A tool kit. We got hers at Sears for about $20 last Christmas.
A medical kit. You don't want your stomach issue or headache or hacking cold to wait till morning when the bookstore opens. Hers includes everything from bandaids to an Ace bandage to tweezers to a huge variety of OTC meds.
Large umbrella that is heavy duty and can handle some wind.
Jeremy, the Beta fish.
My daughter took a Google home but like wireless printers, it is not allowed
Clorox wipes, Lysol spray and an assortment of Ziplock bags - she used the bags for all kinds of things.
A Keurik from his grandmother. I bought him 3 alarm clocks this parents weekend because he confessed he’s having trouble getting up for class. He asked for 3 specifically.
My D really likes her electric kettle to make (pour over) coffee or tea almost every afternoon – which also has saved her from running through her dining dollars! (She’s doing club crew and has practice at 5:30 am 2 or 3 days a week so afternoon caffeine is a must!)
The storage ottoman to climb up to her semi-lofted bed is a winner!
Also really likes the fluffy rug we bought during move in weekend to make it comfy to hang out on the floor. Much better than a chair, she said.
Small thing but the command strips to hang her towel and robe have also been big hits.
This isn’t something she bought, but her dorm has sinks in the room and she has commented multiple times how much she likes that. This will be big factor in dorm she wants next year (She can’t stay in current one as it’s for first-years only.).
To my dismay, D18 did not get into the whole college shopping experience. She took very little with her, just the basics. In fact everything she brought fit in the trunk of my car!
Two things she did ask for and has absolutely loved are:
This is lightweight and folds up when not in use. And we bought the cubes at Target for $5 each. She says she absolutely loves it and is able to store so much in them.
Her roommate brought a futon and she found this bench. Again, lightweight, very easy to put together and the top comes off for storage. She was actually surprised how often this is used. Not only does it provide storage but extra seating, and place to prop up your feet when sitting on the futon.
Because I didn’t spend much on dorm décor, I did splurge on these 2 items. She still hasn’t asked for anything else other than what we brought. She kept telling me “Mom, remember, whatever I bring here, needs to come back home at the end of the year!” Smart girl!!
Electric kettle (plus tea, instant coffee, and instant oatmeal), Britta pitcher to keep in (rented) fridge, two small carts similar to what OP posted, plenty of OTC remedies for whatever ails her, small folding drying rack for tights and leotards, Hydroflask bottle (good for hot and cold drinks), small clear storage trays to corral vitamins, make-up, etc., small desk lamp with USB ports for next to her bed.
Oh, and clip-on light for her bed because her roommate goes to bed earlier than her almost every night! It provide low level lighting when my D comes in late from studying and needs to get ready for bed.
Wrinkle release spray (bought or home made). Iron never saw the light of day, but the spray was v popular. Also Febreze.
Large ceramic mug with top (can be used for coffee/tea, but also for soups / oatmeal / microwaveable foods- search for soup mug). A decent cutting knife (big enough to cut apples, cheese, etc.), combo can/bottle opener + an inexpensive set of metal cutlery (picked up 6 spoons / 2 forks / 2 regular knives at the local discount store) + some salad-sized melamine plates. Put it all in a small plastic tub- tub does triple duty as storage place for clean stuff / carrier for taking dirty dishes down the hall to be cleaned & for hand washing (mattered less when moved to suites & apartments, but regular dorm rooms didn’t have sinks).
Seconding the other posters who have noted Surge protector power strip, kettle, kit of OTC remedies, command strips, starter tool kit (found a great on in a zipper case- good for 1st apartments also).
Google Home + Chromecast is a great call if there’s a shared TV in the room. Use them for alarms, music, tv, movies, even group work sometimes it acts like a projector. This is in an apartment, not a dorm though. If you prefer Amazon, Echo + Fire Stick is comparable but I would personally recommend Google. Of course check if allowed.
Risers, since my D’s single is small and they don’t allow lofts (we used cinderblocks back in my day!). After lifting the mattress to the highest setting (glad we read a reminder to bring a rubber mallet on move in day!), we fit her fridge, large suitcase (houses spare linens and when she comes home for reading days, she will return summer clothes and bring back winter), 3 level plastic drawers, and the short wooden dresser that was part of the room furnishings. She uses her vacuum a lot (a stick/detachable hand vac) as well as Clorox wipes.
She has a few xl Land’s End canvas totes that serve double duty…we packed in them, now she uses a couple for laundry. They zip so things are not just out in the open, and they are easier to carry than mesh laundry bags or hard sided hampers/baskets. She can also take one with her out shopping, and carry her things home more easily (than several store shopping bags) on the subway. Fans are a necessity, especially with NYC regulations that heat be provided after Oct 1. Columbia cuts off all a/c and starts pumping heat only thru the systems. They can turn them off but still need some air circulation while it’s still warm.
Blackout curtains because of how her room is set up, the sunlight comes right into her face in bed which is no fun since her classes start no earlier than 11 am; a Yogibo https://www.yogibo.com/yogibo-max/ which she stores upright in a corner but can pull out for seating when friends come over; and a stepstool to get on her bed since it’s jacked up pretty high and to reach the top of her closet (just one of those fold flat with the handle types you can get for $10), and a small magnifying mirror for eyebrow plucking etc.
Of course, things like shower shoes/caddy and a few dishes go without saying. I would also encourage getting one or two extra long cord power strips since you never know how weirdly spaced outlets will be and extra lighting is always nice (she uses clamp LED lights from IKEA). Also take extra earbuds/phone chargers, cuz they inevitably go bad and kids don’t always have an easy way to get replacements at the last minute.
My daughter and her roommates like the boot tray I picked up which happens to fit very nicely at the entrance to their suite and has come in handy in the rain and will even more this winter. I saw shoes on it today.
I got my daughter a footstool to help her get in/out of bed easier since her bed is so high. Her roommate tried it and got her own footstool right after that. My daughter wanted a small carpet for her side right near her bed and I think her roommate has one too.
My husband got my daughter a few led rechargeable lights to have if power goes out since last year her school lost power a few times in the winter. I think he got one for the bedroom and one for the common area. They already lost power for a few days due to gas explosions in the area. I hope they don’t need them but its good to have.
D uses small travel kettle every day, all day. She loves tea. Also uses her small clothes drying rack. Saves money, and time having to fun up and down stairs to get stuff in and out of dryer.
I got a Bissel Powerforce Compact as a second vac for home and it is amazing. We will get one for DD#1 to take with her next fall. It is stronger than the stick vacs but DS and his room mates don’t care that much.
