<p>My oldest S will be a freshman next year, and I’d like to plan ahead and start shopping for dorm room essentials… Would love to hear what more experienced parents have found that their kids needed to get settled in their dorms – especially items that you might have overlooked and had to run out for last minute as they were settling in. I’m thinking for starters he’ll need:</p>
<ul>
<li>Bedding</li>
<li>Hamper (maybe a wicker one that can double as a night stand)</li>
<li>Desk lamp</li>
<li>Some type of storage (back in the day we used foot lockers – what do kids use now?)</li>
<li>What else?</li>
</ul>
<p>And then I’m curious as to how necessary or useful items like a mini-fridge are?</p>
<p>Most kids bring plastic underbed storage boxes that are available at places like Bed Bath & Beyond and Target.</p>
<p>The mini-fridge is a necessity - but many colleges rent them and that sometimes turns out to be easier (though more expensive) than buying them. </p>
<p>Dorm rooms are small so there might not be room for a hamper next to the bed.</p>
<p>My son tries to keep the stuff in his dorm room at a bare minimum, largely because of the difficulty of either storing the stuff between school years, or hauling it back and forth by airplane. So, I have to squelch my natural tendency to want to buy him “stuff.”</p>
<p>Having said that, he does have a dorm fridge. So far, he has not wanted a microwave. Another thing he needed was something to serve as a little shelf on his lofted bed, so he could put his alarm clock and a few other small items.</p>
<p>My parents were college professors who rented upstairs bedrooms to students. When my own S began college, he chose the best of 6 abandoned mini-fridges from Grandma’s Barn. We donated the rest when we emptied their house, as they aged out of it. Point is: students like mini-fridges, but maybe there are some to be purchased for sub-retail prices within the community. I realize some students and families may not be willing to chase around looking for private deals.</p>
<p>How you outfit your dorm room will depend quite a bit on the school you attend and the specific dorm. Most kids loft or at least raise their beds, so anything at night stand height would be worthless. We found this at Bed Bath & Beyond - her roommate showed up with one too - they are lifesavers, as their dorm desk does not have a hutch!</p>
<p>There is no extra floor space in her room for extra furniture. She keeps extra stuff in big 50 quart buckets under her bed (purchased in a bright color that coordinates with her bedding!). Her favorite purchase is a foldable bowl chair from Target. </p>
<p>Rutgers supplies a micro-fridge so she didn’t need that. Her dorm, however, doesn’t have A/C, so she needs a big box fan for Spring & Fall.</p>
<p>I would wait until Spring or Summer to buy bedding unless she sees a comforter she loves now. Most stores stock up for back to college and have expanded offerings.</p>
<p>I bought my daughter a pop up leaf bag for a laundry basket instead of the duffle bag they were selling. It’s sturdier and the carrying handles are handy.</p>