What's the one item your child found most valuable to take to college?

<p>Whether it be something they used for classes, in the dorm, personally - whatever. What's the one thing not on the "lists" of what you should bring that was most helpful for your college student? You can leave a computer out - we know that's a necessity most of the time... nothing is too small or minor to list!!!</p>

<p>Give me lots of input then us first-timers can print out the list and start shopping for sales before next fall...!</p>

<p>You've probably discussed this before, but I'm kind of a newbie...</p>

<p>Nice cushioned office chair for his desk--since he spends a lot of time studying at his desk in his dorm. He used graduation money to buy a nice leather one that provided more support than the hard, wooden ones the school provides. Of course, not everyone studies in their dorms, but the nice office chair has been extremely handy for him!</p>

<p>Something everybody thinks of but still underestimates - a good cell phone plan. These kids don't ever use the college provided land line. Their cell phone is their life. I'm not going to suggest a provider , only that we chose to buy a large family plan and buy down the evening hours. <em>crossed fingers</em> So far it is working great.</p>

<p>A drying rack. Especially if you have a daughter, as a lot of their flimsy shirts aren't made for the dryer; plus my teenagers never put their jeans in the dryer because they don't want them to shrink. </p>

<p>You can buy good ones at Bed Bath & Beyond for under $20.</p>

<p>Small little plastic garbage bags to put into the small wireless garbage cans the school usually provides.</p>

<p>If you can take the time to read the thread at the top of the College Life forum --- A to Z -- you'll find almost everything mentioned...no need to start your own list!!!</p>

<p>Do anyone's kids ever bring small tv's? S. Guess it depends on cable available or not.</p>

<p>Best thing to take to college - sense of humor - to be able to deal with and face all that is thrown their way and walk away with some sense of accomplishment in the process.:)</p>

<p>Extension cords/surge protectors</p>

<p>A lot of old dorm rooms don't have enough electrical sockets, and the ones that are there are often in inconvenient places, such as behind the desk, bed or dresser.</p>

<p>Along with the sense of humor (and flexibility), practical knowledge that we parents can impart:</p>

<p>-how to do the laundry
-how to balance a checkbook and estimate/budget $$ needs
-when to get self or someone else to the infirmary
-how to book a flight, call a cab, navigate an unfamilar place
-how to, and whom to, ask for help (just because we parents know what a "dean" is, for example, doesn't mean our kids have a clue; and they may not realize that math centers, writing centers, and office hours aren't "just something for dummies")
-etc.</p>

<p>A huge bottle of Robitussin.</p>

<p>An ID/key holder he can wear around his neck.</p>

<p>Grace, I'm amused by "how to balance a checkbook." I made sure my kids have this skill, but instead they've infected me with their attitude: they use their debit card for everything, check their balance every morning online, and check for unfamiliar charges... but don't carry or keep a checkbook. My son has written one check in 7 years; my daughter only a few more than that. I use Bank of America's online bill payment mechanisms for both home and business, and only rarely have to write a "real" checkbook, so I find I now just scan the bank statement rather than balance the checkbook.</p>

<p>As for the single most useful item, I think it's a tossup between the sense of humor mentioned above or the laptop computer, which functions as alarm clock, TV, DVD player, radio and telephone (VOIP) as well as computer. If it could only do laundry.</p>

<p>Bring everything for your computer--all those manuals, CD's, etc that came when you bought it or buy it. My Microsoft Office crashed early freshman year, and my parents had to ship me the CD's to reinstall. Then, sophomore year, after still not having learned my lesson, my computer got a virus, and the school required that I reformat my computer; again, my parents had to ship the required CD's. So bring all those Windows CD's and such that you may never have thought you'd need, and a related note, back up all of your files and invest in a good zip drive! I lost all my digital photos, some of which I can't replace.</p>

<p>case of gatorade, case of water, several boxes of granola/breakfast bars, and lots of microwaveable soups. </p>

<p>He doesn't get up early enough for breakfast, he gets hungry late in the evening, and it was handy to have drinks in his mini-fridge, especially when it was very hot in his room (no a/c).</p>

<p>A digital camera.</p>

<p>A debit card.</p>

<p>A cell phone is a close second. Make sure not only that the plan is economical but that the carrier has good coverage in the college community. For example, I have been told that at the rural college that my daughter will be attending next fall, Verizon is the only real option because coverage is spotty for all the others.</p>

<p>DMD - I have to agree - but................ at some schools you CAN manage your laundry with your computer - at least monitor it - so that computer is multi-tasking all the time ROFL</p>

<p>These are great suggestions - keep em coming...!</p>