<p>So I'm moving soon, actually at around 3 pmish, and I remember there was a list posted bya mother who listed items that generally would be overlooked as to what to bring to college, so I was wondering if (a) someone could find that thread or (b) someone has a list themselves that they're willing to suggest of commonly overlooked items that students often forget to bring with them. thanks for any help :D</p>
<p>Paper towels and windex ... just so you can wipe down surfaces that might seem grimy in the dorm room.</p>
<p>Tool kit and duct tape.</p>
<p>Extra power strip and (legal) extension cords.</p>
<p>Trash bags.</p>
<p>Hangers and plastic milk-crate style cubes.</p>
<p>Whatever <em>stuff</em> works to hang things on the walls for your specific dorm -- usually available in the college bookstore if you forget though.</p>
<p>tony:</p>
<p>If you look in the parents cafe, there is a sticky at the top about bedding and packing. While there's more info than you need, it can serve as a reminder of things you may not have thought to bring. Are you going to Harvard? There is a Staples in the Square and a hardware store (Dickson's). </p>
<p>The other day, my H went to Target. There were two buses that brought MIT students there for shopping. I don't know if Harvard does the same.</p>
<p>The free rides to Target are offered to Harvard students, BU and Northeastern too. They go in yellow school buses. Pretty shrewd marketing move by Target. Except when D went, Target ran out of all the practical things and D cambe back with only a roll of gift wrap paper (used to decorate the dorm) and a pinata the girls hung from the ceiling.</p>
<p>When I went to Target a couple of weeks ago, there were signs greeting BU and NEU students. I had not realized then that they got rides.
There's also K-Mart in Allston and BB&B in the Fenway.</p>
<p>A few things that we either needed to run out and get or I was glad we had:Liquid soap for the sink in dorm room and hand towel. light bulb for the desk lamp, more extention cords with surge protector and one with three prong outlet for microwave, command hooks for cords - Son and roommate put the tv on top shelf of closet and put outlet cords up and around door. Command poster tape for cool poster. storage rack for microwave and snacks. </p>
<p>What we took back: micro-suade chair- no room, suitcase that held just about all of son's clothes.</p>
<p>Kids on the hall borrowed S's Wet Swiffer - was great on the floors. Cleaning supplies definitely, rooms are often left pretty dirty by any standards. An extra layer on the bed ie fiberbed, memory foam or eggcrate and a mattress pad make for a much more comfortable bed. Make sure you know what size sheets you need - many school beds require Twin Extra Long. Extra lighting - a desk lamp, floor lamp or nighttable lamp. Lots of kids at S's school were taken by surprise by that one. Ditto hangers. Bed lifters come in handy at some schools, as do under the bed storage bins and extra stackable plastic drawers for closet or room. A bulletin board/ whiteboard. Cases of your favorite beverage and breakfast items for when you don't feel like going to the dining hall for breakfast. Disposable or plastic plates cups, bowls etc. Can opener. Rolls of quarters for the washing machines. A bathrobe. Mirror for the room if it doesn't have one. Printer paper, Extra ink cartridges. A backrest for the bed so that you can sit up and read. </p>
<p>We also took back a lot of stuff that wouldn't fit! In addition, try asking kids on the forum of your school for specific ideas or go on the school website for suggestions of what you're NOT allowed to bring (in our case, halogen lamps, coiled heating devices such as toaster ovens etc. are prohibited).</p>
<p>marite, you seem to know the area well. D at Northeastern said the closest supermarket seemed very far away -- I know there's a Whole Foods off Mass Ave, but do you know any other places? </p>
<p>(Why she needs a supermarket when she has 3 meals a day paid for already is a whole other question...)</p>
<p>Katliamom:</p>
<p>I actually do not know the NEU area well at all. Whole Foods is rather upmarket and expensive for students, but I don't know if there are other chains that are cheaper (Shaws, Stop and Shop) closer to her dorm.</p>
<p>There's a Shaw's pretty close to Fenway (map</a>), although I do see why it would be a bit of a hike for NEU students.</p>
<p>And tony, there's a Target near Andrew T stop (on the red line). You could also go to Central and take either the 70 or 70A buses to the Target in Watertown. (If there's one thing I know around Boston, it's the Targets. This is what happens when you get old and engaged and boring -- you go shopping at Target on the weekends. :D)</p>
<p>you live far away from the school, bring nothing but what YOU need. Often your roommates live closer and will bring a car and hence be richer than you. Let THEM buy the stuff common to all. If you are that kid that brings the car and is richer, I have a son who wants to meet you. </p>
<p>Now that I think it, I'd use their soap. but I draw the line on toothbrushes.</p>
<p>itstoomuch-i am the one you want to meet! My son's roommate came by Amtrak with 2 suitcases. We brought so much for our son(much of it to be used by both of them, but alot of it for just my son ) that we wound up renting a mini van, taking out all the seats and having to make a couple of trips! We provided the carpet, microwave, refrig, TV, DVD, cases of water,ice tea and lots of food! Plus all the Bed, Bath and Beyond stuff-vacuum etc. It was packed into the car! We had to carry it up 4 flights of stairs-no elevator and it took us 7 hours to unpack and set up. Roommate came in with his few suitcases and unpacked in 40 minutes!!</p>
<p>Alas, our's in grad school and again commuting by air to Toronto. His roommate is likewise from the west coast and arrived later to school after ours who has been at Toronto since Aug 1, and getting paid, He's the "rich" kid by default. Every spare moment he has been scrounging for apartment and stuff to furnish it prior to freshmen orientation.</p>