<p>From what I've read there is only tv allowed in each dorm room? I'm surprised that each person can't bring their own when in this day and age you can get TV's in the size of computer flat screens and you can easily use a headphone. </p>
<p>Is there a way to pay for a second TV subscription and or can you use DVR's in the dorms. I know sort of silly questions, but I know that my Daughter would love to have a DVR with her. </p>
<p>Another dumb question - How many towels and washcloths did you send your kid with? I'm starting to pick up items, but I don't want to bring too much or too little since we are driving 16 hours. Just wondering how many of those items your kids feel is good.</p>
<p>Any other tips or advice on bringing things?</p>
<p>I gave my D. two towels. Seems it’s enough, and as I noticed she is doing laundry every other week.
They have TV on their dorm floor, and some kids have TV in their rooms, but I doubt that a lot of them have a TV subscription. Actually none of my D’s friends have it. I know she watches some TV episodes at fitness facility during her workouts. As a rule students watch movies on their laptops.<br>
Also you can buy there everything. It’s the same Target, Walmart, etc with a lot of items for dorm rooms. It took for us a couple of hours to buy all stuff we put on list before we flew there. You can do it before or after you move your D.in her dorm.</p>
<p>I like the thought of buying all that stuff there but how do you wash it once you have picked it up? Just take it to a laundry mat I guess? I just like to wash all that stuff before I use it.</p>
<p>You can laundry there, but it’s only a sheet, a sham, a duvet and a towel… It didn’t take a lot of our luggage space, so we brought it from home. The rest of her list including comforter, pillow, quilt, hamper, lamps, microwave, hangers, showers appliances, hair dryer and so on was bought there.</p>
<p>Tori_mom,</p>
<p>Did you find Target, Walmart had a good supply of items around move in day in August? I was thinking they may be pretty sold out and was thinking it might not be wise to wait till we get there? Maybe that was the wrong thinking.</p>
<p>We arrived a day before her moving day to dorm; and it was enough just to go to Target. They were very prepared for coming students - a lot of stuff for dorm rooms. I found everything what she needed even some items I was looking for in CA for a few months.</p>
<p>I’d recommend getting there a day early to shop, so you’re ready to roll on move-in day. Or stop in St. Louis, do your shopping there, and drive on to Columbia. My S (a soph.) and I made a quick trip to Walmart on the afternoon of move-in day last August. They were madly restocking shelves, but it was pretty crazy there, and we couldn’t find what he needed. In contrast, the previous day in suburban St. Louis was a breeze. The key to dorm shopping is to be conservative. Your D can always go out later and get additional stuff she needs. They really don’t need a ton of bedding and towels–and storage space in some of those dorm rooms is pretty limited. My S had a complete personality change in college: He doesn’t mind doing laundry! (It helps that he’s in an apartment this year.)</p>
<p>Thanks everyone - This has helped tremendously.</p>
<p>The university provides basic cable service in the rooms. I don’t know if the one TV rule is strictly enforced in all dorms (one room on my floor has two TVs), but, at least in Mark Twain, there’s only one working cable jack in each room anyway. Don’t worry about a DVR; any TV I watch that isn’t live sports I watch online anyway. There are enough websites that a DVR shouldn’t be necessary.</p>
<p>Also, I have two sets of towels, and they last me at least a week, if not two. Just a general rule of thumb: if it isn’t a necessity, don’t buy it yet. My room is still populated with three Purel dispensers and other various items that I have no intention of ever using. Get what your kid will need for sure and let them get to Walmart/Target to buy anything they forgot they needed; even if they don’t have a car (like me), they’ll make friends with someone who does. I’m almost always able to make a run to Walmart every week to get bread because I’ve stopped eating lunch in the dining halls.</p>
<p>I recommend the idea of shopping in St. Louis. You’re just about guaranteed to find everything you’ll need, whereas if you go to Columbia and realize after a few days that you forgot something important, it may not be as easy to find. My parents and I shopped in the Brentwood/Clayton area and found everything we needed.</p>