Help with college list...

lol, flip flops were the first thing I thought of!

Tylenol
hangers
clorox wipes
an umbrella
batteries
hamper
screwdriver (flat AND philips head) (or a swiss army knife with all the little gadgets- GODSEND!)

extension cords / power strips

flash light

cube frig

good backpack

 

I'd eliminate the umbrella, first aid kit (although basic OTC meds would be a plus), calendar and alarm clock (he'll use his phone and laptop).

 

WalMart gift card (good for gas, too - and you can re-load it remotely)

 

Password protect his phone and laptop. The laptop needs great anti-virus / spam software. You might want to add tracking programs to both the phone and laptop. Add private browsing to his facebook account.

 

Keep in mind, a lot that he goes to school with doesn't make it back home. Drive by any college campus in April / May and be amazed by the new stuff set out on the curb because the kids can't be bothered to tote it all back home.

 

Don't overload him with stuff. Let him acquire it during the school year as he "needs" them.

Caddy for his toiletries to carry to the shower. 

Find out if they can have a microwave. 

and/or a hotplate

I think maybe you've bought some stuff you WON'T need. Every dorm room both of my kids have ever had already had a trash can in it supplied by the school. They have never had a lock box either. I suppose it could help w/ safety, but knowing my kids I doubt they'd lock up anything of value anyway. Really the only thing of value they have is a laptop, money they keep in their wallet (not much at one time) and an ipod or camera. Neither of my kids have ever had a printer either. First two years my DD's roommate had one, but I don't think my DS or his roommate had one last year. My DD could do printing for free which was provided to all the University Honors Program kids, and at my DS's college they have to pay some exorbitant technology fee that covers about 1200 pages of free printing (yeah, like they'll use that much LOL) So they don't print in their room. Plus there's not a lot of space for a printer since the desk area is so small.

I did send each of mine a first aid kit like you listed complete with OTC meds for anything that might come up.....not just ibuprofen, but cold/allergy medicine, some GI stuff, bandaids, antibiotic ointment, etc. They didn't use much of the stuff, but I felt better knowing they had it.

What I don't see listed is:

1) Food....Both of my kids kept snack foods in their room. It can be a long time between dinner and when college kids go to bed. I sent each of them one of those HUGE plastic tubs filled with food and would replenish it every time they came home. I could buy the food much cheaper than what they could get in a campus store.

2) Rain gear. make sure you send a poncho or large umbrella or something as they might have to walk 15 minutes or more in a down pour. I sent rain boots w/ DD, but she never wore them much and last time I offered to buy her some, she said she didn't want any. I bought DS a nice rain jacket with a hood on some great deal I got last year.

3) Some sort of hamper or laundry bag to put dirty laundry in.

4) Fridge and microwave combine, plus TV. Both of my kids colleges rent those combined fridge/microwave units. Usually once they get their roommate assignments, the roommates decide who will bring what. Both of my kids had roommates who lived far away, so they preferred to rent the fridge/microwave unit instead of hauling something from home, and we've always provided the TV. Workd out well for us!! *You cannot have a hot plate in the room*

5) Wipes. I didn't expect my kids to keep their rooms that clean (and that was good I didn't expect it LOL) but I did send cleaning wipes so in case they had a spill or their desk got sticky they could wipes it off. I also sent those hand wipes and maybe even baby wipes so they could wipe up without having to go to the bathroom to clean off their hands.

6) Flashlight and electrical cords. We always take LOTS of electrical cords with us when they move in in case they have to plug something in far from the cord (My DS's TV was placed on top of a large cabinet last year as it was the only place for it). My kids have never needed a flashlight except for looking for outlets behind things, etc, but DH insists they keep one there anyway.

7) Miscellaneous school supplies. Such as push pins for a bulletin board, paper clips, scissors, those binder clips in both large and small size, etc.


If you forget something, it's not the end of the world. Most things they can go a week or two without until they come home next time, or they can always buy things at the campus stores. Yes, campus stores are much more expensive, but they can always get something they need and can't wait to get on the next trip home.

Good luck!!
Edited by aliadam - 7/18/12 at 11:53am

A cup and/or glass, pitcher or jug for water or juice. Lots of hangers

Oh yeah, forgot about eating utensils. How much your son plans to eat in the room will depend on what he needs. Both of my kids took a plate, a bowl, and some eating utensils plus a cup and a water bottle. I don't think my DS EVER used the plate or bowl. He did use the knife (for peanut butter) and the fork for eating microwave noodle bowls. DD I think did use the plate and bowl, but not too often. She sometimes ate a package of instant oatmeal in the morning if she didn't want to spend the time going down for breakfast. Both of my kids liked to eat breakfast in their room much of the time so they could get up a bit later and just eat while getting ready. So that depends on what kind of snack foods you're sending. Both of my kids also ended up with a bunch of free drinking stuff like cups and even water bottles. At both of their schools, the first week lots of places give them stuff so they'd get those plus a bunch of other misc. stuff. I would probably send one thing (probably a water bottle) until after I saw what he gets. Both of mine ended up with about 6 different drinking items by the end of the year, so it was a bit of an overkill.

Oh yeah....reminds me of one more item. A coffee pot. Both of my kids took a coffee pot.
Edited by aliadam - 7/18/12 at 12:40pm