Originally Posted By vbdad55 <The students could rent a mini-refridgerator, but it is much less expensive to just buy one at home depot< yep, use it for 4 years then sell it to an incoming freshman
Originally Posted By DVC_dad I always appreciated SNACKS that my mom SENT in the MAIL AFTER I was in college. There were times that I would spend carelessly on things I did not need and eventhough I had a great meal plan in the school cafeteria, I often needed a pick-me-up sanck between say breakfast and dinner. I never let on how much I did love getting food from mom in the mail as I was a cool college student and all that, but looking back I was so happy when a goody bag of snacks would come uninvited.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip ^^^ Letters from home are GREATLY appreciated. Even in the age of e-mail Rachel liked having things from home show up in her P.O. Box. She said that the kids who never got anything really felt bad about it. We tried to send her a letter and a box with some little gift in it just about every week. Even though Rachel LOVED going away to school, she was quite homesick the first couple of months.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ditto ^^^ My daughter would have comehome the first week of college if I would have let her she was so homesick..she loved getting items from home--especially for holidays and special days they don;t necessairly get to come home for... valentines day / halloween etc -- we always send decorations and sometimes like a build a bear for the holiday etc.-- a surprise copy of the latest DVD release ( lots of Disney) - etc -- she loves getting mail...
Originally Posted By agent Just picked up my 11 year old son from a 5 day stay at the Oregon State World Champion Beavers baseball camp. (Sorry for bragging, but our whole state is quite proud!) And, my have college dorms and food changed. The dining was like a food court at the mall. The rooms were much nicer than when I was in college. A few things that my son said was really nice to have: 1. Extra long twin sheets- normal size would not have fit. 2. A fan and an extension cord. 3. A small refrigerator. He and his roomate spent oodles of money getting cold pop from the vending machines. 4. A sharpie to mark his belongings, especially his food card. 5. All the proper sporting equipment. My son said it was quite a hard time for those boys who forget the necessary "support". None of the boys would go buy new cups, they just did without. Wouldn't have thought it would be that big of a deal! Keep in mind, this is an 11 year old, but he is pretty much right on in my estimate (except maybe #5!) Also, I grew up right outside of Spokane. You actually do have 4 seasons!!Jeans, t-shirts and sweatshirts work in all weather! Good luck!!
Originally Posted By dlkozy I am on my third child in college. All had a mini fridge that we bought-so I agree with the others before me that mentioned having one. It came in great when there were things that they did NOT want to share! :0) As far as the medical kit-think of all the things that you like to have when you have the cold/flu. Put in Nyquil, cough syrup, gatorade, chicken soup, cough drops. My kids told me that when they were sick, it was so nice to know that they had everything that they needed- except MOM! :0)
Originally Posted By dlkozy Also, find out what the nearest grocery store is. I found out that I could order things via the phone for my kids and have it charged to my account and that this store delivered for $2 too! This came in GREAT for their birthdays. I ordered a cake, balloons, ice cream and had it all delivered when I knew that they would be there. I also picked up store gift cards when we dropped them off and would include one in a card every now and then.
Originally Posted By Kala 1Gee1 - Congrats to your son! Wow Gonzaga U! Great school, awesome basketball team! When my nephew went off to college last year we got him gift cards to pizza hut, starbucks, and AM/PM, the last came in handy when he needed a lift he would offer a gas fill up if he could hitch a ride home to Seattle or even around town.
Originally Posted By 1Gee1 Thank you all for the valuable suggestions!!! Before I started this thread, I searched "Dorm Essentials" on Google and didn't get near the help you've offered! (Just a bunch of ads.) We went to Walmart yesterday and picked up a few of the things you've mentioned...small fan, extention cords, power strip, plastic storage containers (asst. sizes), the makings of a medical kit with "stuff" we use here, etc. He'll have to get the ice-scraper in Spokane...they aren't sold during the 100º CA summers! We had heard about the x-tra long twin sheets so I purchased those through the JCPenney's catalog. We did get a new comforter yesterday (Walmart price...perfect for a dorm!). I like the idea of the gift cards...I'll find out what places are close to the campus. I've already checked out where the nearest Target and Walmart are. I also found out that Gonzaga offers a service where they deliver "goodie baskets" on certain occasions and holidays; it's a school fundraiser. Families can send something for each holiday/birthday or for Halloween and fall finals week, you can prepay $50. They're basically containers filled with candy and snacks. I think I might do that as "insurance" and then supplement with care packages from home. When I read your posts about getting something from home...I knew that was a MUST!!! His dorm has a small kitchen on each floor (2) with about 35 students using each. They recommended taking plastic tableware (dish, cup, bowl). Too much trash with paper; better to recycle. Do kids store the food in their rooms in plastic bins or something? I'd imagine that if stored in the kitchens, it would disappear pretty quickly. Thanks again!
Originally Posted By 1Gee1 agent...good for your 11 year old son! How exciting! That's an experience he'll remember always! >>>"Jeans, t-shirts and sweatshirts work in all weather!<<<" What type of shoes/boots do guys wear during winter?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "I'd imagine that if stored in the kitchens, it would disappear pretty quickly." Yes it does. That's why I shopped almost every day.
Originally Posted By avromark Make sure the college has plugs for your son's car's Engine Block Heater Oh wait that's an Alberta thing. Baggies! As well as resealable foot containers, even with AC your son will probably want an electric fan, extra towels (can be used for sound isulation at base of door, pool, bathing, stretches, etc), toque, and of course a kitchen sink. The other thing is extra ethernet cables (sometimes wifi can be spotty on campus)
Originally Posted By dlkozy My son had a drawer full of his food in his room-and what he ended up not eating at the end of the year-he TRADED! Anything left in communal areas becomes a GIFT for everyone else!
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I highly recommend food containers that stack inside eachother so you save space. If into Disney a cute thing I did even wayyyyyy back then was buy the plate, bowl and cup that was Snow White and then I had a sports one too. Sharpied the back and no one could ever claim it was theirs. Suction cup hooks are invaluable! 1 or 4 cup tea/coffee maker - good for soup, tea, top ramen, etc if they can't have a mircowave in the room. Bedtray for laptop or writing while in bed - the desk sitting gets old. Every bit of office/desk equipment imaginable: stapler scissors paper clips report covers paper ink cartridges pens pencils staple remover highlighters hole puncher papercutter file folders post it's tablets calculator cd's envelopes stamps push pins Call me crazy but a cashbox. I used it for my jewelry and other valuables. Couple plastic drinking glasses & coffee mugs. A Leatherman or Swiss Army knife with multiple tools on it.
Originally Posted By agent 1Gee1- What type of boots or shoes? Cowboy boots (but my husband said they are way too slick on the bottom in snow for him), Columbia style/Gortex hiking boots, and yes plain old tennis shoes. The Gortex will last a lot longer and keep you much drier!!! By the way, Are you from the Pacific Northwest?
Originally Posted By 1Gee1 You LPers are the BEST! I'm keeping a shopping list right here by the computer. I just added 'baggies' and 'suction hooks'...we'll be making another trip to Walmart before we leave, for sure! That is a great list of supplies, LisaAnn! agent...we're from southern CA, about an hour north of L.A. That's why I'm so ignorant about northwest living! Thanks for the foot-wear info.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros If you don't want to drive the entire way with all the stuff, Bed Bath & Beyond will give you one of the bridal regestry scanners, and let you scan all the stuff you want. Then they will call the order into the closest store to the school and you can just pick it up there. They also ship directly to the dorms, but of course that costs extra. They also have lists of everything you could ever imagine you might possibly maybe need that they have. (When was the last time you used a cotton ball holder?)
Originally Posted By 1Gee1 FerretAfros...Thanks for that BB&B site suggestion! Their 'Parent Guide' and 'Student Guide' sections are very helpful! I even copied out some of the pages for reference. One of the things BB & B suggested was to make a wallet-sized card with all the important phone numbers/insurance info. on it (simple, but I hadn't done it). (I think he can do without the cotton ball holder!!!) lol! Thanks again!
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 4th kid just finished her freshman year in college so we are finally done with dorm life The only thing I can add to all the great lists and maybe I've missed seeing it, is a small plug in water boiler thingy. It's sort of like a coffee/tea pot that you fill with water and plug in and get instant boiling water. Both daughters said that made them very popular with their roommates for hot chocolate, top ramen etc. even over using the microwave. 1Gee1, are you going with him for check in? We always thought we were so prepared (especially with #4) and then ended up at Target or Longs anyway. Last daughter needed a longer connection for her laptop to use the ethernet. The connection was on her roommates side of the room and in order for her to use it the cord would have been hanging across the room. Off to Radio Shack........who knew? Too funny about the cotton ball holder
Originally Posted By juicer The Container Store web site has a great section for kids going off to college - www.containerstore.com It even has sample dormroom setups too
