<p>DD is in a awkward position. We are traveling from the opposite coast to her college. We were hoping that we could purchase the lightweight and somewhat consumable shared items for the room (rug remnant...rent a fridge). BUT her roommate called to say she already had a fridge and micro, and was going to buy the rug. She asked if we could get the TV. We want DD to carry her share of the "shared items" in the room...but DD doesn't even WANT a TV in her dorm room. Plus, what do we do with a TV in June? We do not want to store anything (DD is being the minimalist in packing and not taking anything big) for the summer...not even a TV. DD is reluctant to tell her roommate that she just doesn't want a TV. Should we just keep the peace and buy the smallest and least expensive TV we can find (and maybe sell it at the end of the year) or should DD speak up. I should add...my kid isn't the type to make waves. She thinks we should just get the TV even though she has no interest in having it in her room.</p>
<p>Skip the tv. Seems to me it's as good a time as any to start being honest with roommates. I think your daughter could easily say, Oh, I don't really watch tv. Another consideration - they may or may not hit it off. She could have a new roommate before you know it! Lots of kids do!</p>
<p>What about waiting until after daughter arrives to see the room set up, space for tv etc. and if televisions are easily available in lounges. If she decides it would be a good thing to have one in the room after meeting with roommate and viewing the terrain, one can be ordered online from Amazon and delivered in that manner. </p>
<p>My son arrived at his school last September with very few "things." His roommate who was local supplied fridge etc to begin with. By winter break, my son knew what he needed and we ordered online for whatever it was. They did not have a tv in the room though some students did. My son watches dvds using his computer. He says there is no time to watch tv during the regular school year.</p>
<p>Don't waste $ on something you don't want just to please your roommate. Tell the roommate that you don't want a TV and offer to buy something else.</p>
<p>I'd tell the roomie to wait and let's see if we really need one. DD isn't a big TV person anyway. So, DD brought the micro and roomie brought the frig. Turns out that there really isn't room for a TV unless they bunked the beds. Not that they haven't watched TV (both are Project Runway fans) but they found others who were and had TVs so they provide the popcorn and watch in someone else's room. They're spending the first week checking out everyone elses rug situation and we'll get something when we go for parents weekend.
My motto with learning to live with someone you haven't yet met is that this is no time to set up boundries. Have and open mind and wait-and-see attitude. You may end up wanting a TV or she may end up not wanting one.</p>
<p>I'd say your daughter is in the perfect position to say, "I know you said I was to bring the TV, but I got to thinking about it, and there is nothing really to watch on TV, so I got a NetFlix account to watch DVDs on the weekends in someone else's room."</p>
<p>I could see if it was a guy and he wanted to watch the football games or local team sports. That is very big with the guys. On the other hand they can go to the lounge for these games and there is so much mingling in other dorm rooms, if there is a weekly show the girls want to watch (back in my daughter's college days 5 yrs ago it was Sex in the City, now, I think it is Lost) they can find someone who has a tube to watch together.</p>
<p>DS is glad to have been in charge with the tv and microwave instead of the very bulky refrigerator.</p>
<p>hmm I think I'll take the opposite point of view
it would have cost you at least the same amount to rent the microfridge,get carpet remnant as it would to buy the TV. D may turn out to want it in the long run or she can sell it after the year is over. We bought S a 20" TV/DVD player at Target for $99.00.He had a similar problem, he thought the local roomate was supplying a TV and he was contributing the fridge.Roomate came with microwave and nothing else. Turns out roomates Mom decided he didnt need a TV,so wasnt supplying one.
Better not to make too many waves?
and by the way,best of luck for move in!</p>
<p>We agreed to provide the TV for DD last year. Waited until we got to school to buy it. Got rid of the box... left her to figure out how to hook it up.</p>
<p>Well, it ended up that at her school, TV is on the internet and they didn't even need the TV. We brought the TV home at Parent's Weekend and it now resides in my sewing room.</p>
<p>And just yesterday, I found two 4x6 rugs for $5 ea at the local Habitat for Humanity Restore. They commercial carpets and not as fancy as DD really wanted, but at least they're new and clean, unlike the carpet in dorms.</p>
<p>I would tend to agree with Cathymee since the roommate is taking care of everything else. I would wait until your D arrives at the school. She can always order it online. That was our original plan, but we ended up going to a local store and purchased the TV for $87 (either 14 or 15 inch). My son's roommate a nice fridge, so I was happy that we did not need to deal with that.</p>
<p>I agree with Cathymee and northeastmom. Given that there is a certain expense associated with setting up a dorm room, what else would your daughter contribute? I'm sure you can find something for under $100, and in the worst case, you can sell it later. </p>
<p>S brought the fridge and coffee maker last year -- no microwaves or other cooking things were allowed. But roomie ended up also buying a fridge, plus TV and DVD player. They ended up being great friends, and I'm not sure they keep track of who owns what. We have roomie's fridge in our basement, roomie has our fridge up at school, s has roomie's TV, some books and who knows what else. I have no idea about what items of S's ended up with roomie. They don't seem to care, so it doesn't bother me. They all seem to work out equitable arrangements throughout the year regarding Netflix, videogames, food and so on.</p>
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They all seem to work out equitable arrangements throughout the year regarding Netflix, videogames, food and so on
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<p>D called last night to say she & roomie went into town, spent hours in huge bookstore there, came home with four novels they'd agreed on (splitting the cost), and will share those in their leisure moments. No mention of tv. Sounds like resi life done good.</p>
<p>We did not plan to buy the TV here (we're flying across the country). If anything, we planned to get it at the local Target store. If anything it will be SMALL...very small, and inexpensive. One person suggested getting something else that costs $100 or so...well, the roommate has already gotten all the other items (fridge, microwave, rug). I think we'll wait and see what the deal is when we get there. DD will write the roommate an email saying so...and we'll just see. If it looks like a small TV will fit, then with my rental car, we'll buy one. If not...we won't. DD can offer to pay for the rug that roomie already bought.</p>
<p>Offering to pay for something that the roommate bought also sounds like a good possible solution.</p>
<p>thumper, it's probably a good idea to wait and see. My son used to watch some TV at home, certain shows that he enjoyed when time allowed. I found it interesting to find out that he really NEVER watches TV at school. They do watch videos as a group (usually in his room, since roomie has the TV), and it sounds like they have a ton of fun. He's said that there are so many more interesting things to do in college than watch TV.</p>
<p>Good grief! "A certain expense associated with setting up a dorm room"? Who says? People with money to burn? My kids managed just fine without rugs, refrigerators, microwaves or TVs. My son did decide to get a rug his sophomore year (his choice, not mine), but I think that was because his girlfriend's toes got cold, not his. I'd rather pay for textbooks and computers.</p>
<p>Does your daughter want to share in the use of the fridge and micro? If she does, then it is only fair that she purchase a small tv. The storage issue is moot if you were willing to purchase the fridge and/or microwave because these to would have to be stored.</p>
<p>And a TV/DVD player is a nice social asset to a dorm room. I agree that many students do not watch much tv. But a Saturday nite party centered around a favorite chick flick with buttered popcorn is a favorite pastime among many a coed.</p>
<p>There's no way I'd buy a TV for college. I prefer for there to not even be one in the room but one can't control the roommates. College is a time for concentrating on studies, mixing with fellow students, exploring interesting classes, getting involved with clubs/activities, etc. My older D definitely did 'not' want a TV in the room and was concerned her roommate might bring one but she lucked out and ended up without one in the room. If they really want to watch TV they can go to the lounges and watch it there. To put my viewpoint in perspective, I'm a staunch believer in not having a TV in a kid's room anyway so my kids grew up without TVs in their rooms and they could watch the family TV. I think in retrospect it was an excellent decision.</p>
<p>It sounds as if your kid's roommate is a little controlling or at least is being liberal in their assumptions. It's not up to them to dictate what they'll bring and what your kid will bring. I'd nip it in the bud now and simply say "no, I'm not interested in TV so I won't be bringing one". If you want, you could bring other useful things that can be shared such as a toaster oven, small vacuum, etc.</p>
<p>Vote, No TV.</p>
<p>Its a time waster, space hog, and attracts students that don't have TVs who live more than 600+ miles from the school, and parents too cheap to spend the $100; Because they know that TV is a time waster, space hog, and attracts students that don't have TVs, home is 600+ miles, and cheap parents. </p>
<p>(Besides the local students buy much better TV's than anything you are thinking about.) ( Why get something that you can get for free from someone else!)</p>