<p>Just returned last week from picking up my son from his freshman year and here are some of my observations:</p>
<p>Sheets and Towels: Sent son with 2 sets of sheets (one white and one darker) and 3 bath towels and 3 facecloths. Said he thought he only needed one set since he would wash and put back on bed when dried (noticed darker set was on bed). But honestly, both sets were used and I hate him not having a spare set just in case… Said he only used 2 towels although I made him store the 3rd. Facecloths never used more so because he didn’t know where to store the wet one (he uses face cloths all the time at home)</p>
<p>Clothing: Son grew some while at school and several shirts and tshirts and shorts that he had were small. Space was limited so he had been storing these under his bed in his suitcase. His University had a donation bin for unwanted clothing so alot of it went in there. So be prepared for your kids (especially boys) to have a possible growth spurt. My son is 19 and grew about an inch and gained about 10 lbs. So make sure all the clothing has room to spare or it could go to the donation bin.</p>
<p>Desk supplies: He went down with the typical supplies including stamps and envelopes (which had been used from what I could tell). All of the supplies were used. His room mate brought a printer that was kept in a box and my son told me that he wanted his own next year. Not sure if he used the room mates or not but said he hated not having his own printer. We will keep an eye out for a nice printer this summer. </p>
<p>I had bought 3 smaller black canvas bins that my son kept on his bookcase. He mentioned that he could have used more of those to store odds and ends and smaller books. I think I purchased them at Bed, Bath and Beyond or maybe the Container store.<br>
I also bought a set of bookends that he said he was glad he had so his books didn’t fall all over the place.</p>
<p>Other: First Aid/Medicine Kit: this was really just a large tolietry bag but when I opened it nearly everything in it had been used. Advil, bandaids, athletic tape, floss, eye drops, cold medicine (a box of EmergenC was completely empty). I had him store this and will replenish in the fall.
Shower Caddy: used and stored with tolietries.
Tool Kit: Picked up a tool kit at wal mart and added some stuff such as Command strips (which we used on move in day) small scissors, duct tape (used half the roll ,on what, no idea, but handy for taping up storage boxes last week) small ball pump for basketballs, footballs (said he used often). Mentioned that alot of people knew he had the kit and borrowed it often and he liked having it for emergencies. The screw driver came in handy for cleaning out the gross refridgerator! Claimed he didn’t use the fridge that much but from the looks of it I am not so sure as it was terrible! He had to use a screwdriver to scrape the crap that had spilled on the bottom shelf and hardened. Cleaning supplies would have been nice but all he had was lysol wipes and paper towel (from bathroom) and water. But it got the job done.<br>
Portable 3 drawer bin: bought from BBB and it was packed with clothing (socks, underwear, underarmor type clothing). Would recommend if drawer space is tight. Stored for next year. </p>
<p>One thing I will comment on however was the condition of the room. I have never seen so much dust in my life! Everything was covered in it. My son seemed to have a chronic cold all year and now I think I know why, possibly from dust allergies. I don’t think that this room had been vacuumed or swept since August! Now one of the reasons for this might have been because he was in the last room in the hall by an exit door where people would come and go and if the door to their room was left open alot of the general dust would naturally flow in, but honestly… I told him next year that I was giving him a swiffer and he better use it! I think even he was grossed out by all of it and the night before he moved out he said he spent alot of time wiping everything down and vacuuming. It looked pretty good when I went back to help him move out. </p>
<p>Things he took for his room: I know that parents reading this post are making notes on what to bring and not to bring in the fall. My son brought a few things to hang on his wall (university banner, red sox pennant) and he wanted those stored for use next year. He also had some pictures in frames (friends etc) and he wanted those stored also. Mentioned he didn’t need a lamp because the campus desk set up came with lighting but I made him store anyway and will take it home if he doesn’t need it. Had a small clip on fan he used all the time but I threw out as it was so caked with dust. Will get another for the fall. Loved his Ihome, PS3 and tv. Said he didn’t play games much and brought it home but will bring PS3 back in the fall. TV was obviously used a fair amount and it was also put in storage for next year. But, the one thing he said he loved was this bungee desk chair that we bought at home at the container store and lugged down to NC. When he moved in, alot of people asked me where the chair came from and the kids all seem to like sitting in it. My son found the university provided chair uncomfortable and liked that this chair bounced and swiveled on castors. So this was put in storage also.<br>
Also had used a pop up laundry basket for things like footballs, basketballs, frisbees, wiffle balls etc. Wow, only thing left was wiffle balls and football. Everything else was missing or lost. He said that he and his friends used the equipment alot (obviously)
One thing I would do for next year is buy alot of laundry detergent. Son kept forgetting it whenever he went to Target etc and said it was $$$ on campus. He often found himself borrowing detergent toward the end of the semester so I would buy like 5 containers in the fall and have him just store them on the floor in his closet next time if there is room. </p>
<p>His room mate had left behind a rug and a few posters. The rug was gross (no vacuum remember) so this was put out in the donation pile and I have no idea what happened to the other things left behind. I think it was some towels and clothing. So note to kids: make sure everything is taken from the room upon check out. </p>
<p>The only thing that he actually brought home that he said he never used was a laptop computer cover and laptop lock. Hmmm…he tends to have a false sense of security but insisted he didn’t and probably wouldn’t use them (until someone actually steals the laptop…)</p>
<p>CC was a great source of info when we were purchasing things for move in, so I hope this helps out some.</p>