So the form for package that college suggests to order is a waste?
When I was looking for dorm bedding in Bed Bath & Beyond last year, I had a chat with an experienced sales person. He told me that the only items that are actually Twin XL in length are fitted items, like a fitted sheet or a mattress cover with elastic corners that goes over the mattress. A set of sheets labeled Twin XL contains a Twin XL fitted sheet but a Twin flat sheet. Have you noticed that their comforters are labeled Twin/Twin XL? That’s because they are actually Twin in length. The same with their mattress toppers that sit on top of the mattress. They are labeled Twin/Twin XL but are actually Twin in length. I know this is true because the one we bought for my daughter’s dorm bed was a couple of inches short on either end- we just positioned it in the center of the mattress.
I would say not to buy a new comforter, but to get a duvet cover (cover for comforter) and use an existing comforter you have around your house.
Usually kids dorm 1-2 years and then move to apartments with full beds.
Another option I did was get a Queen/Full comforter for freshman year - if you fold it under the mattress it works great, and you don’t pay twice for one thing.
Everyone knows their own kid best. But I would suggest keeping everything as simple as possible (especially if we are talking about sons). You may well have their dorm room looking like a Bed, Bath and Beyond cover shot but I am willing to bet it will never look that way again. Something easy they can make the bed. And easy to wash (not that that will likely happen often but the harder it is to wash/dry, the less likely that will happen).
My son’s roommate last year had an ironing board up when we visited about a month in. Son said he ironed clothes every day. I told him that would not last. By the time we took him back after Christmas break, the ironing board was no where to be found. And the room was pretty much a sty. I told my wife she needed to meet him in the lobby of his dorm because going up to his room would drive her crazy. Nothing like a health hazard. Just a total mess. My wife never did see his room again (thankfully for all involved).