<p>Here was one hassle-free step I discovered so I didn’t have to ship everything myself:</p>
<p>At least a month ahead of the move-in date, go to your local Bed Bath & Beyond and pick out everything you want. Then they ship it. You pick it up on the other end at the nearest BB&Beyond store. You don’t pay for anything until actually you pick it up, so you can even over-shop if you’re undecided about anything. It was so easy!</p>
<p>This is a great thread. I’ve cut and pasted from previous “What to bring to college” threads and have a list a mile long.</p>
<p>I burrowed in S’s closet to find a twin down comforter. Will buy 2 sets of XL twins and use flat sheets to make a duvet cover. As he is about 5’9" there will be no need for an xtra L comforter. Will use his last 3 remaining (started out w 6) camp towels (with our last name still very visible in Sharpie.) Still has his camp toiletry tote which will have the basics for bathing and shaving.</p>
<p>Still working on lots of details though . . .</p>
<p>I can think of things I took to college that our student wouldn’t take now–like an iron and small ironing board that sat on the desk! roflol…and a popcorn popper–at that time it "HAD " to be an air popper as they didn’t want the hot surface ones (which we all had as contra-ban)</p>
<p>How about
bed risers or cinder blocks…
we used to put the beds up–if not on high lofts --then at least on cinder blocks so that stuff fit underneath.
Some people built small brackets/risers that lofted the bed just high enough to slide the mini fridge and other essentials underneath…</p>
<p>also–maybe some cheap tupperware/glad containers–Depending on WHERE you are–bugs become an issue…We used to keep cereal, cookies etc in tupperware canisters so we wouldn’t get roaches…</p>
<p>If its just a room and not a suite with a bath–I would send a canister of those all purpose wipes as stuff gets sticky. One canister as it may not get used… :rolleyes:</p>
<p>we also used just a small bucket/pail for the bath stuff when going down the hall–and shower/flipflops…</p>
<p>plastic cups</p>
<p>trash bags, paper towel (for the obvious pizza/take out trash…)</p>
<p>Biggest advice is to think about your kid. I sent my son with two sets of sheets. He used one. He never opened the other set. We had put them in a big rubbermaid container that held extra stuff. Out of sight out of mind. Plus he had piled some other stuff on top of the container. He did use those sheets soph year and this year for the first semester. He asked for a new set over break. He used the eggcrate. He brought it home after freshman year and I tossed it and bought a new one. The smell could have knocked you over.
I sent a well stocked med box. He forgot he had it. Send some athlete’s foot spray.
Sent a shower caddy. He used it some of the time. Other times he said he just used a ziplock bag.
Lots of socks and boxers. Most boys don’t do much laundry. They will wear dirty! Or at least mine will.
Lysol wipes are good.
Bike locks. My son brought his bike up jr year. Had a cable lock. It was stolen in 5 minutes outside a classroom building. Get a U Lock. Make sure he keeps the extra keys in a separate place.
Skateboard</p>
<p>mom60, your son sounds like mine. “I didn’t know I had a deck of cards, we could have used them if I had known.” I don’t think he would have used Lysol wipes if he had had them. The First Aid kit hasn’t been opened in three years. (But it makes me feel good to know it’s there!)</p>
<p>Just hoping he might use the Lysol wipes.
He is in the process of picking his housing for fall. He presently lives in University owned apartments. There was a point you could request your same housing for next year and another point to pull in a roommate to your existing apartment. The third date is to pick from open housing. My son and his friend are waiting to pick from existing housing since they don’t want to live in either one of the present apartments since they SMELL. Duh I wonder why. 3 guys and very little laundry or cleaning being done!</p>
<p>Question - I just bought some of those 8" bed risers (because I read last year that stores run out of them) , but what kind of “equipment” do you need in order to fully loft your bed?</p>
<p>Duvet cover??? Don’t bother, comforter should be washable. BTW- they only sell XL sheets and mattress pads (recommend the pad, son’s mattress was plastic feel and supplied pad sheet thin), comforters and blankets are the regular twin size. ONE set of sheets- they won’t be washing them while trying to sleep, having more won’t make them change their linens more frequently. Color- navy was big son’s freshman year, had to wait for Penney’s online to restock. Later son wanted beige/tan- navy showed the nose grunge. Might avoid white for similar reasons- dirt shows. Avoid BB&B sheets if you want them to last from others’ experiences. A throw style small blanket in school colors (?) is nice to have- maybe a Xmas gift.</p>
<p>Towels- do get 2 sets (hand/bath)- one can be used when the other one is still wet. No more, no student has much storage or will want the extra laundry. We don’t use washclothes in our family so I never bothered with the matching ones. I did pick up the cheapest bundle of washclothes instead- could be used for anything. Most items and sales will be available in June-July. It doesn’t pay to be an early bird unless you want to return things when something better is available. </p>
<p>Check Target and Walmart for supplies- not just in back-to-school areas. A white storage basket with handle may be liked better than the dorm section ones. Check closet space for laundry basket sizes. Son had a “triple load” collapsing laundry hamper that easily fit his closet. He refused under the bed storage. Get the detergent, +/- softener you prefer- think 50 oz size for ease in transport/storage. Find out if top or front loader washing machines- son’s dorm had front, current apt top. Stain remover.</p>
<p>Call the housing office with your dorm specific questions. Search the housing website for clues- room pics and videos will clue you into closet space. Read their info on dimensions and suggested items. Have your son communicate with his roommate. Some come with microwave and refrigerator, others rent or allow only one per room. </p>
<p>Son used campus printing. Some courses come with a printing allowance. Some dorms may have a computer center with printing- can be cheaper than the ink you buy. The computer sales will be this summer, not now. Laptop/desktop- depends on school, student. Check for what is needed, see campus computing site- can be major specific. Son- into math/science/gaming- took his desktop, only also has a laptop senior year since we ended up with an extra.</p>
<p>Extension cords and surge protectors. His dorm had a cheaper ethernet connector than the one we bought, fortunately those are cheap anyhow. Desk and floor lamp lighting- NO halogen. Rug- need room size, recs from school- and roommate input. I found a soft one- so many are rough. I made a huge pillow to use on bed/floor from fleece- you can buy these also.</p>
<p>Medical kit with OTC meds, bandaids… When you are miserable is not the time to buy Sudafed, Advil, Tylenol. Small containers- think space (can always refill from your cheaper home stock). Look around your house and think of the things you have but seldom use. Your son has a separate household and should have those things HE may use. Look at kitchen gadgets HE may use- can opener… </p>
<p>I put college purchases in the dining room- don’t need it to entertain in the spring/summer season. Put stuff from house there also, then could visualize the amount of stuff. Son was supposed to go through it to see if he really wanted my choices- sophomore year he took less.</p>
<p>Buy school supplies when they have the sales. Extra spirals can be left at home for later use- even next year. </p>
<p>Clothing. Think of 2 weeks plus a few days worth of socks and underwear. That is a reasonable time frame and amount of laundry to do at once. A month’s worth will only take up too much space. A week doesn’t always come with time for laundry. Choice of clothing depends on the school. Son’s campus is casual, no need for dress shirt/shoes, much less suit. Winter clothes can wait. Boots- may or may not be worn- if he never used them in snowy at home winters he won’t on campus. For those from warm climates- wait until fall on campus or winter break to think of winter gear for an up north campus. By then he will know what is worn as well as the selection of best weight goods will be available. Remember that he is likely to accumulate logo T-shirts at school. Christmas is a good time for logo gifts.</p>
<p>Electronics, of course. Your son will have no trouble with those. Your job may be to point out the pile of stuff and tell him there is no room… Now cell phones- from simple to fancy- are the norm. Put your son on the family plan if you haven’t already done so. </p>
<p>Never worry about needing to spend less than the rest of the student body- this isn’t HS. Some students will be there on scholarship/work study and limited means. Even if you can afford it consider that guys are rough on stuff. Why pay for expensive labels they won’t notice and won’t last any longer? This is college, not finishing school.</p>
<p>Sons tend not to be into decorating or mementos from home. Walk any dorm floor and a quick glance into open doors will tell you whether it is a male or female floor. Make a list of how to’s- laundry, stain removal… Keep it brief. Of course your son should be doing his own laundry by now. If not- make him. Teach bedmaking. Simple cooking- microwave does and don’ts. Stress clean up before food dries on being faster. Hope he takes in 10% of what you say.</p>
<p>Get dental cleaning, immunizations, eye exam, physical up to date this summer. There won’t be convenient times during the semester.</p>
<p>Enough time spent. Just noticed the bed riser item. Check with housing- website first- for lofting. Some dorms provide loftable beds and needed equipment/guides, others rent and some won’t allow. Raising the bed only works if your son is willing- mine wouldn’t use under bed storage. </p>
<p>It is hard to get sons involved. You will notice many M/D shopping pairs- rarely sons. Pick your moments to ask quick, simple questions over the next few months. They are clueless, possibly overwhelmed with the process. Still need their mothers. You may notice by the length of my post that an empty nest generates more time.</p>
<p>For those with cars - spare car key</p>
<p>PS- Don’t you know that laundry waiting to be washed becomes clean again? That from my husband when I commented on son making trips to his pile of dirty landry while home on a break.</p>
<p>We needed to upgrade the sneakers S1 took to school. With all that walking, he goes through a pair just about every quarter. We found this out when he called one week into winter quarter freshman year to say that the duct tape he used to hold his shoes together didn’t hold up in the snow. !!!</p>
<p>“List of important things to bring to college (boys)”</p>
<p>Have to say as the mom of a girl, I laugh each time I see this thread title, and think, yes, she’d agree that boys are very good indeed to bring to (or have at) college.</p>
<p>arabrab–thanks for the chuckle.</p>
<p>Read wis75’s post again! Lots of wisdom there. Less is more. Comforter, duvet cover? Won’t fit in the washing machine. My son uses a blanket. I bought him a down sheet; I think he likes that too, but it was overkill.</p>
<p>As to the shopping thing… you might try what I did. Get permission from your son to “just take care of it,” and he’ll probably gratefully say yes and love you forever. Then exercise restraint! Don’t expect this to be a bonding experience, any more than August clothes shopping was in grade school!</p>
<p>I swear, my son was a Spartan in a past life. He’d be happy with about 1/4 the stuff he has. This was a typical conversation, until I wised up.
Mom: Sooo… what color blanket would you like?
Son: o.</p>
<p>^^Hilarious. I think I’ll run into some of that. When S was a sophomore, we did a major remodel of the house. When we moved back, we said (within reason) he could choose the color of his bedroom walls and the window covering. He spent a wisp of time on the wall color. When it came to the window covering, he said he was just fine with the dark wooden slat blinds that we were planning to use for the windows in the public areas of the house. Well, the windows guy had dropped off about 7 thick books with window covering samples. When I pointed these out to S, he blanched and said, “The wood ones. I’m good with that.”</p>
<p>:cool: 
</p>
<p>wow. as the somewhat nervous wreck mama of a teenaged boy headed off to college in the fall, i have learned so much from this thread! </p>
<p>thanks to all for the GREAT suggestions!!!</p>
<p>Another vote for “less is more”. We live about an hour from S’s campus, so we brought just necessities on day one, figuring we’d bring up whatever else he needed as time went on. He hasn’t asked for anything else.</p>
<p>12 pairs of matching black athletic socks.</p>
<p>Every time he comes home he accuses ME of losing some of them.</p>
<p>This will be a strange year for us. S2 will be attending a service academy. We have been told to send him with nothing but the clothes on his back and a cellphone packed in bubble wrap in a sealed plastic bag for the 3 phone calls we get in the first 6 weeks. No audio or video equipment.</p>
<p>Wait a minute - I don’t get to pack 40 sq. ft. of stuff into a 20 sq. ft. trunk? I don’t have to rent a mini-van? No trips to BB&B, Target, Lowe’s or IKEA upon arrival? No need for assistance in unpacking the car and moving everything into his room? No extra-long sheets? Is this a real school?</p>
<p>UMDAD, not even underwear? Wow! When do they get to take the phone out of the bubble wrap?</p>