@abasket. Yep. My daughter is the one who insisted on a dress up bin. She knows that her sister considered it “vital” to her own college experience! Lol. Because she’s a camp counselor this summer where they have multiple dress up days that are somewhat similar to those college parties themes (Wild West day, luau day etc…) she would drop her costume in the college bin as soon as she was done with it each week.
I’d suggest remembering less IS more in tiny college rooms. Having too much “stuff,” no matter how good it is makes living even more crowded. You’ll be surprised at the stuff that is NEVER used! The kids generally have the ability to buy stuff when they are at their U–stores near campus or via friends with cars or catching transit.
My daughter ended up lending out a ton of stuff to the less is more crowd. Chip clips, baggies, plastic forks and napkins, dress up clothes for theme parties, the DustBuster , steamer for clothes. So. As long as you have a good friend who has the more is more philosophy you’ll be OK. Lol!
Buy and send command hooks! of all sizes. They can be used for just about anyting and are space savers in a dorm room.
Thanks for all the advice and opinions on helping/not helping my daughter. As much as I want to get the stuff to make her college experience a good one, part of me says it is costing a lot of $$ and she doesn’t seem thankful. So then I don’t want to help anymore. In the end I have spent over $600 throughout the year, picking stuff up for her and her room.and yes maybe some day she will look back a somehow appreciate it, so I will do what I can to make her move to collge a pleasan one. she will be gone in a few weeks and if nothing else I will feel good about helping her. she is a very good kid 
Our S and D were happy with the less is more. They didn’t borrow from others, as there was a $1 store walking distance from campus for anything they really needed and didn’t want extra clutter. S moved in first and if he REALLY needed something, he’d acquire it from the $1 store or amazon.com. We took him shopping once he was on campus and he got a few things. He never did use the phone we gave him, tho the U had an active line for each student. He ultimately sold or dumped it as he didn’t even know the phone number and no one ever answered anything but their cell phones anyway.
@pigertz - I don’t think they understand the effort put into things that have always been in the house- sheets, towels, etc. until they are in their own space. After the apartment move, I have heard " gee Mom, I had no idea how much it takes to do this, like sponges, dishtowels, etc.
At this time, I think their mind is on college- and also their friends. For many of them, they will be a distance from each other and want to spend time together. It makes sense that your D wants to spend time with her boyfriend. If they are facing being at a distance- this could be an emotional time for them- whether or not they remain together. The end of high school and beginning college is a transition, and students are probably thinking more about this than the items they need in a dorm.
@mommdc-The expense is considerable, but hopefully these are items they will use for a while. You won’t be buying pots and pans every year. One can shop carefully - but to a point. I found buying mattresses to be the most frustrating as the good ones are expensive and the names are different at each store so it is nearly impossible to compare prices. Since getting a good nights sleep is important, I wanted to buy a good quality comfortable one. With room mates, there is more opportunities to share items such as vacuums, microwave, dishes, pots, silverware so your child can check to see what others have before buying.
Don’t forget garage sales! My neighbor is having one today and she let me have a sneak peak last night. I picked up a hand mixer, pyrex pie plate (could have multiple baking purposes), a hand can opener/bottle opener (Pampered Chef!) and a bag of silverwear (I’ll give some to D2 for school, keep the rest for the cottage) for a total of $5! Probably the cost of one of those things at even a cheap store.
D likes to make those little $1 Betty Crocker muffin mixes for breakfast/snack or the $1 cookie mixes for a quick snack - now she can easily do that at school.
From the title, it looks like the mother is going to college. So, if the mom is going to college, a good bit of preparation by the mom is needed. If the child is going, really nothing. Give the child a budget and he/she can figure it out.
I found this to be true for both my son and daughter. Both made it through just fine without my intervention. What they didn’t have, they could buy or in the case of D, further in the boonies, Amazon Prime.
I’ll admit, I also want to throw the dads some responsibility in the mix.
I like your point about friends Pennylane. DS is very excited about his school but also trying to spend as much time with his friends as possible this summer. He definitely hasn’t mentally checked out and moved on (from HS, yes, but not from his friends) and while he has no trepidation about school or his roommate or any of that he is living in the moment. He will pull out long enough to do the tasking that’s on his list for the day but isn’t head over heels excited about getting ready to go yet.
Penn State has a huge sale at the end of the year, items provided by the students who are moving out of the dorms. Dumpsters are provided for drop off. Hundreds, thousands of items are perfectly good and yet abandoned, so keep that in mind whilst buying. Treat mirrors, pitchers, air purifiers, irons, rice cookers, milk crates, swiffers, buckets, shower organizers, white boards and carpets as disposable – a good many TVs as well. A surprising amount of monitors, computerperipherals, and a phenomenal amount of shoes, boots, coats…
Point being, just take less. Fewer clothes, fewer things, fewer adorable organizers that we moms imagine will make a cozy structured living arrangement but likely never see the light of day. A bottom sheet, comforter, toothpaste, soap and a photoframe calendar and you are good to go!
Funny - both my kids would consider a photoframe calendar (whatever that is) to be superfluous. To each his own.
Also, in my D’s experience, a good bit of that is left by seniors who are moving cross country and can no longer store items locally. She picked up 2 couches and a full set of “nice” dishes that way last year.