<p>D's doctor set up her bc script so she can get 3 months @ a time 4 times per year so she won't have to refill EVERY month. </p>
<p>And my personal don't leave home without it recommendation: cable ties. Many, many uses!</p>
<p>I buy umbrellas at the dollar store. They get lost so easily.....</p>
<p>I buy those stretchy gloves at the dollar store too. alot of pairs in the same color. These items disappear quickly....</p>
<p>Great thread, but my son is going to think I am insane when he sees what I want to send him to school with!</p>
<p>He's been away at camp since June 22 and when he comes home on friday, it's going to be a push to transition to college life in 8 days. I've been building a pile but there's more to go.</p>
<p>put me down as someone who has signed up with that college insurance. I have also installed the PC tracking software and labeled his computer with the 'invisible ink' and their stickers. I would buy a laptop lock but I bet he wouldn't be diligent about using it. </p>
<p>his school (NYU) also says to bring an original passport, ss card or birth certificate for the job search.</p>
<p>Can you clue us in about the PC tracking softward and invisible ink?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/propmarking.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/propmarking.php</a>
about the marking kit (I bet this can be purchased off the shelf in stores, I just didn't bother. You use an infared light to 'see' the writing (included with kit)</p>
<p>the kit also came with stickers with tracking numbers assigned to us to put on stuff as a deterent. I will be putting 2 on each the computer and cell phone. One you can obviously see and one that will be on the inside of the battery compartment or some such obscured place</p>
<p>this sends an email to an address to assign everytime the computer logs onto the internet. the logic being that if the thief goes online, you will have their ip address.<br>
I realize these aren't foolproof or a guarantee of recovery, but I'll take any advantage I can get above and beyond due diligence on the part of my son.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/homeownerscomp.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/homeownerscomp.php</a>
this insurance also covers accidental damage. I doubt most homeowners policies do that.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the info!</p>
<p>Thanks Sue! I just went to the website and bought a policy!</p>
<p>a small bottle of dishwashing soap and a sponge
a warm throw blanket
costumes (dorm parties are frequently themed)
ink cartridges</p>
<p>If your student will be in a suite where they can keep their bathroom supplies in the bathroom get a good sized in shower storage caddy. (the kind that goes over the shower head)</p>
<p>true story:
We have always used liquid fabric softener. Before leaving for college my d had done laundry many times, always with liquid fabric softener. For her college supplies I purchased dryer sheets for ease of use. I never discussed the dryer sheet part with her. While hurriedly doing 5 loads of laundry for the first time away from home, she placed the dryer sheets into the washer. By her logic she had always put the liquid softener in with the wash so why would the dryer sheets go into the dryer???</p>
<p>Should our 'young gentlemen' bring a pair of decent pants, blazer and tie? S. doubts he'll need them, and I hate to send more than necessary, but-- I still think better safe than sorry... Any thoughts?</p>
<p>^^^The blazer probably depends on where he is going, and whether he is interested in fraternities.</p>
<p>It wouldn't hurt to have a pair of good pants, a couple of presentable, collared shirts and a couple of ties. That will probably get him through most circumstances at most schools.</p>
<p>I'm with you on the better safe than sorry, though. My son thought I was nuts when I told him to take his sports jacket AND his suit. I had some notion that, because he was going to the South, there would be more need for dressy clothing. He wore the suit once, just because he had it, and never wore the jacket. But I notice that he has them both with the stuff he's taking back....</p>
<p>It can be nice to have a sleeping bag in the dorm. These are not used often. A good place to store a sleeping bag is to have it rolled out flat and under the mattress. Let any extra part hang over the wall side. (A picnic cloth could be stored there, too.)</p>
<p>Make sure it is machine washable. </p>
<p>If you don't join a club that does overnight outings, if a friend or sibling flies in from out of town, they'll appreciate the sleeping bag. And if there is no chance you'll go on overnight outings or have visitors, skip the sleeping bag, of course. Sounds from this list like bringing too much is more of a danger than bringing too little.</p>
<p>I'm calling that insurance company to collect my commissions :-)</p>
<p>My son's school mentions this company as a recommendation. I had already decided to use them based on other info from these boards.</p>
<p>Can you even image doing this whole college thing without the internet??</p>
<p>Re: birth control -- Remember that this thread is pinned, even though it originated in the Parents Forum. I imagine there are students getting ideas and reminders here, too :)</p>
<p>I would also say that at least 1-2 sets of dress clothes would be a good idea. Definitely something business casual, and likely something even nicer. I can think of a good number of occasions on which I was very glad to have had both, and I'm not a dressy person. One nice outfit won't take up much suitcase or closet space, and it's not something you want to buy at the last minute...it's just easier to have and not use than to need and not have.</p>
<p>add tweezers to the first aid kit for splinters, unless you have them in your make up kit already or your swiss army knife has a pair built in</p>
<p>This is turning into a list of things one might consider bringing rather than a list of things you shouldn't overlook</p>
<p>
[quote]
It can be nice to have a sleeping bag in the dorm. These are not used often. A good place to store a sleeping bag is to have it rolled out flat and under the mattress. Let any extra part hang over the wall side. (A picnic cloth could be stored there, too.)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Must not be a very good sleeping bag. Most sleeping bags will be ruined this way. A sleeping bag needs to be stored loose so as to not bunch up the fill.</p>
<p>does anyone have a list</p>
<p>Thanks, mafool-
He insists he will never need them, but I may 'force a compromise' of one decent pair of pants and maybe even a button-down shirt.</p>
<p>lspf72-
This is where I find the following sentence to be very helpful (but only if used judiciously!)</p>
<p>"Please, just humor me on this one."</p>
<p>LOL</p>
<p>mafool, I've used that one myself (probably not as judiciously as I should).</p>
<p>As a matter of fact, the last time I used it on S, he made a comment about how the previous time I said it and made him take something to school, he NEVER used it.......</p>
<p>We are sending one blazer, a good button down shirt, a couple ties and a pair of nice "business casual" slacks with our son, all in a light suitbag he can hang in his dorm room closet. He'll probably never need it, but it won't take up much space and it will be clean and ready to go (the first time, at least) if he does. He's good with the idea.</p>
<p>This is a very good thread.</p>
<p>One suggestion I have -- if your child is going out of state, send a map of the state (or a decent USA road atlas) with him or her. Even if they are not bringing a car, it's a useful thing to have around, if only to get your bearings and see where all your new friends are from.</p>
<p>Of course, I'm trying to remember if I brought anything more than a toothbrush, a couple changes of clothes and a large stereo and a lot of LPs when I went to college. :)</p>
<p>My D STRONGLY recommends a first aid kit. She was the only one in her suite of 4 girls to have one and everyone came to her for bandaids and whatnot.</p>