CSI-College Student Insurance.
S1 lost a bag with his phone and a change of clothes in it his first month of college. The insurance covered it all minus a $25 deductible. $87 per year, no hit on our homeowner’s insurance, and he got nearly $800 out of it.
The extra key to their car.
s3 rarely “prints” anything these days…all gets turned in electronically. Cold meds and stuff in the small med kit always got used by all 3 boys. Laundry detergent was always appreciated. But lots of stuff gets tossed or given away. A beach towel doubles as an extra bath towel when the laundry doesn’t get done. Two of mine didn’t used electric razors and grew beards because they couldn’t find the right brand of replacement cartridges easily. Also two of mine bought hairclippers before Thanksgiving because finding a barber and making appointments was a PIA but that is just my guys…it has to be painless or they will move to Plan B. Plan B for the electric shaver kid was to edit til Christmas for a haircut.
Re door stops – check the dorm rules first. In many dorms, there are rules prohibiting students from propping their doors open due to fire safety concerns.
And as long as you are taking the time to read through the dorm rules, you might find that it will impact your packing list in other ways. Rules vary considerably, but you may find that some things that you might consider an essential are verboten, either for fire safety rules (which may apply to small appliances, candles, etc.) – or concerns about damage to walls or fixtures and typically involve limits to what might be affixed to walls and how posters or pictures can be mounted.
Rooms in college tend to be very small. Just take the basics, but reduce stuff before packing. I simply can’t imagine going anyplace that lacks stores and Amazon. It is simply easier to decide what you need and then buy it. Trying to haul a bunch of stuff to a room you have never seen is nuts.you can probably buy everything in Dixfield Notch after you arrive.
@Zannah -
What is Dixfield Notch? I am one of the few people (I assume) who does not use Amazon on a regular basis. I prefer to have my son dropped off with everything I can anticipate him needing. There is a chain drug store in walking distance but I don’t want him to have to go out when sick or to have to rely on someone else to do it for him.
Back to the original thread - condoms… My son is not yet active but I am sending him with a box, just in case.
For us, the door stop is for move in day.
I think condoms are free at the health center, at least at non-religiously strict schools.
Often supplied in dorm bathrooms or other spots in the dorm as well.
Are condoms really given out like that? S17 asked me about them today again. I didn’t go away to college so I have no idea.
I’m sure it depends on the school, @techmom99, but to a large extent , they are very easily accessible. Glad your son is asking. 
Maybe he can find out from an RA type person at his college how things work at his school.
At D’s school, they are available in baskets in the student union, on the desks in the dorm lobbies, at the health center, and I’m sure in a lot of places (bathrooms, locker rooms) I never visited.
Good to know about the free flowing condoms. My rising junior son (so this is long term thinking) dies of embarrassment if I so much as think about sex in his presence. I assumed I’d sneak a box into his packing while he wasn’t looking. I guess I won’t need to bother.
@millie210 Might be a good idea to slip that box in anyway. Surely can’t hurt and if he is a new freshman that remains self-conscious about things of a sexual nature, he might be reticent to grab one out of a basket if others are around. Better to make sure all the bases are covered.
Not a bad plan to send a girl with some as well, for similar reasons (might be embarrassed to take early on etc), and it never hurts to be prepared
Someone mentioned condoms earlier so that of course made me think “dental dam.”
Dixfield Notch is a town in northern New Hampshire where the handful of residents vote for president at midnight and results are reported on the national ness.
Dixville Notch, actually. Population: 12
A flashlight or luci. https://mpowerd.com.
Gel odor absorber for closet, suite bathroom, etc.
Portable charger for multiple devices.
Lots of cheap $1 disposable ponchos - stick a few in your kids backpack, his shaving kit (for those road trips he takes).his car console and any exras for his junk drawer, which is basically every drawer. Lots of travel size kleenex -especially boys will never use kleenex but, stick 1 in his bookbag, his shaving kit the console of his car and a bunch of exras to put somewhere. When they need them they will thank you they are not wiping their dripping nose on their sleeves. Chapstick - put 1 in his backpack, shaving kit, car console and if he’s taking his winter jacket, stick one in the inside of his jacket pocket with one of those kleenex pks. These are all items a guy will never intentially keep with him but will always at some time need - every now and then I throw in a giant Tootsie Roll too!