Help! daughter off to college what does she need?

**firefly615** · 07-30-2009, 02:28 PM

My baby is off to college in just two weeks. She will be living in the dorm about 75 miles away from home. We need to start getting together all the little essentials she will be needing.

It has been a while (quite a while, actually) since I lived in a dorm. I am hoping any more recent college grads, or moms with college kids, or even just folks with better memories than me can help me come up with some items we might not think of.

We know she needs long sheets, towels, laundry stuff . . . what else??

TIA

**semo_mom** · 07-30-2009, 03:08 PM

It's not really a need, but a few pictures of the family/friends in a frame. She'll get homesick and really appreciate it.

Maybe a small microwave and fridge. Paper plates, plastic silverware and plastic cups too. A lap desk could come in handy too.

**Thevail** · 07-30-2009, 03:10 PM

A microwave and a few (I stress few) microwavable plastic dishes. She won't have storage for much stuff, dorm rooms are microscopic. One week's worth of new jeans.. she'll be wearing the same ones for years, but three weeks worth of underwear.. the laundry room is a drag!

Shampoo, soap, toothpaste, a pack of three toothbrushes, deodorant, razors, a laundry basket (large sized), an electric kettle or coffee pot depending on preference, micro fridge (possibly), a pair of regular scissors, a small tape measure, a small hammer, one of those screw drivers with the single reversible head philips-to-flat , one of those one dollar containers with small screws, finishing nails, and picture hangers

a couple of EZ mount shelves (the stereo has to go somewhere),

a roll of duct tape (sending a child alone out into the world without scissors and duct tape is just mean!)

Oh.. and all your money.. for some reason they seem to need all your money...

**shoiji** · 07-30-2009, 03:11 PM

How about calling card, prepaid credit card for emergencies, quarters for laundry, first aid kit, small basket to carry toiletries to shower, flip flops, can opener, foot locker that can be locked (or something that can be locked), dishes, utensils. See if dorm has a kitchen, or if students can have coffee maker, microwave, refrigerator. I remember one person using a popcorn maker to make bacon and eggs. I had a refrigerator and one of those hot pots which came in handy to heat water or soup. One time I actually made applesauce with it.

I think one of the best things you can do for her is to set up a budget that she can use. Such as laundry money, phone bill, food, personal products, etc.

**ncarr** · 07-30-2009, 03:24 PM

mini fridge
microwave
paper towels
shampoo/ conditioner
toothbrush and toothpaste
pens/pencils/noteboks/paper
makeup
hair ties and brush
extra long twin sheets
a feather or polyfill bed-- this saved my life in college!!!
comforter
pillows
pictures in frames
laptop or computer
ethernet cord --- to connect to internet
ipod and speakers
cellphone and charger
small set of reuseable plastic dishes- walmart usually has them- I would get 2 each of plates, forks, cereal bowls, knives, spoons, glasses

does the school provide toilet paper?

an all purpose cleaner like 409 just in case

dish soap

face soap

body wash and "poof"

razor and extra blades

shower caddy

towels-- I forgot these and had to use my beach towel!

TV if she has one and a cable cord (most dorms have basic cable)

movies/dvd player

snacks- chips, granola bars, easy mac

a reusable water bottle

**Contrary Housewife** · 07-30-2009, 03:27 PM

Re: shelves - check and see if you're allowed to mount anything on the walls, or if you even can. A lot of dorms have cinder block walls. If she wants to put up posters she will probably need blu-tak or something similar.

Does her room come with anything other than a bed? Some schools provide a small desk/bookshelf, some don't.

What kind of window covering comes with the room, if any? She may want blackout curtains or shades to help her sleep.

Storage tubs that fit under her bed or into the tiny closet (assuming there is one) are usually useful.

What kind of flooring does she have? I have seen dorms with linoleum tile, meaning you have to provide a rug if you want any kind of hominess.

Re: fridge/microwave - if she has a roommate you should get together with her and see if you really need to have two of these in the room. Maybe one person can bring the fridge and one bring the microwave?

Note: don't send her to school with anything valuable or irreplaceable, like good jewelry or high end electronics (stereo, cameras, etc). Theft in dorms can be rampant, and you don't know how many old room keys are floating around. A lot of times doors are just forced open, esp on holiday weekends or breaks when students are away.

**StartingOver** · 07-30-2009, 03:29 PM

Here are some ideas from this website....just some things to think about.

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/...cess/9763.html

**Neeley** · 07-30-2009, 03:32 PM

DD stayed in the dorms for a while this summer and one thing she was thankful for was the desktop fan I sent her with.

**Neeley** · 07-30-2009, 03:36 PM

A pair of shower/pool shoes to wear to and from the shower, possibly in the shower. Just depends on if she has to go down the hall to the shower and/or if several people are sharing the same bathroom.

**firefly615** · 07-30-2009, 03:41 PM

Oh My GOODNESS!! These are such great ideas everyone. Thanks and keep 'em comin' !!

**cab54** · 07-30-2009, 03:53 PM

http://collegeuniversity.suite101.co...om_necessities

Remember, anything that you don't get at first can always be added later. But it's good to have the necessities so she doesn't become the dorm 'borrower'. LOL! It's hard not to get borrowed FROM, too.

A little carrying basket (waterproof like plastic/metal) is good to haul stuff back and forth from the shower. You can get them cheap. Haul 'some' of her stuff TO school in a couple of those milk crates,...she can use them for organizing and just sitting on later, lol. And when she switches rooms from year to year.....

**Greebo** · 07-30-2009, 04:25 PM

A serious lecture about not throwing her life away doing something stupid at a frat party that she'll regret forever?

**Grainlady** · 07-30-2009, 05:38 PM

-A footlocker with a LOCK, and secure it with a chain and lock it to the bed. She'll need someplace others can't get into her belongings and valuables. Theft is rampet in dorms. It's also a good place to keep some warmer clothes that will be needed sooner than you think.

-Get her some microfiber towels, rather than normal cotton towels (check the automotive area at Wal-Mart - they have some large ones). They dry quicker when she hangs them in her room to dry after use. Teach her NO wet stuff in the dirty clothes basket. Nothing like a science project of mold growing on clothes - and damaging them - when she doesn't get around to doing laundry for a couple weeks! All because she tosses wet towels into the laundry.

-Digital thermometer to take her temperature if she's feeling ill and a first-aid kit.

-A bottle of Wrinkle Release. It will help to remove wrinkles from those clothes she retrieves from the dirty laundry basket to re-wear because she hasn't had time to do laundry.

-A Wal-Mart gift card to use for anything you may have forgotten.

-Take a moving dolly (a 2-wheeled cart for moving boxes) and some bungy cords with you to transport the boxes from your vehicle (which is parked 2-miles away) to the dorm.

-A plastic rain poncho and umbrella.

**ml2620** · 07-30-2009, 05:52 PM

Oh, all good mom suggestions but seriously, she's an adult and they sell things near colleges, if she needs something she can borrow it.

I went to college 15 years ago with two laundry baskets of stuff and did very well for myself. My roomate brought a uhaul and had way way way too much stuff to fit in the room.

But if you by a trashbarrell, get a solid one. Before 4 years are over someone always throws up in your waste basket.

Promise her you won't surprise her by driving up unexpectedly on a sunday morning after church with her grandmother...I think my mom is still traumatized by that!