<p>I know the W&M website has a list of what stuff the kids are supposed to bring (I am looking at William</a> & Mary - Checklist of Items to Bring ), but I am wondering what things really make sense to bring & what does not. Like, an ironing board & iron? One for every room/set of roommates in the building? That seems crazy to me. </p>
<p>Any advice/comments from returning students on what is really essential/useless would be really great. In particular I would love to get recommendations on mattress pads (how essential are they & what types are best) & shower caddies/baskets (shapes or sizes that work best, maybe?) [Those are what we were looking at but didn't buy today -- I am sure other things will come up over the next couple of weeks!]</p>
<p>Also, about lofting beds... do the benefits outweigh the hassles? I know that changing sheets on a loft bed is more difficult (the 3 times a year that will probably happen!) & I saw something about how there isn't room for a desk carrel thing if you get a rental loft.</p>
<p>My kid is in Yates, in case that affects any answers. </p>
<p>Well, not a returning student, but here’s my thoughts anyway…</p>
<p>I bought a cheapo iron and got a tabletop ironing board from a family friend for free. I don’t have too much to iron, but I do have a few nice things I wear that need ironing.</p>
<p>I don’t really think it’s too strange for at least one roommate in every room to have one. It seems like a more of a hassle to go scrounge around for a person willing to share theirs every time you need it than just to cough up for a cheap iron and board.</p>
<p>I would definitely get a mattress pad. I’ve slept on a dorm mattress before without one (because I forgot to get it) and it was terrible. They’re cheap industrial mattresses and are typically hard as a brick. I ended up using my fluffy robe as padding for the duration of my stay.</p>
<p>For which type to get, well, I would say that varies by the student. Is your kid a super soft mattress or a more firm mattress kind of person? Among other questions. I would check around first and pick the kind your kid likes best.</p>
<p>Hm, I just got a cheapo caddy. I mean, it’s just something to stick your bathroom essentials in. Doesn’t have to be anything special, in my opinion. </p>
<p>Don’t know about lofting beds. Just know I can’t afford it, so it’s a no go from the get go. And I probably wouldn’t do it anyway because I’ve rolled out of my twin bed before and the lofts don’t have any siding on them. -cough- >.></p>
<p>Don’t know if I helped any. Probably not. But that was just my thought process when I was buying this stuff.</p>
<p>The beds lofted by the college company are not high enough for the desk/carrel underneath. DD had her 4.0 cf fridge, microwave and two dressers under hers, with her desk at the end. She had a loft her dad made the next year, but wasn’t able to loft at all her third or fourth year because the ceilings were too low.</p>
<p>does your kid use an iron at home? if he/she does, then they might use it at school. If they don’t, then it is unlikely they are going to start.</p>
<p>I never saw an iron, but I bet some of the girls had them (and maybe guys).</p>
<p>D’s list of suggestions are mostly related to storage. If you decide against lofting, it’s good to bring a storage bin that fits under the bed (one of those long, short bins); she also likes to use bed risers to maximize storage space under the bed. She loves her folding wooden bookcase. If your student doesn’t want to dry everything in a dryer (my d is fussy about laundry instructions :)), d recommends bringing a folding drying rack.</p>
<p>She says that the A/C in Yates is not as good as in Dupont and thinks a fan wouldn’t be a bad idea. If you’re driving, you can always bring back things your student finds extraneous.</p>
<p>You can also contact your OA and/or RA if you have their contact information. They might be able to give you some specifics based on your specific building/room.</p>
<p>^My roommate and I are planning on a small one. I wouldn’t get a huge TV. Not enough room. I’d say like…19-25" max. Unless you have a legitimate reason for a larger one.</p>
<p>Most of the typical channels, it looks like. </p>
<p>Somewhere on the IT page it said you need to buy a Cable hookup cord of some sort, but I’m not sure about the details. I emailed them and never got a response.</p>
<p>For the cable hookup we went to Target and got a regular cable cord for my daughter and screwed it into the TV; don’t know what it’s called, but it was super easy–whatever the regular kind is, that’s what it takes.</p>
<p>You’re not allowed to drill holes in the walls, but a lot of people do anyway and get away with it as long as they are not obvious or they patch them up at the end of the year. Usually you will not be bothered about minor violations during the year, but I know some girls who were forced to remove some polka dot stickers from their ceiling by the AD.</p>
<p>I guess I am a little confused because it’s pretty obvious if you have a mounted telelvision that there are holes drilled into the walls. It sounds like it’s not worth running the risk of being reported and having to take the tv down and repair the walls before the semester even takes off.
Thanks for your advice.</p>
<p>well… at best, you have to fix up the wall at the end of the year. At worst, you have to fix up the wall part way through the year if someone (the RA or area director) decides you have caused damage to your room.</p>
<p>You will find a place to put the tv I’m sure, probably on top of a fridge or dresser.</p>
<p>NO: Iron/board, TV.
YES:<br>
Reading lamp, clamp on type or floor lamp
Area rug
Fridge & microwave - share w/roomate (nobody wakes up for breakfast).
Local bank account
Additional bedding - egg crate mattress pad AND quilted mattress cover
Recreational sporting goods (frisbee, cleats, balls, etc.)
Flash drive
RAIN GEAR - it rains alot</p>
<p>also:
health & dental insurance cards
backpack (for books and weekend trips)
octopus extension cord with lots of 3-prong heads
Skype installed on laptop/computer
trash bags, especially for move-in
disinfecting surface wipes
3M Command hanging strips and hooks of all shapes and sizes
beach towel
party attire (formal outfit, crazy theme outfits/accessories, old sheet, plain white T-shirt)
stacking plastic drawers of varying sizes (for underbed, in closet, etc)
water bottle
sleeping bag and extra pillow/s (for guests and overnight trips)
$75 cash/check for dorm damage deposit upon arrival
voluntary $ donation for hall activities</p>