We ignored the vast majority of the BBB list. D thought all the shower caddies were terrible. She got a clear box with a handle and dad drilled a few holes in the bottom. She uses it all the time. Never vacuumed her room, but instead used a tiny brush and dustpan (which she initially laughed at and said she would never use, but somehow it became more attractive than lugging a vacuum cleaner up three flights of stairs.) I got her one tub of cleaning wipes. I used them on move in day, no idea if they were ever used again, but I saw her dorm twice after that and it seemed pretty clean. IMO, the fewer cleaning supplies, the better.
I would definitely say less is better overall. As she needed things we either sent them , or she got them locally. They really don’t need everything in the first couple of weeks.
Dorms are small, but I think it is important to bring a few things that make the room uniquely your own with a little personal touch. So some framed photos, a memento or knick knack from home, a decorative pillow or throw, maybe something sports or music related. It’s nice to have your side of the room reflect your personality and not look exactly the same as the dozen other rooms on the floor.
Admit I didn’t read all the recent posts – with our boys, it was pretty minimal and fit comfortably in a small SUV. Splurged on a foam mattress cover since, if they don’t sleep well, nothing else is easy. 1 set of sheets, 2 pillows, 2 supersized towels, terry robe though, if the dorm has separate bathrooms for genders, they may never use it. Shower caddy, 2 surge protectors/multi-outlet things; alarm clock which has a phone charger on top. Extra phone charger and ear buds since they will lose those. Back pack. Hangers. “Pop up” laundry hamper – it stood on its own, rather than collapsed, and had handles to carry down to laundry room. Small pack of laundry pods – a semester is about 14 weeks and mine did not do wash more than once a week so pack of 16 was enough. Even though it is more price worthy to buy a larger supply, the larger ones take up more room and are more likely to spill, meaning the closet floor is covered in pods that then get stepped on . . . .
Medical supplies – thermometer, day and night time cold meds, advil, tylenol, cough drops, box of tissues, bandaids, neosporin, benadryl. Brace yourself for the call home when they have their first fever/flu and just want their own bed – that little boy voice is enough to make you get in the car/hop on a plane. Plastic drawer bin thing – worked as a bedside table/under the semi-lofted bed storage. Sticky-removable hook things.
Personalize it: we filled a multi-picture frame with pics of family, friends, and just put it on his desk – he wouldn’t have asked for it but he appreciated the glimpse of home sometimes. Some posters and poster sticky stuff.
More than one fan – mine had a window fan, smaller desk fan (bc his desk was on the other side of the room) AND tall rotating fan for next to his bed – since the room set up precluded having a steady surface next to the bed that a smaller fan could sit on.
The best advice I got was to take milk crates (real ones that you had to “borrow” from your local grocery store), since they could be used for carrying, storing and were stackable, so not taking up too much space. Now I think they sell them but really I’d just go behind the local coffee shop.
We found large black garbage bags were ideal for packing all the linens in and out, and also most of his clothes on the homeward trip. Going, I packed them in suitcases, then unpacked them and put them away, and we took all but one weekend bag home. But of course, we were within driving distance.
" Brace yourself for the call home when they have their first fever/flu and just want their own bed – that little boy voice is enough to make you get in the car/hop on a plane"
That voice works for a whole array of “problems” no matter how old they get or what the event.
We bought everything on my daughter’s school list and more-and it was too much. I’m pretty sure my daughter didn’t use half of what we bought her. She was glad we bought the printer, but other things (like the Keurig) didn’t get used.
I’m glad my daughter’s school is in an area with plenty of stores nearby! All the replies have been very reassuring! And yes, that BBB list is ridiculous!
Steamer not iron
Hand-vac not vacuum
Lysol wipes not cleaning spray
High quality stapler not cheapo one ( almost every kid on my daughters floor borrowed hers during finals week…at schools where most work is turned in via computer this may not be necessary bit it was at my kids school)
School supplies purchased at home not at picked over school store
Also you won’t regret fully stocked medicine kit. A sick kid doesn’t want to try to venture out for medicine
Confused about flash drives. I’m pretty sure my daughter has just used Google drive all through HS. Is it better to use a flash drive?? Re printer I’m not going to start her with one…supposedly there are many places on campus to print. We’ll see how it goes!
When you say ‘the room gets vacuumed’ do you mean by them or some housekeeping?! I bought my daughter a small vacuum….basically looks like a fancy dust buster on a stick! The dorm is wall to wall carpet (YUCK!) so hoping she uses the vacuum! She asked for swiffer wipes and clorax wipes…hoping for the best!
You can be pretty certain that the only bedding used will be what gets put on their bed when they move in.
I remember seeing parents move in new mattresses; no clue where the college-provided one went to.
If they’re taking a bike, a quality bike lock.
A large lingerie bag - all the dirty underwear goes in and bag and all thrown into the washer. If they aren’t there to pull it out of the washer or dryer, the so and so who does will take out a bag, not individual items.
my daughter said she felt extra lonely bc practically everything was new, down to the toiletries. Nothing was familiar. she wished she brought her towels and pillowcases from home. was super glad she brought her yearbook and a stuffed animal from her bed. she was 2000 miles from home.
All the schools we toured said the printing included in room and board will be more than enough for everyone except, of course, the nursing students. I am not sure what they are printing, lol, but the deans we talked to said they just have to mention to IT that they are nursing students and any limit is waived.
I will probably send her with a printer. This is a year off for me, so I am soaking up the knowledge now. Maybe the folks moving in this fall can report back at Thanksgiving what got used and what came home.
