I know that we are all stressed and crazy about making sure our kids are getting college applications/pre-screens/auditions scheduled etc, but I am trying to look positively ahead to the potential outcome of having my D attend one of the colleges/universities on her list in the fall. With that in mind - what are some items that we could be asking friends/family for during the holiday’s/birthday to help ease the burden of the college packing list in the summer?! Thank you in advance to all the parents that have been or just went through this buying/packing phase!
Money. What a college student really needs is money.
Ask for travel related things. Duffel bags, a TSA precheck pass, some Southwest Airline gift cards. Or just tell friends/family where she’s going and to think of something for the dorm or for a business near the dorm.
Specific to MT, some things you might want are:
- portable keyboard with headphone jack so you can practice piano in your room
- Nice pair of character shoes (our D got her first pair of LaDuca's as a graduation gift - not necessary for college but she loved getting them and they served her well during school)
- Dance wear, leggings, etc.. or perhaps a gift card to your favorite dance store or Lululemon. (again, lululemon isn't necessary but D loved having a few pieces which she wore all the time in college - but there are plenty of other brands that have cute stuff too). Good dance bag or tote to carry all their dance shoes, etc.. is nice to have too.
General college stuff:
4. If they don’t already have one, or if your family shares one, consider gifting them a printer they can take to college Include Ink and paper too.
5. If they drink coffee or hot tea, a Keurig or something similar is nice for the dorm room along with coffee or tea pods.
Things that are fun to get once you know where you are going/more specifics about where you will be living:
6. Bedding - include things like a bed bug mattress protector, foam mattress topper, etc… in addition to sheets and comforter. Also bed pillows. Make sure you know what size bed it is before purchasing though.
7. Fun colored or monogrammed towels so you don’t get them confused with anyone else’s towels. Maybe a cute robe too.
Other:
8. Gift cards to places like Bed, Bath and Beyond, Target the Container Store, etc…
9. Gift cards to restaurants and things to do in their new college town are fun to get once you know where you’re going to school.
10. Water bottle
11. Backpack if they need a new one
12. Cute weekender bag for quick trips home with friends or on those audition weekends for summer stock
Nice luggage that she can call her own. And yes, BBB, Amazon and Target gift cards will definitely get used. Best Buy if she is saving towards a new laptop.
What a nice thing to think about. @vvnstar has a great list there.
Someone last year posted they were giving their D an “Unifieds survival kit” which I thought was awesome - new dance gear, audition outfit, song books, herbal teas or Genther’s lozenges, Emergen-C… whatever you think will set her up to feel psyched for auditions. We did something similar and D loved it. If you are already in the middle of auditions by then, maybe less fun.
Some things could be combined to really make nice “relative” gifts for an MT hopeful - like a great new dance bag with a new pair of ballet slippers. If there’s an intensive or prep program she wants to do before college, maybe relatives chipping in on that would be helpful. I think showing faith that she’ll be performing in college is great but given the uncertain nature of applications I’d definitely not go whole-hog on MT gear for Christmas unless she already has an MT acceptance she likes! You want the gift-giving to be joyful, not stressful.
I gave my D a pair of nice low boots and a winter jacket for Christmas last year because she was only applying to places where there was cold weather and we live in a warm area. So if there’s any change in weather between home and prospective campuses, gear for that is appropriate. If she gets into a school early, a sweatshirt from that school is a fun gift. It’s hard to plan for a dorm room so early but twinkle lights or similar fun decor items are always welcome. I would be a dissenter on the gift cards for BBB - my D hates to shop and I couldn’t drag her in the door. But Starbucks gift cards… those always get used!
All of the above and Amazon Gift Cards. They can order practically anything and have it delivered to their dorm within a couple days. My daughter is constantly ordering plays, dance tights, makeup, snacks,etc from Amazon.
Great ideas! Remember most dorm beds are twin xl. Several of D’s friends gave her Uber gift cards for graduation - - they could be for Christmas too! And message boards for dorm rooms are popular. @CaMom13 - laughing at the boots/coat because we got D very nice snow boots/coat last year, as almost all of her schools were in the north. She wore them in New York & Chicago, but now she’s at school in Texas. Not sure what we’re going to do with the snow boots and nice down coat! Maybe she can visit her sister in NYC and use them for a week or so… LOL
Perhaps not the greatest gift for first-time freshmen, who will likely be on meal plans, but something to think about for future years: Consider a meal box subscription. I don’t have a car on campus and it makes grocery shopping difficult–I love getting a meal prep box delivered 1x a week because it means I never have to worry about bothering one of my friends to take me to the store. Most meal boxes offer a 2-person subscription, which ends up meaning that I can buy the smallest plan and still have enough food for a week.
@MTmom2017 - so funny! We lucked out - she didn’t pass the prescreen at Elon (her only school south of the Mason-Dixon) and ended up in NYC where the boots have already come in handy! 
You just can’t tell, can you!
My D is only a junior in HS, but for her birthday this summer I got her a great little book, “Life Is Like a Musical” by Tim Federle. The subtitle is “How to Live, Love and Lead Like a Star”–it has tiny little chapters with great inspirational titles like “Congratulate the person who got “your” part” and “Realize we’re each the lead of our own life.” Just figured she could use a little inspiration and life advice if this is the path she wants to take!
I love all this. So much fun to think about!
A great steamer - we like the PurMist
A belt box
Air purifier
Keurig
New laptop
Air pods
Nice mattress topper
Uber gift cards
Brita water pitchers
@beachymom - does the belt box actually work? I looked into that last year but the reviews said it was like seeing into a pillow and I didn’t really think the vocalist would like that! 
@CaMom13 - I know you asked beachymom, but thought I would let you know also what D thinks of her beltbox. She actually loves it. Yes, it is sort of like singing into a pillow, but that is the point of it really. To be able to sing/warm up in places where you really can’t be loud. She has used it in hotels to warm up for auditions, and Unifieds years ago. She uses it now in her apartment, etc. It just has to be used correctly to make sure the user isn’t over singing.
I love this list! Thank you for sharing!
Gift certificate for a chain restaurant your s/d likes with a franchise near where he/she will be. Starbucks Panera etc. they get busy and don’t have a lot of cash. Nice to be able to grab a bite between school/rehearsal/work/study