DD is college freshman shopping for dorm life - what does she need?

[Little Mary]

Hello forum friends!

DD is moving into her dorm in August as a college freshman. It is a "traditional" dorm - just a room with two beds, etc., and community bathrooms down the hall. (I know they are building little apartments nowadays, but she chose this dorm for its location on the campus).

Anyhoo.... I just thought I'd post this thread to see if anyone can help me with a list of everything she might need. Linens, storage units, got it. I'm looking for tidbits and advice about things we might not think of, but would be great to have.

The room has a micro/fridge in it, and the beds can be lofted (raised and lowered).

Any ideas for our shopping list would be greatly appreciated. We are going Sunday to look around. Thanks.

[kwitz]

Half as much as she thinks she needs . Just remember - it all comes back home in May. I don't know how DS fit all of what was in my living room into his dorm room!

Only 1 set of sheets - my kids washed and re-made the bed with them. The fewer towels you give them, the more frequently they'll need to do laundry - they do eventually get grossed out by re-using them.

Multi-strip extension cords. Neither of my kids ever locked up their lap tops (which drove me crazy, but neither were ever stolen).

Organization stuff for the desk - a place to throw pens, paper clips, tape etc. Trash can.

Have fun! It's an exciting time for both of you.

Kris

[LoyalViews]

A crucifix, Rosary beads, some Spiritual reading.

A book for phone numbers, little organising boxes to put on her desk to keep things from getting lost, LOTS of Postit notes, a few pictures for the walls incase they look bare.

Things to remind her of home, too!

[Midwest88]

Your location says Alabama - I had an internship in Mobile. Beautiful state with rolling hills (you see, I come from a state that is rather flat so the hills were a pleasant surprise to me).

Originally Posted by Little Mary

Anyhoo.... I just thought I'd post this thread to see if anyone can help me with a list of everything she might need. Linens, storage units, got it. I'm looking for tidbits and advice about things we might not think of, but would be great to have.

The room has a micro/fridge in it, and the beds can be lofted (raised and lowered).

Any ideas for our shopping list would be greatly appreciated. We are going Sunday to look around. Thanks.

Depending on the weather of the state, she'll need clothes that are appropriate for the forecast so keep that in mind. I'm a guy, if it matters, but this is what I brought that I found essential:

umbrella & rain shoes
rain jacket
a black coat (for formal events)
suit (for job interviews)
black and white formal wear w/ shoes to match (if not a suit)
formal belt
running shoes (using the same running shoes as everyday sneaker is a no-no)

Utilities -
flashlight w/ extra batteries
sewing needle & thread
ratchet screwdriver w/ different heads
mini iron & mini ironing board (if she likes to iron or is going to events that don't allow Ugg boots, sweatpants and hoodie)

ratchet screwdriver: http://www.lowes.com/pd_277980-16878...ductId=3528520

flashlight: http://www.rayovac.com/Products/Ligh...lashlight.aspx

books -
bring a grammar/writing book in case of a mental lapses when writing a paper
if she isn't taking a formal logic class then I suggest trying to invest in one that isn't too complicated - it'll help in her writing (if she's a good writer she'll become better)
favorite literary classics (just to show off to whoever visits the dorm room . . . they replace trophies)

school stuff -
different colored mini-sharpies (use w/ sticky notes)
rubber bands
paper clips
sticky notes (found these to be "life savers")
daily planner (maybe big enough to put sticky notes in for exam reminders)

* I put all my "office space" stuff in a supply box. It's small enough to put under the desk, the bed or in the closet. It also comes in handy to store any small things that may get shuffled around in a desk drawer.

supply box: http://www.amazon.com/Akro-Mills-Sup.../dp/B00304WJF2

misc/linens -
reusable water bottle (it'll remind her to drink water and not pop/soda)
extra pillow cases
mobile charger
alarm clock
floor fan (air circulation)
sun screen
disinfecting wipes (cleans desk, laptop and hands)

I hope this helps. If you need certain brands as suggestions let me know.

[Corki]

Some good ideas here. I'll have to remember them for when my kid goes off next year.

I would add to the list some kind of storage containers that can go on a closet shelf or under the bed. If your daughter's school has seasons, there will always be some things she will want out of the way such as gloves in September and the frisbee when it's snowing. They sell containers that look like the milk crates of our day but that have covers or even that fold up.

Also with community bathrooms, she will probably want some kind of shower tote to carry her stuff down the hall.

When I went away, my mom packed me a "medicine chest" (it was a shoe box) with basic supplies for the first time a cold was caught- aspirin, cough drops, decongestant, vics vapor rub, a thermometer, etc. When you are sick, you don't want to have to hunt down your favorites.

If she is not used to sleeping in a noisy environment, she might also want ear plugs and a sleep mask.

[lerapt78]

Hi OP,

I lived in a dorm with a community bathroom as well. I would get her a water-proof carry case (something with a handle) for her toiletries, so that she she doesn't have to carry shampoo/soap/razor/etc in her hand every time she goes to the shower.

Also, make sure she has flip-flops. Not cute ones she would wear every day, but a cheap pair that she would use in the shower. Say no to athlete's foot!

[TheRealJuliane]

Originally Posted by Little Mary

Hello forum friends!

DD is moving into her dorm in August as a college freshman. It is a "traditional" dorm - just a room with two beds, etc., and community bathrooms down the hall. (I know they are building little apartments nowadays, but she chose this dorm for its location on the campus).

Anyhoo.... I just thought I'd post this thread to see if anyone can help me with a list of everything she might need. Linens, storage units, got it. I'm looking for tidbits and advice about things we might not think of, but would be great to have.

The room has a micro/fridge in it, and the beds can be lofted (raised and lowered).

Any ideas for our shopping list would be greatly appreciated. We are going Sunday to look around. Thanks.

Definitely loft the bed! Then stuff the fridge and microwave underneath, that opens up a lot of space for the desk. If the dorm has cinder block walls, I have NO IDEA what actually sticks to them for hanging pictures. I HATE cinder block walls!!! Did you get those hanging storage bins for the closet? Those come in handy. I agree with whoever said that what you load INTO the room in August has to come home again, so try to keep extraneous stuff from creeping in. I know that when we moved our older son into the dorms, the poor parents of girls had about 15 trips to make to our 3!

Good luck with sending your daughter off to college! It's an exciting time. Be sure you bring tissues for the ride back home!

[skigirl1689]

If they have wardrobes, lots of hangers are a must. I'm trying to think of what I did not anticipate needing, but then again, I had a lot of extra supplies for my private bathroom too and stuff needed because of my disability.

-Paper towels are good to have on hand at all times.
-Not sure what her internet hookup will be but we needed to buy our own ethernet cord to connect to the dorm's network.
-I loved having a desk lamp for working at night as the florescent lighting is so bright/harsh.
-A nice fan is also good to have; I had a 12" diameter one and it was a lifesaver when the first week was in the 90s. I live in MI so hot weather isn't normal but you probably thought of it seeing it's in AL. But I even used it in the winter when the dorm's heat was ridiculously high.
-OTC medications: pain relievers, cold medicine, antacids
-Bandaids and triple antibiotic cream; I also had gauze and medical tape.
-Alarm clock, unless she just wants to use her cell phone.
-Lanyard for keys and ID holder; most students got theirs at the campus store.
-Snacks

Hope this helps!

[Kouyate42]

I can remember when I was going to college, I took some of the following:

Books/stationery

Organizer to write my weekly lecture timetable in, as well as any appointments/notes.
Pen holder and lots of pens, pencils and erasers.
Dictionary/grammar book/thesaurus for essays/assignments
Some reading books for downtime/bedtimes.
Posters for the walls. Dorms can be boring places and posters are a cheap and effective way of sorting it out. You could even include religiously themed posters if you wished.
Pencilcase and good, roomy book bag. I used to have to carry a LOT of books and a good bag helped a lot.
Post-it notes (seriously, around exam time, these are a life-saver).
Small whiteboard for making any notes/to-do lists/shopping lists
Files and box files, for papers and other important things.
Computer supplies, such as a USB stick, CD-Rs, cleaning wipes etc.

Room stuff

Linens for the bed
Towels, including bath and hand towels.
Alarm clock
Storage chests. You can all sorts of different ones, including plastic, wooden and even cardboard ones. They're also handy when it comes to coming home.
Socket extension
Desk lamp/bedside lamps
Laptop bag (if she's taking a laptop, although I can't imagine a student being able to study easily without one.)
Crucifix (if the college doesn't allow wall-hung ones, there's usually desk crucifixes available too)
Laundry bag. If it's anything like my old dorm, carrying a load of laundry to the laundry room isn't the easiest of jobs.
Small kettle (if allowed, for tea and soup)
Lots of clothes hangers

Clothes/other items

Cups/plates/cutlery.
Some basic medical supplies, such as plasters, scissors, painkillers, hydro-cortisone cream, sunblock etc.
Dried milk (I always used to run out of fresh milk just as I needed some)
Some basic quick foods, such as flapjacks, for when she's in a hurry. Soup-in-a-cup packets are also always handy.
Seasonal items, such as gloves for cold weather or a sunhat for hot weather.

Also, when she goes, remember things like mobile phone chargers! I left mine at home and had to have it posted to me.

[Allegra]

Probably your daughter can figure out for herself most of the things she needs, but one thing to consider is an electric kettle to boil water. Another is an oscillating fan. Definatly remind her about a good flashlight. If she has more clothes than what fits in the closet well, those space bags they have at Bed, Bath, and Beyond can be very helpful. A few small pieces of tupperware are good if she has a fridge and I was always looking for a good knife, a hammer, and a screwdriver. (Especially the screwdriver!) If she's taking a car and the college is in a place where it snows, make certain she has a scraper and a snow shovel in her trunk. I got plowed into a parking space once and there was no one with a shovel in the dorm to help me get out. I had to get a friend to drive me to the store!

[Allegra]

Oh! I forgot! Lots of 3M hooks! They hold anything. They don't damage walls, They're the only hooks I've ever known to stick to cinderblocks.

[SMHW]

A lot of what I am saying will be repeats but...

Save the the plastic zippered containers that the bedding comes in. They will work as storage in the dorm room and can be used to pack up the bedding when it is time to come home..

Some kind of container for toiletries that she needs to lug back and forth from dorm room to bathroom. Some people like containers with drain holes; others like those without. Each has their pros and cons.

Collapsible storage bins that can be made into crates for storage. (They are great for under the bed.) They can be flattened when not needed. Those mesh laundry baskets are great for the same reason. There's a good chance that clean laundry will stay in the basket until it's worn so I say get at least two mesh laundry containers: one for clean clothes and one for dirty.

A lamp where the base has bins for pens, pencils, scissors, tape, etc saves space on a desk. On the other hand, a clip light may be better if she can hook it onto the bed. Students tend not to work at their desks nearly as much as they do on their beds.

A clock radio with an iPod/iPhone port works as a wake-up device and a charger if she has either of those devices.

If your daughter will be supplying her own computer printer then try to find one with as small a footprint as possible. Printers take up valuable desktop/dresser space. Make sure she has plenty of ink cartridges and paper. And don't forget the USB cable if it's not a wireless. Most dorms have WiFi now days but be sure to check ahead of time. If she will need an Ethernet cable you'll want one that's about 25 feet just to be safe.

If there will be closet with a rod for hangers then one of those hanging closet organizers will probably make better use of the space. She'll probably only have a few things that she will hang up. Shoes, sweaters, t-shirts, and the like are easier to put in shelves.

Power strips: The ones where the cord comes out at an angle are better for going behind beds and furniture but they tend to cover the second wall outlet so you can only use the one. (But that's why you have a power strip with multiple outlets to begin with.) A six foot, heavy duty extension cord will guarantee that the micro/fridge can be safely plugged in if the ideal location for it isn't near an outlet. But that is probably best purchased AFTER she arrives, if needed.

Make sure she has enough plates/cups/bowls/flatware for herself and at least one guest. Students tend to collect items from the cafeteria so I wouldn't get more. But she could probably use a small bottle of dish soap, a scrubber, and a dish towel.

[Little Mary]

Great ideas everybody! I've picked up a lot of ideas I had not thought of. Thank you!!!!

[Allegra]

This is a moving tip more than an item. If your daughter is going away to school and you have the time, don't buy alot of stuff until you get there. It makes it easier to access what is actually needed. For example, your daughter's roommate might already have some things so your daughter doesn't need them. After you get her things moved in, you can see how much space is left and then hit Target. It also means less junk you have to pack and carry. (At least this year.)

[Gift from God]

Headphones. If it's the kind of dorm I'm thinking of, she'll need headphones for times when her roomate is studying or is in bed early because of her morning class

Pens, lots of pens

Paper for the printer

By the way, when I started university a couple of years ago, we were all given a bag of essentials that were needed for the year. This included highlighters, a deck of cards, a couple of pens, pencils, and erasers, an agenda, and, oddly enough, three tampons, just in case you didn't bring your own. And yes, all the males received this