My son will be leaving for college in a little over a month. He'll only be about three hours away so I know if he forgets anything he'll be able to come home to get it. I was wondering what do you need for a college dorm room? Obviously he'll need a comforter, towels, etc... Because he's a music major and had auditions, he didn't find out where he was going until April. He still hasn't found out who his roomate is going to be or what dorm he's going to be in. He should find out next week. It's all so last minute...most of my friend's kids found all of this out way back in January. My son seems to think it's no big deal getting all of this "stuff" together for college. We need to go out and pick some things up before it's all picked over and there's nothing left. Should I just not worry about and say, "Oh well, if you don't want to get it, then tough luck. You won't have anything then." It seems like with my son's friends who are girls, they all have to have coordinating comforters and things for their rooms. Could guys just care less? At this point, maybe I should just wait for the sales at Target when the college dorm things go 30% off. Does anyone have a list of things that they will definitely need for college? Thanks! ~Lisa

Matching stuff for most guys is not only unnecessary, but embarrassing! Other than bedding, bathroom products, and laundry stuff there isn't much he really has to have. A lot of kids like to have a dorm fridge (if they are allowed). Otherwise, it's mostly electronics stuff -- which, if you ask me, is not necessary.

He's a big boy now. Let him choose whether to worry about it or not and suffer the consequences if he's made a mistake.

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Do what my mom did when I went off to college-Give him the old stuff you have around the house and treat yourself to some new stuff! My mom said SHE deserved the new towels because she had managed to raise me to college age, lol!

Seriously, stuff at at college has a hard life. Used stuff from home that still has life in it will last just about as long as most of the new "back to college" stuff you can buy.

Check with the school. Many have "microfridges"-fridge/microwave combos-that are in every room for the students to use.

The basics I can think of are:
-Towels/washcloths
-Bedding
-Alarm clock
-A couple plates, cups, silverware sets and microwave safe dishes if microwaves are available.
-Laundry soap and laundry basket/hamper
-Bath items including a pair of flip flops for the shower and a caddy for dragging stuff to the showers.

Honestly, once kids get settled, very little time is spent in the dorm rooms. There are so many things going on and much better places to study than those dinky rooms.

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Jesus SAVES by shopping smartly and using double coupons!

I don't post too often but had to jump in here. Do not wait to get the extra long twin sheets that the beds in dorm rooms take. They get picked over VERY quickly and are not easy to findother then at this time of year. HTH.

It seems to me that boys don't really care about this stuff; but they do appreciate their moms taking care of it for them. Just don't expect too much enthusiasm from them on the subject. I agree with whomever said that they don't want it all cutesy, matchy like girls might.

To show what a nerd I am, I still have the spreadsheet that I used for collecting and packing my sons stuff when he started as a freshman last year. He was 1000 miles away without a car, so we kind of had to get it right. In the end, he and his two roommates said they brought too much stuff....

For the big stuff, they planned ahead of time who was bringing what. DS brought the microwave, room rug, and PS2, his roommates covered the refridgerator, TV, Keurig machine, and Xbox360. Although they each had a printer, they only kept one and the other two went home.

The only thing that he added during the year was a seat cushion for his desk chair and some chain lube for his bike.

Dorm Room Supplies
XL Twin Sheets - 2
XL Twin Mattress pad
Egg crate mattress topper
Blanket
Fleece throw
Comforter
Pillows
Husband pillow - took home, he was on the top bunk and couldn't sit up
BathTowel,HandTowels,Washcloth - 2
Alarm Clock (Ipod Dock)
Radio/Stereo/Speakers (Ipod Dock)
TV Monitor
Game System, Controller, Games
Storage Bins/Milk Crate
Wall hooks/hangers
Posters/Stick-it
Refridgerator
Coffee Pot, Filters
Rug
Microwave
Plasticware/Microware
Cup/Mug/Plate
Paper Towels
Desk Lamp
Surge Protector/PowerStrip/extension cord
Flashlight & Batteries

School Supplies/Other
Backpack
Notebooks, Paper
Pens, Paper, Highlighters
Stapler, staples, tape, scissors
Laptop & Cables
Printer/Scanner/Copier
Ipod
Flash Drive(s)
External Hard Drive
CDs & DVDs
Calculator
Whiteboard/Markers
Dictionary/Thesaurus
CellPhone & Charger
Shower Caddy
Shampoo, Soap, Deo, Shaving
Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Mouthwash
Tylenol, Cold meds, cough drops
Eyeglasses, Case, cleaning supplies
Laundry - Detergent, Dryer Sheets
Laundry Bag/Basket
Quarters
Credit card
Checkbook
Stamps
Bicycle & Bike Lock

Clothing
Shorts
Jeans
Dress Pants/Shirt/Tie
S/S T-shirts
L/S shirts
Pullover/sweater
Fleece
Athletic Apparel - sweats, shorts, t
Bathing Suit
Robe
Lounge Pants
Undershirts
Socks
Underwear
Slippers
Shoes or boots
Sneakers
Shower Shoes
Suitcase/Duffel
Umbrella

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Wow cjs216 that is some list. I thought I was bad when my dd Hope dormed away. Now for me personally Hope wanted and seemed to need everything she was upstate New York so not to far, which I was very happy. For my son Tommy he goes here so no dorming for him. I know from my cousin Janet who had 2 sons dorm away, he really was alot of stuff and it seemed endless same with my dd Hope. Anyway you can never be too sure they have everything and its always better and safe to have more then less as you never know what they might need or use. Either way good luck Lisa with your ds wishing all the success in his college education... Peace. Catherine

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in memory of my beloved beautiful brother Sonny who is now an angel in heaven

I don't know....I'd cut him some slack here. This is a big transition for them and nothing wrong with parents helping to make it a little easier on them. IMO.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

I agree also kindly give the boy some slack, if we as parents cannot help our children who will. Peace. Catherine

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in memory of my beloved beautiful brother Sonny who is now an angel in heaven

I'd be more than willing to help out a kid who met me half way, but if he is leaving it all up to the OP, why should she be knocking herself out? If we as parents don't help our children to mature, who will?

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That's exactly what DH said. He said if his roomate wants matching things, then DS better request a new roomate! LOL. DH said something would be a bit wrong there. You're right...I offered to take him out to get some things for college. If he can't make the time to go, then the heck with it. I'm sure they have a Wal-Mart or Target down there. If he gets there and needs something then he can just go out and get it! Thanks... ~Lisa

Good thought! Thanks! ~Lisa

WOW! Awesome list! This is going to REALLY help me out alot. Thanks mega mega much! ~Lisa

I have to agree with you. If I keep doing for them, they'll never learn to do for themselves. I've offered numerous times to help him get ready...now, enough is enough. I did pick up a few things today at Big Lots...some of those bed risers so you can store things under your bed, some towels/washcloths, and a wastebasket. Then I was thinking how nice these towels look and I was thinking I'd give him some of my old ones! I got home and read what targetgirl said and didn't feel so guilty for thinking that! I've always wanted to teach my kids to be independent. I've always wanted my sons to be able to know how to do things so that they wouldn't expect a woman to do things for them. Well, I don't think I've done too well. My intentions were good, but I think I screwed up along the way somewhere. I ended up doing way too much for them. I'm kind of looking forward to him getting out on his own so he doesn't rely on me so much. ~Lisa

He's a pretty good kid. I'll show him the things I got today and see what he has to say. I'm going to just explain to him that I just want to help, but if he doesn't want to accept, then he's on his own. Your list is going to really come in handy. ~Lisa

That is some list!! I am not nearly that organized, so I may just print it out for my son's reference.

When my oldest went to college, we bought so much stuff down when he moved in. I bought plenty of towels, as they get used a lot and washed less than I would like. I did (and do) give him our old towels so I won't get upset if they are used for unorthodox purposes. : ) I will tell you we bought a lot of kitchen stuff since he had a roommate, but they were also within a 3 bedroom suite with a small kitchen. It was such a waste of money. The boys didn't kntow each other, so didn't communicate beforehand, and moved in at varying times. They ended up with FIVE microwaves!!
It is so easy to move in with the basics, then take a trip to a local store if anything really important pops up. The other thing I have found over the past four years is that if I send an occasional note asking what he needs, he is happy to get a care package. I will send sheets once in awhile, some new cups and plates for the kitchen, towels, whatever. (He is in an apartment.) Since we all like to shop online, and know how to find deals & free shipping, it's an easy way to let them know you're thinking of them without breathing down their necks.
My second d/s is off next month, and I have given it very little thought. We'll go through what we have here, then get some bedding, pillows, cleaning supplies (paper towels and trash bags can never be too plentiful!) and see how it goes.
FWIW, I buy the extra-long twin sheets all year without any problem. They go on clearance shortly after school starts in Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Sears, and I grab them!
Good luck on your new adventure! If you find yourself anxious because he's clearly not getting his act together and moving date is coming, etc., remind yourself that you should not have to work so hard to convince anyone to LET you help them. It's really not such a great privilege. He'll be fine, and if you are worried you've done too much for him (as have I for mine), I can assure you this will be the time he learns to man up!

It would be good to find out what the rooms look like and what is in them, last year we bought too many things and found out later that half of the stuff we bought wont fit into the room, in my dd's room under 1 of the beds there was something made out
of wood that took up the whole bottom of the bed, so we couldnt use anything on the floor of the bed which left VERY little room for items, her dresser was from top to bottom so you couldnt squeeze stuff in between there either....they werent allowed any microwaves or hot plates anything related to that, so cooking in the room was out, only certain electrical cords are allowed, certain rooms you can bring toilet paper other rooms had community bathrooms, if you didnt get a check list from the school it should be arriving soon, I would go by that list and even then the list is more then needed...... moving in days is hectic so I would take less and then when you viist or he visits take what he seems to be missing.
We did buy alot of towels, washcloths, all matching so it was easier for her to find in the washer or dryer if someone took them out on her, also told her that they have to last her whole 4 years of college so we dont have to buy them yearly.

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My daughter is heading off to school and she will be over 6 hours away...her roommate will be unable to bring much stuff and I used the following list. Luckily she will be playing volleyball and we will see her at games locally - and get her additional items if needed. Also - the WalMart delivery to store option is going to be her new best friend.

I freely admit I am a helicopter parent (in fact I am the Bell Osprey of helicopter parents.) The have more roters!

Ok - I will also admit that my list is color coordinated and that I have bins that hold most items with an itemized excel spreadsheet detailing inventory in each bin....

Screwdriver
Hammer
Scissors
Paper Towels
Cleaning Supplies
Box Cutter
Measuring Tape
Drawer Liner

Microwave
Refrigerator
Computer
TV
DVD Player
Stereo
Camera
Electric Blanket
Fan

School Stuff
Desk and bed light
Back Pack
School Supplies
Dictionary

Useful Stuff
Garbage Bags
Paper Towels/Plates
Toilet Paper
Kleenex
Sewing Kit
Ziploc Bags
Scissors
Tape
Can opener
First aid kit
Trash can
Bedding
Bedspread / comforter
Blankets
Pillows
Sheets – 2 sets
Curtains
Egg Crate
Mattress Cover
Throw Rugs
Poster Putty
Phone
Laundry Basket
Tool kit
Thumb Tacks

Glasses, Mugs, Cups
Silverware
Laundry Detergent
Extension Cords
Power strips
Nightlight
Lap Desk
Storage Stuff
Under-the-bed boxes
Bookshelves
CD/DVD Racks
Hooks
3 Drawer Rolling bin
Hangers
Baskets

Important Stuff
Insurance Medical Card
Credit/Debit Card
Cell Phone
Checkbook

Misc. Stuff
Alarm Clock
Surge Protector
Over Door towel Rack
Suitcase or duffel bag
Cd’s, Pictures, Posters
Umbrella
Sports Stuff
Stationery and stamps
Personal Stuff
Toothbrush and holder
Towels
Blow dryer, brush, comb
Cosmetics & hair products
Cotton balls and Qtips
Nail Polish / Remover
Lotions, Razor, Gel
Glasses or extra contacts
Shower shoes
Shower Caddy
Safe

I don't know where your kids are going to school, but dorm rooms are pretty small! There really isn't a lot of room for all of that stuff. Also, there is a campus store where they can get sundries, etc. when they need them. I know we brought a bunch of stuff home on my son's first break because it wasn't being used.

Side note--the number of boxers and socks you send will equate to the frequency of laundry! Freshmen year I sent my son with 2 weeks worth of each....bad idea!

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*******If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
But if life gives you limes....make margaritas!!!*******

Mine aren't in college yet but here's something from when I was:

My father insisted on engraving all my electronics with my SSN. Nothing ever went missing but some of my books did. After the first one disappeared, I wrote my name on a certain page number in the rest of my books and when another went missing, I went to buy a new copy and the guy handed me my own book back! I could prove it because of my name being in it. I'm not sure whether it was my roommate (who was rarely in the room, I think she pretty much had another place) or her friends, they may have been given the key.

Since you don't know the kid(s) he'll be rooming with, it might be a good idea to invest in a small safe if he has anything small and valuable that would be left in the room when he's gone (meds, documents, etc). And if you haven't had the credit card talk yet, that might be a good idea. I don't remember ever signing up for anything (even for freebies) but when I came home from school on a break, I somehow had a credit card statement ($0 balance) without ever getting the card.

I bought my daughter gifts cards to Target and CVS. We also sent her with a ton of stuff that I got from stockpiling, shampoo,toothpaste, cough drops (just in case) razors and shaving gel. She's now a junior and stills has stuff.LOL

Thanks for the list! I'll add yours to cjs's...Printing them out now! ~Lisa

Why was that a bad idea? For my son, that was about right. Confused....

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Only because he put off doing laundry! 2 weeks worth of everything is a ton, especially when he brought it home on break!!

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*******If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
But if life gives you limes....make margaritas!!!*******

I saw a commercial last night and thought the product would be great for these kids heading off to college. It is a laundry sheet that contains detergent, fabric softener and anti-static in one. Purex makes it. I remember for my oldest we purchased a bunch of the laundry tablets, which he loved since he didn't have to cart around a huge bottle of detergent.

There was a great coupon out a while ago for that Purex all-in-one product, so I picked some up for my DS. I also bought some laundry detergent in little pods just like dishwasher detergent comes...can't remember the name. (ETA: dropps - see here: Dropps at Amazon.com)

My son didn't bring home any more dirty laundry than could fit in his carryon bag, so I guess that wasn't an issue for me, Sandy!

For those looking for bargains for their college kids - take a look at Kohls this morning.
I posted the deals here: Kohls - 20% off everything for everyone last day!!

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Good Morning, newbie here. Just wanted to add that my daughter needed cords for the internet and cable connections, the ones that go from the wall to the unit. Her sister's school provided them but her's didn't.

That's good to know...thanks. My son just found out what hall he's going to be in and who his roomate is. They are going to have bunk beds, so I had to take the bed risers back. I got him a really nice comforter set today...it's royal blue, black, and grey plaid with a small lime green stripe running through it...I got him a trash can, laundry bag, laundry basket, memo board, desk lamp, bulletin board, and some sheets. It's coming along and he's helping me get stuff now. Those lists are coming in handy. Thanks again... ~Lisa