<p>Just about ready to start shopping for our first one(S) to go to college, and was wondering about a couple things. First off how much of the essential items do you send with (tooothpaste, deodorant, etc.), and what are some of the the things that you overlooked and didn't bring and your student needed?</p>
<p>I didn't send too much stuff with my son. Parent opinions WILL vary though - some will send a year's supply, others figure it's better for them to get resourceful and replace their own things. (Obviously, I'm in the latter camp.) I think if you leave too much stuff there it not only takes up a lot of room but other kids end up borrowing it all anyway.</p>
<p>Bring lots of power strips - dorm rooms are short on plugs. If no AC bring a fan.</p>
<p>She/He will need something to carry stuff to the bathroom in. Kid may have an opinion on this - some kids use buckets, others (boys) use shaving kit things.</p>
<p>Don't bring anything too good. If you have a boy, chances are he won't want to bring much anyway. (Except for electronics!)</p>
<p>If the dorm is far from an unloading spot pack in rolling suitcases and then bring them home. </p>
<p>You can always run to a store if you forgot something.</p>
<p>My D has never met a cosmetic counter or drugstore she didn't like, so I made sure she had plenty of the essentials on move-in. A quick trip for tylenol could turn out costing $$$ by the time she found all the other "stuff" she "needed". I especially made sure she had allergy medicine, pain relievers, Pepto, bug spray, bug bite stuff, etc. so she had them on hand. No one wants to go to the drugstore when they don't feel well.
On move-in day, she wanted another reading lamp that clipped to her bed, another power strip (got the squid kind for all the annoying adaptors) Because her dorm had TV on the computer, we brought the TV home at parents' wknd. We also used suitcases (no elevator!) and brought all but one home with us.
Packed lots of stuff in plastic underbed storage boxes so they just slid under the bed which we put on risers. She had 4 boxes and her suitcase under her bed to store the extra items, out of season clothes, snack foods, extra bedding and towels.</p>
<p>Part of the answer depends upon whether he is driving or flying to school. We flew with our son the first year and rented a car at the airport. Because of that, he did not bring everything he needed from home. Instead we arranged to pick up bedding and a few other misc. items at the local Bed, Bath, and Beyond. We also made a list of personal items--shampoo, toothpaste, mouthwash, paper towels, etc.--and made a trip together to a local store to buy this on the first day there. Had he been going to school within driving range, we would have bought that stuff at home. </p>
<p>Some things you might not think of, but which might end up very much needed are things like ibuprofen, cold medicine, cough drops, chicken soup (of course!), etc.--things that might be needed when the student would not be feeling up to making a trip to the store.</p>
<p>Check the thread entitled "Last Year's Shopping, Checklist and Bedding Threads". It lives on forever :), covers every possible item one could ever want, and has many points of view represented, from minimalist to shop til you drop types. You'll find "your people" and a great list to boot.</p>
<p>I second the cough medicine/ cold medicine idea. A BIG bottle of that. ;)</p>
<p>Definitely don't forget the cold meds. D1 hadn't been sick since middle school, her first semester living in a dorm brought a whole new meaning to "sharing". Dorms are little petrie dishes, much like pre- school. Their immunity will be challenged by new spaces, new food, very different work and play schedules.</p>
<p>Then there's refrigerator that rode next to me on our trip to Chicago. Fortunately, it (and several boxes of stuff) are in storage in my son's dorm over the summer. Check on storage for <em>next</em> summer, too. </p>
<p>Microwaves and such are not allowed in my son's 100 year-old dorm, so 'fridge was the only appliance splurge. You should be getting a list of permitted and verboten items soon (if it has not always arrived).</p>
<p>Take duct tape and a tool kit (screwdriver, pliers, hammer). You may not need them but if you do, you'll be happy to have them. Re: power strips...get the ones with LONG cords. You have no control over where the outlets are in the dorms. I second the motion about packing in rolling duffles or suitcases. DS kept one rolling duffle at school and that is what he used to cart his laundry from his room to the machines and back. He then also had it for trips home. Hangers...take them with you...this is not a hotel and there won't be any in the closet unless you bring them. Re: supplies...the first year, we put refills of toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo in a bin under DS's bed. Trouble was...HE didn't remember that so when he ran out he went to the store. We haven't bothered with refills since then. We also sent an OTC meds kid including pain relievers, claritin, bandaids, cough medicine, etc. These did get used!! We are flying with DD across country. She'll get one of everything purchased here for starters...but no bins. Heavens....they DO have stores in California and she can get her own refills...or we can replenish at break time.</p>
<p>Thumper listed everything son used. I give every dorm bound kid duct tape and a tool kit in a bath room carrier. Then I personalize the gift with other stuff. Most kids question the duct tape, then my son tells them how essential it is.</p>
<p>Get one of those all in one, already assembled first aid kit. It will come in handy, and it's not something you really think about, but when you whack your head on your loft, cut yourself opening that care package, or eat the cafeteria food one too many times, you'll be glad you have one. </p>
<p>Duct tape is essential. So is a pile of that command adhesive to attach things to your walls without ruining them. Expensive, but a lot cheaper than a damage surcharge. </p>
<p>Otherwise, even if you're driving, try to not pack all those little things. Go to a local store and pick them up AFTER you've settled most of the bigger things in. There will always be things like toothpaste available locally, and it can be a fun last thing to do with your child before sending them off into the big wild world.</p>
<p>My son & I did the Bed, Bath & Beyond thing today! He's my first.... off for his freshman year. It's surreal... you go around with a scanner, and your kid keeps "clicking" UCP codes in.... and, scarily, when you get your print out, there's no total price... we will pay when we pick everything up at the BB&B in DC, where he's going to school. And use the 30+ 20% coupons I've been saving since January. If you're going to a school NOT near one of their stores, they will ship it, but you will pay! He got all the essentials (linens, towels, etc.). A foot locker (mostly because he has a lot of camera equipment and wants a place to lock it), a paper shredder (he said its good to make confetti -- OY!)... 2 lamps, a behind-the-bed-shelving unit, bed risers, wipe-off/cork board, garbage pail, hangers... he said he only needed 12 -- we got 36 ... folding storage crates, underbed storage.... extension surge protectors.... and a First Aid Kit. I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff.... we'll also do a Staples trip, and have it delivered to the dorm to wait for him. By the way... my son SWEARS by duct tape. His hobby is videotaping & editing, and his mantra is that duct tape can fix anything.... camera equipment, tape down cables.... and my friend bought him a tool kit as a Graduation Gift.... I told him he'd be the hit of the dorm. We'll do a drug store run before he leaves here... but we'll just get enough to start him off. If he can't replace his own shampoo at 18 years old, he can walk around with dirty hair. But in all fairness, he's not on a remote campus. He's going to GW -- in the heart of the city, we call it an embedded campus. Everything is at his fingertips... there are several CVS stores, an Office Depot, and, most importantly, 3 Starbucks!</p>
<p>Just came back from Bed, Bath & Beyond, and using the scanner was fun! I guess we have 24 hours to make changes online before the local store sends the order to the store near school, and even then I can call the other store and ask them to add/delete things from the list. The way I see it, there is no down side, because you don't pay until you pick the stuff up, and you can always change your mind.</p>
<p>Marginally related to this "list of necessities" thread--- safety pins. Years ago my mother-in-law gave each kid a box of supplies including safety pins. Girls always need them, and my S had them!</p>
<p>And I thought the tool set would be the "chick magnet". I'll definitely buy some safety pins, and stick them in there.</p>
<p>nymom:
I'm impressed that your son went to BB&B. I'd have to drug my kids to get them in there! I bet you had fun. I have to just pick up stuff for my kids. They don't care what they have. <strong>sigh</strong></p>
<p>do not buy hangers at bed bath and beyond unless you have to 10 hangers are 1.00 at wal mart right n ow compared to 12 for 6.00 like i saw at bb&b yesterday</p>
<p>one thing we didnt expect:when we semi-lofted D's bed,she was too short(just 5') to get into it easily! Went off to BBandBeyond and picked up an improvised step stool ..she used a storage unit they sell for adapting shelves,made to store shoes,etc...made out of wood and sturdy..she didnt want a stepstool she said they looked "dorky".
Make the safety pin idea into a mini sewing kit,easily purchased ready made with the needles prethreaded,with a couple of buttons thrown in..and teach them how to use it!!!
The tool kit comes in really handy.</p>
<p>A double hang closet rod - doubles hanging space in too-small closets.</p>
<p>Plenty of extra extension cords and power strips - you can always return what you don't use.</p>
<p>Underbed storage containers. That's valuable real estate under there!</p>
<p>Crabbylady,</p>
<p>Petrie dish indeed. You can send your child to school with all the Tylenol, Tums, and cold meds in the world, but it won't prevent him/her from contacting that scourge of freshman year - mono. I found that out the hard way. :(</p>
<p>Re: mono. All college kids need a STERN lecture about the hazards of sharing drinking vessels. Although it won't eliminate mono (obviously) many nasty things are shared through saliva. Meningitis, mono, herpes, various other viruses...the list is endless. Sometimes kids just don't know that, and they've never lived so intimately with strangers before.</p>