooms with a regular sized twin bed. Actually, now that she is done applying to colleges it may be that every college she applied to only has XL twins... Maybe I can start shopping...</p>
<p>I'll bet, like me, you love the thread with lists of things to bring to college. I just bought my D a "leatherman" tool with pliers, regular and phillips screwdriver, knife, wire-cutter and other handy doo dads all in one small tool. (Clearance "Christmas gift area" at TJ Maxx)</p>
<p>When my D did a 4-week program in a dorm last summer, everyone in the program knew she would be the one who had (fill in the blank: pencil sharpener, scotch tape, whatever) because of the "lists" we have been keeping since sleep away camp when she was a Brownie. Her RA was surprised when she was the only one to answer his plea: "Did anyone bring a basketball?" (She had a frisbee and a soccer ball in the trunk of her car, too.) :-) It is going to be a challenge if she picks a place we need to fly to rather than drive to. And we need to be so sure she doesn't bring too much stuff...</p>
<p>Haha, Midwestmom, I think we have a lot in common.</p>
<p>I actually have a spreadsheet going of things we will need to take by category, with columns for already have, def. need, might need. </p>
<p>As for the XL sheets I had read somewhere that deep pocket twin sheets will work on these mattresses (and then I think some thick strips of elastic and safety pins for extra holding on at the corners). </p>
<p>Thanks though, I am definitely adding one of those multi-tools, pencil sharpener, scotch tape, and a permanent marker to my list!!!</p>
<p>Oh, and your concern about having to fly to school echoes my concern if my D gets into NYU!! I do not want to be moving a Uhaul's worth of stuff into a NYC dorm!!</p>
<p>Hi folks...congratulations to your seniors on their acceptances. It IS exciting to start to think about getting ready. There are a number of threads from past years about what you need etc. Here are my pearls of wisdom.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Less is MORE. Dorm rooms are small and have very little storage, especially freshmen dorm rooms (this is a generalization...but the reality is the space probably will be smaller than what the kid has at home...and it will probably be shared with at least one other student). Take as little as possible...take what you need.</p></li>
<li><p>Aks your kids what THEY want. Our kids did their "shopping" in our linen closets first. Neither wanted anything new. They wanted their old comfy stuff. AND btw, regular size twin jersey knit sheets fit really well on those X-long twin beds.</p></li>
<li><p>Remember that you can order big and bulky things (think pillows and mattress pads) at your own BB and Beyond, and have it designated for pick up at the BB and Beyond close to the college.</p></li>
<li><p>Remember that everything you take TO the school will also have to be removed when the year ends. It's not just packing and hauling once, it's packing and hauling at least twice.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>We have done both kinds of moves.</p>
<p>One child goes across the country. We moved her there with four suitcases, her backpack, and an instrument case. That's it. We picked up a pillow and mattress pad at BB and B, and a printer at Staples. We went to Target for toiletries. One suitcase was dedicated to linens (towels, sheets, comforter, etc...all from her room). The rest held her "stuff". No suitcase could weigh more than 50 pounds either. Two of us flew out together...thus the four suitcase allowance. It was not a problem at all to get all this there. </p>
<p>Other child lives within driving distance. The rule was...we have a van. Three seats need to stay in the van. If it doesn't fit, it can't go. It wouldn't have mattered. I think we probably could have moved this kid in a car. Each year the "stuff" got reduced more and more. Some of the "stuff" taken freshman year was just deemed unnecessary. </p>
<p>DS has always said...put everything you think you need in one room in your house (say your living room). Then take 1/2 of that with you. Your room will still be crowded and you won't use 1/2 of what you take.</p>
<p>Pages and pages of shopping tips and checklists</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>I have two college students in the family, and I wouldn't suggest shopping now, EXCEPT:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>If you already know what type of climate your child will be going to, and if he/she might need a new coat or boots, consider buying them at the end of season sales.</p></li>
<li><p>From now until your child leaves, think in terms of college when buying clothing. Most students do not want to do any more hand laundry than absolutely necessary, and in a crowded double, it is a challenge to find places to hang things up to dry. Also, most students do not want to spend much of their limited money on dry cleaning. If your child is buying new everyday clothing, encourage him/her (this is mostly a "her" problem) to select things that can go into the washing machine and dryer. Try to avoid anything that has to be hand washed, "dried flat," or dry cleaned unless it is a special occasion garment that will not be used on an everyday basis (like a party dress or job-interview suit). Your child will be grateful for this next year.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>And avoid ANYTHING that might bleed in the wash!!!</p>
<p>Also, if your students are going to a school in a different region of the country, you might want to wait on some of the clothing purchases. One of my kids found that the "trends" in the new place were very different than those here at home. MANY things just came home at Christmas and didn't return. We gave this kid gift cards to buy clothes, shoes at stores and this was much appreciated. </p>
<p>When buying clothes, the most important thing to buy is at least a two week supply of underwear (don't know about girls, but for boys...laundry is about that often).</p>
<p>The lists referenced above were invaluable to us last Summer. Two things to look for that we got him for Christmas that are invaluable are a small eyeglass-sized screwdriver set (for glasses and other technology-related items) and a computer cleaning kit--an official one--for dusting and cleaning your computer and cell phone. Also a spare pair of glasses, if they're going far away.</p>
<p>
[quote]
And avoid ANYTHING that might bleed in the wash!!!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I second this emphatically.</p>
<p>Both of my kids attend universities where the principal school color is red, which, of course, bleeds worse than anything else. Why couldn't they have gone to schools with better colors so that their t-shirts and sweatshirts wouldn't bleed? (This might be a good reason to choose Columbia. I doubt that its light blue causes laundry problems.)</p>
<p>There will be plenty of sales in the summer too. I agree winter clothes and underwear are about the only things that it makes sense to stock up on now. </p>
<p>Most dorm rooms are small, but my son is in a gigantic room - as it turned out we'd have wasted our money on underbed storage - in fact we ended up buy a bookshelf for him. There was plenty of room and otherwise he only had the 2.5 feet on top of his desk.</p>
<p>I found a twin duvet cover with buttons to cover the comforter. Many times the top side of their comforter is the only place for friends to hang out. Instead of having to wash the bulky comforter, DS was able to remove the Duvet cover and wash in a standard washer. I don't think the Duvet cover was XL however the XL comforter fit just fine. </p>
<p>My one of my DS went to the Air Force Academy where first year cadets "doolies" rarely got off campus. I would send lots of care packages with bulk snack food items from Sam's Club. (Candy, Granola Bars, Slim Jim's, Cookies, Romi noodles etc). Since we did not incure major education expenses other than travel, we were able to afford spending more than $100 for each care package (shipping costs were another story). We encouraged DS to share the "wealth" since many cadets did not get care packages and were not free to come and go to purchase snacks at the bookstore. Unfortunately my DS did not set limits on what, who and when his friends could "take" from the stash. After a while, he realized that his food was being taken even when he was not in the room. Since space was limited and they could not have Non-issued footlockers in their room, I searched for some sort of starage bins that could lock. I finally purchased stacking plastic file drawers from Staples that had a key lock. The plastic was sturdy and the contents stayed secure. The care package items DS did not mind sharing were kept in a non-locking storage tub with no restrictions. </p>
<p>DS is now at a civilian college not far from home. I no longer need to send care packages because he stocks up when he comes home. DS learned that he had to communicate with his roommates better.</p>
<p>At Ds school they have a kitchen on each floor & shared a fridge and cupboard space- I wonder if your Ss roommates just were not sure what was open to take.
What Ds dorm mates did was have colored stickers to mark food- Do not touch- radioactive ;), please take, or welcome to take but ask first.</p>
<p>I think for the most part they didn't have a lot of problems.</p>
<p>Re supplies- bed bath and beyond has dorm lists on website & will hold your purchases until you give the goahead allowing you to have it sent right to the school when needed.
( don't get too many sets of sheets- I don't think they wash them anyway.)</p>
<p>To set the dyes in clothes, add a cup of two of white vinegar to a cold water wash and soak for about 20 minutes before washing. This also works to set the dye in jeans so they don't fade. Wash inside out.</p>
<p>Also, there are sheets for the washer that attract the dye from the wash water. Can't remember who makes them.</p>
<p>I havent tried them- saw them at QFC
Buy</a> Shout Color Catcher Dye-Trapping, In-Wash Cloths Online at drugstore.com</p>
<p>Ahh, I figured it out! BTDT, been there done that. </p>
<p>I was thinking of BDSM or whatever it is...bondage, domination, sado-masochism, LOL. </p>
<p>Some of those concrete cubicle dorm rooms do seem like dungeons.</p>
<p>One thing we did not buy last summer, but just picked up one last weekend when I brought her back to school at Linen'sNThings was a featherbed. D complained all semester about how uncomfortable her mattress was, and even though she had the egg-crate mattress topper, it still wasn't comfortable. We got a standard twin size featherbed (on sale with coupon for $26, originally $80!!) and she has said that it has made a world of difference. It didn't matter that the mattress is XL - we just put the short end at the bottom. We put it on top of the egg-crate and then the fitted sheet on top.</p>
<p>MomOfFour - You are too funny!!!!! </p>
<p>Everyone else, thanks. We are definitely of the less is more attitude and I have already told D that any usual school clothes budget will go with her to college so she can spend it as she feels she needs to once she gets there. Kid has too many clothes already. </p>
<p>I actually got the comforter set w/sheets for about $3 from Kmart last summer online and a matress cover for about $10 as well so we are set there. If she does get into/go to NYU I assume we will rent the fridge/micro from them and we will get her "necessities" down to several totes or suitcases full of things. Her room now at home is actually small and believe me she is a MESSY MESSY CHILD!!! I pity her roommate bc she is not a morning person either. </p>
<p>We also decided not to purchase a TV for the dorm room as she can watch whatever she wants on her portable DVD player or laptop (Netflix on demand) anyway. And thank goodness for MP3 players making a stereo obsolete!! </p>
<p>My biggest question was on the espresso machine I guess.</p>
<p>Do most dorms let you raise the bed? Should we buy those bed risers or just bring something else?</p>
<p>Oh,and my giant spreadsheet includes EVERYTHING right down to prescriptions, OTC medicines, safety pins. I never chance too much. (note to add tackle box to hold that stuff)</p>
<p>On storage between years - our S and friends rented a self-storage space every summer. Took care of 4-5 students at a cost of under $ 100/month altogether.
We found that normal size twin sheets fit the beds.
Closer to the start of school your D should contact upcoming roommates to see who will buy a commonly used object such as a minifrdge. You can order one at Sears to be picked up near the school. You may also be able to get a dorm room floorplan from the school so that you can see what might fit in.</p>
<p>Great thread...I wanted to get started shopping now, not to "stock up", per se, but mostly to start accumulating things a little at a time, to avoid a big $$ trip in the summer. Less painful to do a little here; a little there....and find sales too.</p>
<p>Warning on buying too much too soon! Girl roommates generally like to coordinate and match their bedding, towels, etc. Once they find out who their roomie is, they get online and pick out their "theme". Not an issue with boys, usually!</p>