I know there are other “Packing List” threads existing but I thought I’d create a new one because they go off topic towards the middle of the discussion. I hope that we will all post relevant and helpful information on this thread.
So, what will you bring to boarding school? A more specific question would be: What will you bring to boarding school, apart from your laptop, clothes, and other general things like that?
Also, to current boarders and alums: What do/did you need at boarding school that you never thought you’d need?
Thanks everyone.
I’ve reposted @rebelangel’s still-accurate advice on getting a good start at boarding school, which contains some basic counsel not to overdo what you bring on Day One. http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/905554-some-secrets-for-getting-off-to-a-good-start-this-fall-p1.html
Less than you think you need & an Amazon Prime membership 
small phillips and regular screwdrivers.
@payn4ward , that is a good recommendation for college dorms, summer residential programs, even sleep away camp!
Based on my kids’ summer experiences, I would also say 3M hooks in a variety of sizes.
Here are some things I really appreciate while at school (I go to Exeter) that might not be emphasized on your normal list:
Ear plugs! I have a pair like these http://www.amazon.com/Ear-Plugs-Protection-Construction-Comfortable/dp/B00PSX6ZV2?ie=UTF8&qid=1465431076&ref_=sr_1_4_s_it&s=hpc&sr=1-4 and they have done wonders for my sleep, and they usually fall out by morning so I can hear my alarm!
LOTS OF UNDERWEAR AND SOCKS
lots of blankets and small pillows (personal preference, I suppose)
musical instruments. ukuleles and guitars are popular and great in the dorm
a few tupperware (or any plastic) container and small baggies (for anything from hygiene product storage to food)
a small sewing kit (all you really need is a few thread colors, a few needles, some safety pins, a tape measure, just the basics for small rips in clothes)
a journal. Your years at boarding school can be some of the most formative of your life, and and you will thank yourself in the future when you get to read about your 16 year old self. Plus, it’s relaxing to write at the end of a long day.
Being a planner, an offshore boat captain and wilderness traveller, I was proud of myself and that I thought of everything and packed it all for day one. Be prepared!
Huge mistake. 50% of it ended up in the storage closet, was given away, or took up space all year only to return home. Fully half of the new clothes I bought never were worn and were given away once outgrown.
Next year DS says he’s bringing almost nothing. Amazon delivers, and there really isn’t much space anyway. Lesson learned.
Standard rule of thumb - lay out all the clothes/shoes/accessories you want to take, then put half back into the closet.
I have the opposite problem! I brought all my clothing home and have no room for it here, but it fit fine in my dorm. 
PSA: If you use 3M hooks, make sure you read the instructions on how to remove them. Don’t just pull. I learned from experience.
BUY A FAN. NOW. Before they sell out!
Thanks, guys!
In terms of books, how many do you think would fit in the dorm?
@greenlegobrick it really depends on the school, but I would say only bring a few favorites. There isn’t much time for pleasure reading except on vacations, but if you do need a book, all of these schools have great libraries.
DS took too many clothes; he brought half back at Thanksgiving and left them here. He didn’t want to take his bike on move in day but asked us to bring it up 2 weeks later when we came for a varsity game. He ended up using the bike all the time and stored it in the dorm basement over the summer. We also didn’t realize until we arrived how DARK their room was going to be. Had only one (north-facing) window and no overhead lights. We shipped 3 floor lamps via Amazon Prime that day.
Do students need raincoats or just umbrellas?
@copperboom I think that depends on preference and on location of the school–New England for example, you should bring raincoats. West Coast? Umbrella, though you probably won’t even need that.
This is also personal preference and, in part, the school’s dress code (formal vs. casual). I’ve seen very few students with raincoats and I to this day I do not own a raincoat. A water-resistant jacket works just fine for me.