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

<p>I agree with Coloradomom about the drying rack. Students would spend a small fortune to get their clothes completely dry in the ineffectual campus dryers. So I found a rack on QVC that is a collapsible tripod design whose arms telescope out to hold 12 hangers each. When not in use, it can be collapsed and stored under the bed.</p>

<p>Turns out to be a bed chair. You know, one of those things that looks like a chair back with armrests. My D sits in it to read, do homework, and while watching movies.</p>

<p>For D (most appreciated items later--some after saying "why do I need that?")
--cellphone
--first aid kit--fully stocked.<br>
--Brita water pitcher (Texas water tastes "icky")
--over the door hooks (also used at foot of bed for purses, etc)
--lots of that "stick'um" stuff for posters, photos, etc along with those 3m removable hooks that don't damage drywall</p>

<p>For S:
--cellphone
--ipod
--mini fridge
--first aid kit
--fan</p>

<p>Worrywort: I bought that drying rack from QVC and my D's roommate loved it! I say "loved" because now it's home with me. D requested laundry service, which is offered through her college, and it really saves her some time. I kid you not, we took everything on that "a-z" list mentioned somewhere on this board. We had SO much stuff when we put it in the plastic cart to roll it up to her room, it was stacked so high it looked like something out of a Dr. Suess book! The most used items for her were: medicine (everything from advil to motrin to bandaids to Flonase to even anti-biotics (after getting a sinus infection when she got there), a bottle of dishwashing liquid (this stuff can clean any mess in the room), handiwipes or a sponge of some sort, oh, and BOOKENDS. D just asked me for some of those the other day (she is now an organized person), a bookcase (yes, she lives in a hotel room so there was room for this, but you could probably get one of those easy-to-put together 3-shelf ones they sell at Bed Bath and Beyond. Also, being a girl, we got her one of those over the toilet organizers (has 2 shelves.... holds towels, make-up, etc.) Since closet space is at a premium, definitely get one of those dual bar thingys that hang clothes in two rows. This will give you twice as much closet space. I could go on and on, but you'll just have to see what works for you. :)</p>

<p>Seems we think alike, momoney. I was going to say the other must-have item is a canister of Lysol wipes. They can be used to wipe doorknobs, desktop spills, grimy window frames, you name it. Since my kid lives off-campus, he moved into someone else's filth so we wouldn't be without them.</p>

<p>yep. brought those too!</p>

<p>Cereal bowl and spoons.</p>

<p>son buys Clorox wipes at Sam's club every time he is home. He uses them constantly.</p>

<p>My son has already had two colds since starting school. I sent him with plenty of hand sanitizer, but I'm wondering how much he actually uses it. He's going back with Clorox wipes after spring break. :)</p>

<p>Combat boots. Hooah.</p>

<p>Two large boxes of Emergen-C, vitamins and a few tubes of Airborne. D has remained relatively healthy despite illness all around - including room mate with mono. She rolled her eyes at first and now is a true believer.</p>

<p>Small whiteboard (like, 12" x 14") and a dry erase marker; they use them outside their dorm room doors, to leave each other messages.</p>

<p>If Jewish: a mezuzah! Best if it mounts by adhesive, not nails, since lots of dorm doorways are made of steel. </p>

<p>I'm curious: do other religions send things so kids can keep up with their practice, or identify? Advent calendars, for example... I just don't know and wish I did.</p>

<p>I would have to say an electric pencil sharpener would be the little thing that makes me crazy. I got it for my seventh birthday (1993) and have used it since.</p>

<p>Many colleges don't have pencil sharpeners in all the classrooms for some reason. The sharpener takes care of the problem before class even starts! Amazing!!!</p>

<p>I'm the guy who goes through one or two pencil points every day between notes, work, etc. I also tend to eat up pencils so make sure your college-bound kid also has a big pack of pencils...the 72 count should last them a while and will also account for lost pencils, pencils loaned to friends, etc.</p>

<p>Religious items - My son has some books, a hymn book and periodicals from our religion that he had requested. My daughter has a little bit less but her college is one for our religion so has easy access to whatever she wants/needs. </p>

<p>Something else that my son asked for after got to college was a jar for change. Sounds strange, but he had gotten used to dropping his change into a jar before going to bed at home and at college there was no place to get a replacement jar - of course, it didn't occur to him to just use a plastic cup of something, he wanted a jar.</p>

<p>Like momoney, we had too much stuff and ended up taking back some of it after we moved our son in. Now that my daughter is graduating, she's starting to worry about bringing back the accumulation of 4 years worth of stuff. She's added things like a bike, a large rug, a couple of lamps, a small end table, etc. etc. There really are stores and on-line sources wherever you go. One could pretty much just take clothes and bedding and a computer and be done.</p>

<p>Don't forget the lint brush. And extra tape. (My kid said everyone was always borrowing his and used it up. . .) Fabric softener. Small desk lamp.</p>

<p>Re #73--I gave S a small Divine Mercy picture. I don't know if he put it up. There is a crucifix in the dorm room (Catholic school).</p>

<p>Yes, a lint brush! In fact, for the holidays one of my son's gift wrapped presents was a six-pack of lint rollers from Costco!</p>

<p>I still don't get the lint remover--I asked my son about it and he looked at me like I was nuts.</p>

<p>I don't get the lint remover or the fabric softener. Back in mid October my son called me. Told me "you would be proud of me Mom, today I am wearing 'real' clothes." When I asked what that meant he cracked up. Apparently from late August to mid October he was wearing sweats...</p>

<p>Re: lint brush-- S's school has a dress code--they have to wear jacket and tie to certain events. (Nothing tackier than a blue blazer covered with fuzz. . .) </p>

<p>Fabric softener--well, it cuts down on static, and makes your clothes soft and nice smelling. Some people like to use it, I guess.</p>