DD is college freshman shopping for dorm life - what does she need? - Page 2

Little Mary · #16 Jun 30, '12, 11:29 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gift from God

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

Kouyate42 · #17 Jun 30, '12, 1:12 pm

Something else I forgot: over here we have 'Freshers Week' celebrations with a week-long series of events and social activities. What I found is that usually, it was an excuse for a lot of different groups to hand out free stuff, which included things like pens, pencils and post-it notes. I ended up with loads of free stuff, including enough pens to last a lifetime. Much of it will be junk but you'll get useful little things too: I still have two small reusable shopping bags I was given.

LoyalViews · #18 Jul 1, '12, 9:40 am

GRANOLA BARS!
Quick and easy snacking or if she's in a rush one morning for school. Make sure they're actually healthy though, and not loaded with sugar.

Lost and Found · #19 Jul 1, '12, 9:59 am

Don't bring anything valuable such as Sony play stations and such. We were advised not to during orientation but since our son was about 500 miles from home and homesick, (and miserable) I allowed him to bring it back to the dorm when he returned from his next vacation. Well, bad decision on my part. An attempt was made to steal it but his dorm mate woke up and caught the thief with the unit in his hands. He dropped it but did make off with some CD's. The kid was on the basketball team, my son on the wrestling team and fights ensued. Of course I didn't hear about most of it for a couple of years. Ahh, the Glory Days!

TheRealJuliane · #20 Jul 1, '12, 10:02 am

Get renter's insurance (reading the above post made me think of it). One day some goof hung a wire hanger on the sprinkler head, setting off the entire sprinkler system and flooding most of the rooms on my son's floor. His room did not get flooded but a lot of computer equipment was ruined. Renter's insurance.

Corki · #21 Jul 1, '12, 10:47 am

Just one additional hint. Read the dorm rules very carefully. I have been on quite a few campus tours with my son lately. Some dorms allow microwaves, others don't. Personal coffee makers that were all the rage when I went to college aren't allowed in some dorms now. One school even had rules about the kids of bulbs in desk lamps (no halogen). Some dorms encourage students to have a memo board on their room door; others don't allow anything on the outside. etc., etc., etc.

Little Mary · #22 Jul 3, '12, 11:51 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRealJuliane

Get renter's insurance (reading the above post made me think of it). One day some goof hung a wire hanger on the sprinkler head, setting off the entire sprinkler system and flooding most of the rooms on my son's floor. His room did not get flooded but a lot of computer equipment was ruined. Renter's insurance.

Really? They write that for dorm rooms? Do I just call my insurance agent?

Little Mary · #23 Jul 3, '12, 11:55 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corki

Just one additional hint. Read the dorm rules very carefully. I have been on quite a few campus tours with my son lately. Some dorms allow microwaves, others don't. Personal coffee makers that were all the rage when I went to college aren't allowed in some dorms now. One school even had rules about the kids of bulbs in desk lamps (no halogen). Some dorms encourage students to have a memo board on their room door; others don't allow anything on the outside. etc., etc., etc.

Thanks Corki.

DD and I spent Sunday afternoon in Bed Bath & Beyond. They had a list for each university of do's/dont's, things allowed, not allowed, suggestions, etc.

We didn't do this, but apparently you can pick up a check list and walk around the store with a store associate, who will scan in everything you want. You leave empty handed. Your order is packed up and shipped to the BB&B nearest your school, ready for you to pay and pick it up on move in day.

We are within driving distance, but that might be handy for people who are coming from long distances.

Anyway, all of the suggestions on this thread were helpful while we were shopping. She has a first aid kit, a flashlight and some tools. And small food storage containers for the fridge.... I never would have thought of those!!!

MacBP · #24 Jul 3, '12, 5:50 pm

Everyone here gave great suggestions; I have one more that wasn't given as much. Give your daughter a FAN! As a year out of residence I can say that my roommate's fan was the most precious thing we owned.

TheRealJuliane · #25 Jul 3, '12, 8:30 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little Mary

Thanks Corki.

DD and I spent Sunday afternoon in Bed Bath & Beyond. They had a list for each university of do's/dont's, things allowed, not allowed, suggestions, etc.

We didn't do this, but apparently you can pick up a check list and walk around the store with a store associate, who will scan in everything you want. You leave empty handed. Your order is packed up and shipped to the BB&B nearest your school, ready for you to pay and pick it up on move in day.

We are within driving distance, but that might be handy for people who are coming from long distances.

Anyway, all of the suggestions on this thread were helpful while we were shopping. She has a first aid kit, a flashlight and some tools. And small food storage containers for the fridge.... I never would have thought of those!!!

Yeah, I had a friend who did this for her son, who is going to a college about 7 hours away. It's a very good idea, especially if you have a girl.