@techmom99 here we go, this is getting closer to what I expected:
http://www.brookstone.com/pd/nap-shiatsu-massaging-bed-rest/973066p.html
Basically, less is more. A coat tree to stick in a corner. Lots of stuff (including coats!) can be hung on it, and there’ll be that much more space in the closet. That contraption - can’t remember the name - to drain wet boots and umbrellas; it’ll go beneath the coat tree, and will save you from wet floors. Remember to empty it occasionally so it won’t stink. A cool gel mattress topper. Fans. Plural. More than one. You’ll probably need them, winter or summer. The best quality sheets you can get-this is not an easy thing in the age of the xl twin mattress. A reasonably priced rug runner, about 2’x5’, to save you from cold floors. A desk lamp. A clip on or wearable reading light.
What to lose? This is my opinion only. If you like this sort of thing, then go for it: Those silly lights on a string, that never look good and serve no purpose. Throw pillows. Nothing is more annoying than sitting on a bed and having to dig a pillow out of your butt. Those giant mandala tapestry things. They always bunch up and look sloppy. Photos all over the place. That’s why we have smartphones. A couple of framed small sentimental photos on your desk and a framed photo or two on the wall is plenty.
Good luck! I remember reading about your journey, and wish your D all the best as she leaves for college.
I was going to suggest Brookstone. I may suggest to the kiddos that they consider it for dad’s Hanukah present.
I never thought those bed rest things were comfortable, but that deluxe Brookstone unit could change my mind!
@ProfessorPlum168 , re: your disappointment in features, there is a reason it is called a husband and not a wife…
@bjkmom I think I remember that your daughter’s school is within driving distance My D’s is not and she ended up renting storage for the summer because she had too much stuff to bring home. When I get to child number 2, less is more will be my philosophy!
Almost anything can be ordered and shipped from Amazon.
Also, have her coordinate with her roommate for larger items to avoid duplication.
High priorities for my D:
Most XL twin sheets I found were polyester. Call me a snob, but I (and my daughter) like cotton. Bed, Bath and Beyond was one of the few places I found that had 100% cotton XL sheets. They run 20% coupons fairly frequently if you sign up for their emails. They also can be backordered at this time of year, so don’t leave it until the last minute.
Mattress topper - dorm mattresses are very plasticky and a topper makes it less sweaty and much more comfortable
Extra lighting - already mentioned but a lot of dorms are lacking in good lighting.
Over the door folding rack for air drying delicate clothing that would do poorly in those hot industrial driers. There are many options on Amazon.
Enjoy!
Command hooks. My kids never really wanted to take up precious floor space with a coatrack but those command hooks come in handy to create a space to hang a robe, towel, jacket anywhere.
They also used the over the door racks with hooks for hanging stuff.
Never heard of the term “husband” for those pillows before. They’ve been around forever and we’ve always just called them “reading pillows”.
Command hooks for the win!
But the coat rack is a great idea. You can hook all the clothes onto it that might usually end up on the bed or floor. And I’d bet there are the sort that come in a few pieces you screw together, which are still quite sturdy.
We called them bedrests or reading cushions. My girls didn’t like them, they always had to be moved somewhere in order to sleep. Ymmv.
Command strips. A full length mirror that hangs over door. A bulletin board for pictures.
Command hooks, a big box fan, and underbed boxes. Their room was tiny, so anything that maximized storage was key. My D and her roommate loved the little string lights too, but some people don’t. They also loved this little table lamp that had a socket in it. They put it on the dresser between their beds and could plug their phones directly into it. I I think we got it at Target for $10. Also, a dustbuster - their room became the 'hangout" room and got really messy. I also agree about the 100% cotton sheets - so much better than polyester! One more thing - a power strip with an extra long cord - you never know where the outlets will be located. My D’s room only had 2 outlets in the entire room for 2 people, so they were stretching the cords to their max.
Thank you for the laugh of the day.
I bought my son a table lamp that had USB ports and a place where you could plug in a phone charger, plus it had uprights for pens, pencils, etc. We also bought him a long extension cord.
He bought the TV and his roommate brought the fridge. They are together again next year so that will be repeated.
https://www.amazon.com/Bunk-Buddy-SYNCHKG039975-Bedside-Shelf/dp/B00M0KNZKK
My daughter loves this item. Very sturdy.
My daughter wanted up a light up mirror to do hair and makeup. The dorm lighting was just not enough 
Agree with posts 1-4. My D uses her kettle every day for tea. She also has made good use of a small collapsible drying rack. It saves her having to run back to get clothing in/out of the dryer, and brings humidity into the room in winter.
This light has been very helpful:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00APAQSP6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
A mattress pad made such a difference on the dorm mattresses my freshman year.
I went to school in San Diego, where we kept the AC on year round, so I needed a humidifier because the AC actually started giving me sore throats/cough (AC filter probably hadn’t been replaced in a few years).
I also loved my reading pillow. Never heard of anyone call them husbands, but it sure made me laugh.
Command hooks made all the difference for me. I slept right next to the window, which had a huge streetlight that stayed on the whole night, so my roommate and I bought some blackout curtains and strung them up onto command hooks. Made a huge difference!
One thing I think all kids with roommate(s) should have are a set of earplugs and a comfortable sleeping mask. You never know when your roommate might want to study or watch TV and all you want to do is sleep. These two were lifesavers for me both semesters.
Thanks, @BayMom3. I’m adding this to my daughter’s list now.
“One thing I think all kids with roommate(s) should have are a set of earplugs”
Good idea. And if you can afford it, noise cancelling headphones definitely come in handy. They make a good grad gift.
I saw these “sleephones” in another thread. Haven’t bought them but they look like something that would be good to tune out a noisy roommate when you’re trying to sleep:
Both of my kids had noise cancelling headphones.
And I second @Nurse001 suggestion of a make-up mirror.