COLLEGE NECESSITIES

quote:

Originally posted by LHPitcher:
He will be living in a house with four other baseball players.

Sounds like he'll need an extra refrigerator for all that beer. JUST KIDDING ladies! I know some of you feared this type of living situation so I just had to tease a bit.

Oh, Beez - I know first hand, one of their favorite things to find in their frig is something mom has made and brought from home!

There was a list last year like this that was so helpful to me. I remember one thing that had never occured to me were flip-flops for the shower!

I bought an over the door hanging rack (had three hooks) that came in very handy for jackets, etc. He would actually hang his towel up too!

LHP - how about a periodic maid service? 5 male altheltes living in a house....it's not going to be clean very often between practices, classes, study tables, library, etc.

Quarters
Family picture
Bathroom cleaners (just to make YOU feel better)
Various OTC medications
Disposable camera
Laundry sack (kind with mesh so dirty clothes won't stink as much)
Extension cord

There are lists available....and the college sent us one. If I had to do it all over, I'd skip buying an upright dust buster/vacuum. Son doesn't remember using it....and doesn't remember what happened to it. In fact....I'd skip all cleaning supplies and just hope his roommate knows how to clean...or at least recognize dust.

Momandcpa - I found that an actual laundry hamper worked better than the mesh bag. If you have a convenient place to hang the bag it would work I suppose, but for my son, having a hamper was easier and prompted him to actually put his clothes in it! The extension cord is something with did, but I'll add I bought a power strip. That way the laptop is protected from a surge and they don't have to plug/unplug items if there's only one outlet by their bed.

LadyNMom - I think that hopeless - about the roomate that is! I did send a nice little container of cleaning supplies with my son (they were in a house though). It was nice to have them there for my visits!

I have a daughter who just finished the second and last year of dorm life (apartment in the fall). First, let me say, less is more. Both years her roommates brought everything they owned to this small room. It took them forever to move in and out. We were streamlined, and after a few trips up and down the four flights of stairs, we were finished.
Make sure your son has a GOOD chair for his study area - our daughter has had back surgery so the dorm supplied straight back chair would not do. Got a nice office chair (small - but she is small also) and everyone envies it. Also a good study lamp - no halogen - they tend to incinerate things from the heat they put out (voice of experience). Power strips, cords, OTC meds, laptop or desktop computer with printer (this is not a luxury - they can't get by without it), antibacterial wipes (for my peace of mind), a fan for bedside (drowns out noise from roomies). Also look into the meningitis vaccine that is recommended for college students (particularly those living in high density housing). Money is lovely - she loved unexpectedly getting $10 in the mail or a restaurant gift card. I gave her BF a Sonic gift card for his birthday and told him not to share!

Redhead.....great advise....I send "Care" packages....and always include a $10.00 bill.....You brought up the meningits vaccine....and that reminds me.....going to bump up that thread.....very important.

Also on the list - a BIG trash can. They can make lots of trash!

Having completed our freshman year in the dorms .... the key is less is better! I suggest taking just half of what he thinks he'll need on the first trip, then wait 3 weeks and either ship what they really need or send money!

A few things that come to mind that were used a lot: a memory-foam topper for that very comfortable dorm bed; a small fan; a pop-up mesh laundry bag w/ carry strap (mesh because things are thrown in wet , handle because it weighs a ton by the time they get around to doing laundry ) and laundry soap tablets for no mess/easy storage; a small desk lamp with built-in electrical outlet on the base; monitor stands for stacking PC & Game equipment on the desk; under-bed storage units with pull-out drawers for easy access; very loud alarm clock:. Oh, and speaking of laundry, make sure to pre-wash anything new to avoid any chance of "pink". What not to pack .... more than one set of sheets and towels. Seems the same one works just fine for 9 months ... then just throw away!

Here is a thread that started in May of 05
Tips for the Parents of a Freshman heading off soon

RHP05Parent... my eldest son just finished his first year in the dorms as well. I agree... there was a lot that I sent off that wasn't needed. His roommate's mom and I sent off all sorts of cleaning supplies, air freshener, etc. that NEVER got used. Also, I agree on the fewer towels the better... I shudder to think how seldom those got washed!

He probably didn't need the towel rack either - if the towel was stiff enough it could satnd on it's own!

Failure to proofread - Correction - it could STAND on it's own!

The first time that my friend (my son's roommate's mom) and I went out to visit... our boys called and said that we would be proud of how they cleaned up before our arrival. To say the very least, we shocked at how dirty and messy it was... AND, that was after they cleaned!

HOWEVER, they both made very good grades and didn't get in any trouble. I have readjusted my expectations to the big picture!