<p>My son did use the swiffer duster I sent with him. But he used the same duster all year-never changed it. It was black… :)</p>
<p>All kids should be taught how to do laundry and basic cooking and sewing skills well before they leave for college. They are necessary self-care skills that people need whether or not they live in a dorm, or even go to college. It always surprised me how many kids ruined their clothes the first week or two of college because they put black stuff in with light colors, or used bleach on darks. And everyone needs at least a couple of go-to meals so that is by some chance the school food is terrible, or they get home after dinner’s served or have a PT food plan, they won’t starve. </p>
<p>D had all those skills when she left last year. She brought a TV from her dad that she and her roommate never ended up using. They just watched their shows on the computer. She DID use the coffee maker, although she’d thought she wouldn’t since they got free coffee in the caf. But she liked having coffee whenever.</p>
<p>Bumping this great thread</p>
<p>I just read this ENTIRE thread with my D who is heading off in June. HILARIOUS, and very informative. Many thanks to ALL of you! :)</p>
<p>Well, after one semester in college, D is using most of what she brought. However, she went back with a stepstool to get up to raised bed (instead of climbing on her desk), a small sewing kit from BBB, more sweaters, sparkly dress for winter dances. She brought nothing home because she didn’t use it.</p>
<p>She has actually used some of the cleaning products I sent (as have some of her friends). Surprised.</p>
<p>Unused: printer, used the school’s exclusively and didn’t need to bother with ink and paper.
Used: sewing kit.</p>
<p>I actually got D a printer over fall break. While she used the school’s (and really isn’t a procrastinator), she decided she wanted one in her room. $80 at Staples, had everything she wanted.</p>
<p>I think a printer is one of those things that varies a lot by school (how convenient/expensive it is to use the school’s). The appropriate school forum may be a good place to find out whether kids find it helpful to have their own or not.</p>
<p>Good point mathmomvt. Also depends how much child used printer at home during HS. I thought she should have one despite the availability at college because she liked to see things in print, not just on the screen, but she wanted to try first.</p>
<p>I think my DS uses his printer for one of his hobbies as well as for school work. We were pretty sure he was going to want one, so the grandparents gave him his printer as part of his HS graduation gift from them.</p>
<p>I got all-in-one wireless printers for the kids on Black Friday–$40 with free shipping. If they don’t use them, oh well but I suspect they will.</p>
<p>My son’s in his junior year now. Spent the first two years in a double dorm room, now is in an apartment with three other guys.</p>
<p>Never has used stamps or envelopes – I doubt he knows where they are. Hasn’t needed extra light bulbs but it’s a good idea to have a couple.</p>
<p>He’s brought his golf clubs (was on his HS team) all three years; used them a handful of times as a freshman but never since. Says he doesn’t have time to play, but really can’t be bothered.</p>
<p>He has two sets of towels and sheets. He just uses one set of sheets; takes them off, washes them, puts them back on. But he agrees it’s a good idea to have a spare set in case he gets sick. He claims to use both sets of towels but I kind of doubt it.</p>
<p>He uses his printer. Every now and then I get a phone call that he’s out of spare printer cartridges. He’s not, but can’t find them.</p>
<p>Owns a three-hole punch but never uses it. Just sticks loose papers in his binders; if he drops a binder papers fly everywhere. Been like this since second grade. Uses his stapler and scotch tape.</p>
<p>Needs three weeks’ supply of underwear and socks. Socks repeatedly develop holes in the bottom – never knows anything about it.</p>
<p>Toolkit and duct tape get occasional use – he’s always the only one with tools.</p>
<p>Medical kit (bandaids, tylenol, cold meds, pepto bismol) – ditto.</p>
<p>In apartment, this year – We sent him with a snow showel. Claims he doesn’t need it; the complex has snow plows. I doubt that they’ll shovel out in-between cars; the complexes I lived in never did. Get an all-plastic shovel; less chance of the car’s paint getting dinged. So far it hasn’t snowed.</p>
<p>With car: Jumper cables – he’s needed them once so far, to give a friend a jump. I made sure he knows exactly how to do it, and told him to make sure that he does it, not the friend. Also needs ice scraper and windshield defrosting spray.</p>
<p>Bathroom cleaning supplies actually get used. We made it as easy for him as possible – toilet brush, spray-on cleaners, etc.</p>
<p>Extra power strips and extension cords (if allowed) are a good idea.</p>
<p>The apartment fridge contains three Brita pitchers; none of them his, although he owns one.</p>
<p>He owns a semi-infinite number of t-shirts; doesn’t wear half of them but won’t get rid of any. Scary thing is that his closet at home is still packed.</p>
<p>In May 2011 I wrote “Stamps & Envelopes”<br>
I don’t know why I would have sent that with S!
Most of the time he wants me with him when he has to fill out any forms, as he has terrible handwriting! :)</p>
<p>I’ve found having a printer very useful, as it’s about half a mile to the nearest university printer. Other than that, the only thing I can think of that has been barely used is a desk lamp, but it’s come in useful more often as a bedside lamp now I’ve moved house.</p>
<p>Boomting, thanks for reminding me! S has a single this semester, and has no printer!
He always printed on his roommates’ printer!
Will check with him about software for printing at the library!</p>
<p>One thing that DS did use was a stapler. I hadn’t thought he would, but all his fraternity brothers use his all the time.
The sewing kit has been used as well. </p>
<p>We shall see about the printer this semester.</p>
<p>Oh, yes, stapler got a lot of use. And not a lot of students bring one.</p>
<p>Stapler – that’s amusing. I think DS brought a stapler, but I have no idea if he uses it or not – not exactly something I’d think to ask him about!</p>
<p>Wanted to bump this up for those neurotic parents (me! me! me!) making lists! Ds ('11) used his tool kit to fix the sink (shocking since he knew nothing about a wrench until then) and the girls in his hall loved the stick vacuum/dustbuster. Duct tape was invaluable in so many ways - held together a duffel bag whose zipper broke. What I did not find usefully used for my ds (which would be used by my dd) for 2 yrs, were bathroom cleaning supplies. Bath was inside their room so they were supposed to clean but of course didn’t. Had given him a scrubbing bubbles “automatic” shower cleaner - problem was he had to push a button and apparently that was not easy enough. Ditto to the 4-sponge pack that was unopened. I think maybe those clorox wipes for the bath would be the extent of what he would/could use - ymmv.</p>
<p>Things not used the last 2 yrs:
Plates/cups etc.
Fridge. Roommate stored liquor in it frosh yr. Didn’t use it soph yr.
Flashlight
Tools
Uses campus printer/system so we never bought one for the room.</p>