D2 ordered the “fun half” of stuff at BBB last week for an August start. She”ll Head back and get more in a month or two when the extra long sheets and other “dorm stuff” is more prevalent, but we ordered early for DD1 as she was going to a cold climate and she wanted “California spring” type bedding. All we took with us was clothes and electronics… As it turned out, she was too conservative with clothing (more room than we thought) so I FaceTimed her from her closet and shipped one box of clothing. Super pricey to ship! In terms of allowance, we did not want D1 working the first semester, so we gave her an allowance to supplement her meager savings. Our intention was to cut it down and then off as the semesters progressed to give her the opportunity to adjust before she had to get a PT job, but she convinced us to continue with it if she overloaded a class a semester, which saved us a chunk of change. We gave her a credit card for emergencies and books, as we agreed to pay for books. D2 is also going out of state, but her allowance will be lower because she will not be in an urban area. By the way, several posters recommended the Samsonite Tote a Ton duffel bags, which are currently on sale on their site. They are extremely light but durable, take up no space, and have been wonderful for her multiple moves in 4 years and into adulthood. One other thing: we rented a VRBO for about the same cost as a hotel room for move-in, and really appreciated the washer/dryer and extra space to spread out. We are doing that again this time.
We also did unlimited meal plan for first semester. reduced by one level 2nd semester and was just told that S will run out of meals in a few weeks. Need to send in more $ to upgrade. Go figure!
@milee30 Since SW allows two free checked bags per person, you might be able to bring along some of the items you were planning to ship and further save on postage you would’ve spent.
D goes to school over 3000 miles away. She and I flew Alaska (it was cheaper than SW) so no free checked bags. We each brought a carryon and she also brought a backpack. Dh, however, has status on Delta so he flew separately on Delta - she used his two free checked bags packed with as much as she could fit, mainly clothing and a few personal items. Everything else she needed we picked up onc we got there from the BBB Pack and Store as well as miscellaneous things at Target near her school. It was actually cheaper this time to fly home on SW. I’m taking a mini-vacation out there while she takes her finals so if necessary, we will have the ability to check at least four free bags, tho I think minus her clothes, most will stay at school in storage.
She did not take a car-freshmen can’t have on campus but the car she drives at home needed to stay at home anyway for my high schooler to drive. I doubt she will ever have a car at school.
Meal plan - there were three options, all will a certain number of “meals” included as well as a certain cash value “dining dollars” for use at places on campus besides the cafeteria. Dining dollars roll over from fall to spring but anything unused at end of spring is lost, We opted for the cheapest meal plan knowing we could add if necessary, rather than lose money if she didn’t use it all. That worked out perfectly - she didn’t come close to using the cafeteria meals and had more than enough dining dollars.
No free laundry at her school. She has two sets of sheets, two sets of towels. I know she regularly does her laundry, but not sure how often she changes her sheets. Since I helped make the bed when she moved in (a high bunk), I’m guessing she probably doesn’t wash her sheets more than once a month b/c it really was a PITA getting the fitted sheet on. She doesn’t use a top sheet - has a comforter with duvet cover.
She has her own spending money from working over the summer. We pay for books. I buy them used on Amazon and WTE of two books she needed this year that could not be purchased used, her books were pretty reasonable.
My piece of advice is…don’t buy or much for the dorm room ahead unless you know the size of the space or the rooming situation. D didn’t find out where she was living until four weeks before she moved in - her first preference was a triple with walk-in closet and its own bathroom but she could’ve been assigned a double with hall bath. She did get the dorm she wanted but her triple was turned into a quad due to overenrollment. That limited the amount of storage and wall space. For example, she planned on a large floor fan but instead need a fan that clipped to her bed since she was in a top bunk.
Less is more. Clothing, some sheets and towels and toiletries, that’s it. But mine is a boy.We picked a food plan that will provide 3 meals a day. The students spend very little extra spending money. They are busy and the spending money was for haircuts and may be a restaurant meal once a month… The students don’t need a car because the campus is the social part of their life and usually the happening part of the town is just outside the campus, which is walkable. They will do laundry when they run out of clothes and mine brought some back to home during breaks to do them at home.
Best thing we did was vacuum sealed bags. We put clothes, towels, comforter, pillows, sheets any all other soft items that would shrink down smaller for packing. Saved so much space in the car. Highly recommend!
I see someone mentioned the “Extra Long Twin Sheets” - just thought I would mention it again so that others don’t buy the wrong size. It is our experience that those have become standards. You’ll probably get mail about buying a whole set for your new college student. Don’t do it. The quality is terrible. We did it for our first but the bedding didn’t make it four years. Towels were replaced after year 2.
My boys have liked having three sets of sheets and four towels. This allows them to run a full wash of sheets only or towels only. I sincerely doubt they are laundered often, but I try not to think about it. Laundry was $2-something per washer & dryer.
HomeGoods sells XL twin sheets. XL Comforters are more of a challenge to locate. Costco offers great prices on towels, fans, laptops, surge protectors, Command hooks, etc. I tried to avoid BB&B as their prices are really high even after 20% off everything.
Have you gone to the “Residential Life” page of the university. They may have a suggested list for the dorm. Along with what is allowed and not allowed in the dorm.
For example, first dd’s university did not allow extension cords. So they daisy chained surge protectors, when needed. Second dd’s university actually suggested a 25 ft extension cord for the room.
Also a friend’s son, his university had a mix XL twin beds and regular beds. So until he found out which dorm he got, they couldn’t buy sheets.
As far as a meal plan, is your daughter going to be in an activity that has a lot of outside class time? Like marching band, theater majors, etc. Sometimes the practice/rehearsals may overlap dining hall times on those days. So some students may need to buy or have spare food available.
Both did marching band. Older daughter we got cheapest meal plan and gave her the extra $ in her monthly stipend. Second dd, the price between lowest and highest meal plan was not much so we got her the unlimited. That way if she wanted to just get an apple, it would not count as a meal.
Two sets of sheets are nice if your kid tends to eat or drink in bed. A cup of cocoa spilled on the sheets near midterm time doesn’t turn into a need to do laundry that same day while they are super busy with assignments.
Both my kids said the second set of sheets was one set too many. And son freely admitted he only washed his sheets when he brought them home on breaks @-)
^^^^This
Mine took an xl bottom sheet, a blanket and comforter. Only washed them at home.
The vast majority of students overpack. At the year end campus yard sale, we deal with mirrors, shower caddies, swiffers, door mirrors, brita pitchers, mirrors, those fat pillows you use to sit up in bed, mirrors, every kind of door hanging thingy, mirrors, irons, ironing boards, coffee cups, and hot pots, panini makers, and…mirrors. Most , if not all of these items, are completely unused.
Tiny tool box with first aid basics and cold remedies is nice to have. Dorms are small. Really small. And our children, God bless their hearts, are slobs. 
^^Mirrors are kinda essential but a pain to move around so why not get a cheap mirror and only use it that year?
Another thing to consider besides the size of the bed is the type of mattress. Is it vinyl or cloth covered? If it is cloth covered you may want to invest in a vinyl zippered mattress cover to prevent/contain any possible bed bugs. While they are a pain to put on the mattress they do work. Feeling itchy now?
I’m thinking I’ll get new towels for me, and kids will get our old towels.