<p>I am embarassed to admit how many t-shirts, shorts, bathing suits, etc. son brought! I broke down & helped him do his wash before departure…the t-shirts were piled high! </p>
<p>We also picked up extra underware/sox/white tees at Target right before move it. I figured–give him some extra, during the busy time during orientation/start of school.</p>
<p>I don’t think 5 pairs of jeans is too many for a kid who does laundry every other week, though my kiddo wears only khakis because jeans are “too stiff”. I agree two weeks worth of socks and underwear - more if he’s working out or doing sports. For the rest college isn’t that different from high school unless the climate is very different. Your kid will probably wear what he’s used to wearing. mathson didn’t use hoodies or sweaters in high school and doesn’t wear them in college either. He only ones two pairs of shoes dress and sneakers.</p>
<p>My son had no interest in deciding what to take to college, but I noticed he’s grown up now two years later - he went off to his internship in CA without any input from us about what to bring.</p>
<p>Definitely the 2 week supply of underwear/socks. When son was (finally) packing his clothes freshman year he asked me what he was to take- my reply- “everything”, you’re moving there 9he would have taken a duffle’s worth for a weekend trip). This summer he had to choose which of his many years’ worth of running/T shirts to take in his one suitcase for a plane trip- it will be interesting to see what he takes/abandons at home for the college car trip.</p>
<p>He needs tennis shoes because he is playing tennis - so also athletic shorts will be needed for that reason.<br>
I don’t plan to pack for him. He’s been packing on his own for some time. He is more of a mninimalist than I am - which is why I stated I tend to over pack. I’m more likely to suggest he pack the extra shirts which he probably doesn’t need. </p>
<p>He thought 6 pairs of underwear was enough so I did buy another package of boxers for him today. He wouldn’t spend his money on underwear.</p>
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<p>No, it’s not. Most college students wear jeans every day and don’t want to do laundry more than once every two weeks.</p>
<p>Owning a dress shirt and tie might be nice. My son had to borrow these items from his roommates for an internship interview!</p>
<p>Most kids want something to sleep in if they have roommates – or at least something to wear to go to the bathroom at night. The most common choice seems to be a T-short and athletic shorts or (in a colder climate) sweat pants. Hopefully, these will not be the same athletic clothes that they wear to the gym! I don’t think anyone owns actual pajamas except for the weird people who wear them to class.</p>
<p>Having a bathing suit can also be nice. Lots of colleges have pools, and some kids go to the open swimming times.</p>
<p>Only 2 weeks worth of socks and boxers? Depends on your kid. My son did not do laundry for the first time until 6 WEEKS after he arrived (I think he was under the delusion that I would do his laundry when we visited parent’s weekend). He certainly did not go to school with a 6-week supply of socks and boxers but he might have had a 3 or even 4-week supply. I don’t even want to think about what he was wearing those last couple of weeks!</p>
<p>He has to have more than two weeks worth of boxers and socks! No kid that I know does laundry every week, unless he has some competition or work clothes that need washing sooner. At exam times, the “washing lull” gets pretty lengthy! And a few extras will get lost or discarded. If he thinks it’s too many to pack, send the extras in a “mid-term” box when reality has set in.</p>
<p>Interesting strategy.
Mine is the complete opposite of that of many posters. I asked S how often he did his laundry (bedsheets, towels, and everything in a single load) and he said “When I run out of socks.” </p>
<p>I did hear about one guy who bought new every time he ran out. There was a fire alarm once in the middle of the night, the proctor knocked at his door to make sure he was out, opened the door and was assailed by the smell of unwashed laundry (which is probably why the guy was out sleeping somewhere else). My S is not the type to buy clothes on his own, so having only ten days’ worth of underwear and socks means he has to do laundry. He used the same bedsheets all four years.</p>
<p>Wow, Marite, he actually washes his sheets!</p>
<p>I’m not sure that either of my kids ever has – except if they brought their bedding home during summer break. </p>
<p>One more suggestion (for both genders) – buy all IDENTICAL socks (except for a couple of pair of black ones for dressy occasions). No college student in history has ever bothered to match socks; if they’re all the same kind, he/she doesn’t have to.</p>
<p>dorm robe (light-weight, thin-as-a-dime) if the shower is down the hall.</p>
<p>PS, If already purchased, consider keeping 2 pair of jeans at home. Then he doens’t have to travel home
with any for school-year vacations, or can trade in an old pair for a newer one at vacation time. </p>
<p>It’s important for freshmen to wear NEW bluejeans so everyone knows they are freshmen. 
So consider substituting one OLD, broken-in pair of jeans, in case he wants to pass as an upperclassman some evening.</p>
<p>You may have bought enough jeans to last him several years, if he stays thin and athletic. Best wishes.</p>
<p>Over on the student forums, they argue over whether one should wash jeans every day, and have very strong opinions. Does it abuse the environment? cost too much? vs. Eww, how can anyone wear the same pants as yesterday?!</p>
<p>I agree that boys need a set of dress clothing, especially since I see your guy is involved in music. Really, all good wishes to you and your son!</p>
MODERATOR’S NOTE: It’s still better to create a new thread than revive a thread from 2009. I am closing this old thread.