Last year's shopping, checklists, and bedding threads.

[odyssey]

I know that the bedding topic has been thoroughly explored, but I still have one lingering question. A couple of people I know have recommended getting a comforter in a full size-- not the twin -- I think it is because it drapes over the sides of the bed and looks better and hides whatever is underneath. Most comforters I have seen are in a full/queen, not a true full size, and seem as if they would be too large. I know a larger than twin size isn't really necessary, but is there really much of an advantage?

[Maize&Blue]

Personally, I love having extra lengths/widths in my own bedding. But really, most kids do not care. Students' beds will go unmade, or hurriedly covered, for days and weeks (and months???). Nor do most kids, particularly the boys, care about what their beds look like. The college rooms I've seen (for both S and D) are an eclectic mix of parental attempts at college chic decor and students' accessories which clash with that. Unless your child wants the bigger size (kicks off covers easily, etc.), I wouldn't spend the extra $$. As for hiding what's stored under the bed, neither of my kids nor their friends found that to be important.

[ColoradoKid]

I'm thinking a 2-person sleeping bag ought to do it. Bring it home on winter and summer breaks for a cleaning .

[pattykk]

For those of you who knit, here is a cute pattern for a school spirit scarf: www.mspineapple.com/diy_scarf.html.
(I think we will be doing ours in maroon)

[BMoyilan]

And for you dads (and moms)who have to help tote all this stuff to the dorm get yourself a hand truck!
When my kid went to Harvard's summer school we had to carry everything about 200 yards because of the parking issue. The hand truck saved my back.

[sempitern555]

what is an egg crate?

[pattykk]

It is a foam cover that is shaped like the pockets in an egg box. If you put it on top of an uncomfortable mattress, it adds cushioning and also feels good on your back.

[irishforever]

Be sure to check the list the college will send out concerning the dorm rooms. Some schools do not allow the egg crates because of fire codes. I'm not sure what the issue is, or why that would be a problem for the fire department (the material of the egg crate, perhaps), but check before you buy!

[mini]

Last summer my D and I made a quilt together for her to take to school. Yes, it is big enough to cover the stuff she stuffs under her bed. We had fun doing it, she had a reminder of home and I get to think of it keeping her warm. For those who sew, I recommend it.

[boysmom]

Back to the clothes: my sons go to Umich and both have found occasions to not only wear dress pants with shirt and tie, but a suit. They, however, were close enough to come home and get it. If yours would be very far away, I would hate for him to have to go out and buy one. Better to have it hanging in the closet never used than not have it when they need it.

Most of the times they've had to dress up have had to do with the fraternity. Either "chapter" meetings, or date events. One of the reasons I liked having them in the fraternity. It taught them that it's not just mom that likes having them look nice.

[1075]

As a firefighter who has been on the job for over 30 years, I may be able to shed a little light on "egg crate" mattress covers. The concern from a fire safety standpoint is that a mattress and box spring are made out of materials that are approved for such items, as indicated by the tag that no one pays any attention to. They will still burn, but are not as flammable as an egg crate which is made of foam, ignites and burns more readily and gives off acrid, lethal smoke containing toxic fumes such as polyvinylchloride.

As a side note, most people do not consider fire safety when they evaluate campus safety. College dorms can be VERY dangerous from a fire perspective. From overloaded electrical circuts due to TV's, refrigerators, fans, coffee pots, hair dryers, curling irons, etc., to smoking, and elaborate flammable wall decorations. Add to that the fact that built in safeguards are often removed or overridden (i.e. fire extinguishers vandalized, fire doors in halls and stairwells propped open) the potential for tragedy abounds. One such fire, killed 3 and injured 54 occured in a dorm at Seaton Hall in NJ in 2000.

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/01/1....hall.fire.02/

The best defense is to assure that the dorm is fully sprinklered. It amazes me the number of Colleges that have sprinklered lawns and landscaping but unsprinklered student dorms. Coincidentally part of the problem is a lack of education with reguards to fire safety. Don't be afraid to insist that the College aggressively enforce fire codes. If they refuse, call the fire marshall in the jurisdiction where the college is located. At a very minimum, each dorm room should have a smoke and Carbon Monoxide detector.

Crime gets much more attention because it happens more frequently, but fire presents a very real danger that can be prevented.

[teal]

Here are additional links that I have bookmarked:
Most are from the CC archives

Checklist

http://www.collegeconfidential.com/c...w.cgi?68/26774

Vaccination
http://www.collegeconfidential.com/c...w.cgi?70/73652

http://www.collegeconfidential.com/c...w.cgi?70/81937

[marite]

Thanks for the detailed explanation, 1075!

[sempitern555]

thanks 1075

[Maize&Blue]

Thanks teal for the additional links. There were sooooo many of these conversations last year that it made sense to save everyone from reinventing the wheel.