<p>People debate about extra underwear. Will it be confiscated upon check-in or not?</p>
<p>He is supposed to bring a pair of worn-in, mostly white running shoes, as a back up pair to the pair they will issue to him.</p>
<p>If it were my kid, I’d have him WEAR 2 pair of boxers. Unless they strip search him, how would they know?</p>
<p>Not to worry - on the 1st day they issue him all the clothing he will need. They are issued multiple uniforms, shoes, everything.</p>
<p>You have to understand - they start their college experience with 6 weeks of boot camp. We will have 3 phone calls over that 6 week period. No emails, no texts and a phone call on the Sundays when their cell phones are returned to them for short periods of time.</p>
<p>That’s the point - when your child attends a Service Academy for college, it is not the normal college experience. They are in the military from Day One. I would never have done it, but it is what he wants to do.</p>
<p>That’s interesting UMDad, my nephew is heading off to a service academy this summer, too. I will send this to my SIL. Yes I would send an extra pair of boxers. Hadn’t thought about the shoes though, I know the miltary is very concerned about feet, amd it makes sense to have those broken in shoes!</p>
<p>For those whose kids are taking bikes to snow country colleges…find out where the bikes go in the winter. My son was totally and completely and utterly turned off by one college we visited when he discovered that the bikes (which can be pricey) were left outside in the winter chained to the bike racks because there was no where to store them. It was always a question he asked on tours and info sessions…where do the bikes go in inclement weather. It never occured to me to ask the question because the college I went to many moons ago had basements in the dorms and the we put our bikes and trunks (back in the day when you brought your “stuff” in trunks) down in the basements so I assumed that storage would not be an issue.</p>
<p>Niece was instructed to show up at West Point without even a toothbrush!</p>
<p>It’s been a while since YURTLE mentioned …condoms. You can be in a situation and live without almost anything mention above----but consequenses of lack of condoms can be lifelong! Get over yourself if you are queasy about stuffing a box in somewhere—your lack of grandchildren right now or a child with a sexually transmitted disease is worth a little embarassment. Goes for parents of boys and girls!</p>
<p>Also put in Sudafed—the good stuff that really works (they will be too busy to be making meth!)—and make sure the kids know the difference between that and a decongestant with an antihistamine in it! (“which one will put me to sleep mom?”) I found that though they needed a particular over the counter drug—they would rather NOT spend the $ on it! Dopes. It’s true…an OTC cure for a bad cold can wipe $20 away pretty fast!</p>
<p>A flashlight and batteries.
And the previously mentioned duc tape.</p>
<p>Addenda- hangers, a pack of the cheap plastic ones. Also- be sure you make him go over what he/you plan to pack the week before he leaves. This should help when May comes along and he never knew he had some stuff… BTW- twin comforters DO fit in washers, even top loaders.</p>
<p>^^^that NEVER happened LOL! Or at least not in a way that stuck in his head! “I had a thermometer? I didn’t know that.”</p>
<p>((THEN: after all the lists, planning, and packing, the engineering student left his calculator and his phone charger at home…))</p>
<p>I had to take S1 to urgent care for stitches on his finger yesterday (last week it was the chin). When I got home, I was digging through the bucket with all the medical tape, gauze, knee, ankle, wrist and finger braces. High school athletes are always needing this stuff, but do I need to send this type of “equipment” with him to college or will the health services take care of this? </p>
<p>I feel like I should find a neighborhood mother of young sons and just pass along my bucket!</p>
<p>I sent much of it along, especially the athletic tape and under-wrap. Our son did not play varsity sports in college, but Freshman year he was on 5 intramural teams! Then he played “hall soccer” in his dorm and tore the bottom of his toe off on a carpet staple or something.</p>
<p>I recommend using these extra large bags for packing. No need to store suitcases throughout the year. Clothes can be packed inside, squished into your car when moving. They are the best and reusable.</p>
<p>My son isn’t big on hanging things up, so I bought one of those hanging, canvassy, shelf type units that you can put in the closet and use it to store t-shirts, towels, sheets, etc. Also those over the door hooks, if there is a door of the correct thickness for it, could be useful for those kids (like my son) who has an aversion to hangers.</p>
<p>Also, non-perishable snacks (peanut butter, crackers, cereal bars, etc) with a couple of plates, bowls, cups, mugs, and silverware. It’s also good to store them in some kind of large plastic bin or drawer unit.</p>
<p>I also sent a canister of disinfectant wipes, and a roll of paper towels.</p>
<p>I sent a sponge and dish soap for said plates/bowls/mugs. Not sure the cleaning supplies have ever been used! Paper towels were appreciated.</p>
<p>Microwave popcorn is on both kids’ snack lists.</p>