<p>I gave my niece a door stop. She said she’s already using it.</p>
<p>“Re pepper spray - a rep from the Dept of Public Safety at Depaul advised against pepper spray during our orientation; she says that it’s hard to find and use quickly enough when you need it (imagine digging insanely through your purse when you’re being mugged!)”</p>
<p>Having carried pepper spray on me when I was in grad school, it was on my keychain, which I would have in my hand anyway as I was walking to my car after dark. I was advised to walk with my fingers around it so that I could use it instantly if need be. I never had to, but FWIW that was the advice at the time.</p>
<p>Last year I forgot to pack my son with medicines/band-aids,etc.
When he got sick for the first time, right near mid-terms, he called from
the pharmacy looking for the name of the medicines he was use to taking
back home. This year, I packed a mini-medicine kit with about 7 items each for him and his younger brother who will be beginning his freshman year. Not having a car at college, I feel better knowing that if they get sick, they are set.</p>
<p>A sturdy pair of scissors, bandaids, more than one size/type of hanger (just go through the closets and collect 2-3 of different types). Be sure you have some cups and water handy, it will be hot.</p>
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<p>Hmmm, is there really a dearth of tweezers on campus? I am yet to see ANY one of D’s girlfriends let their eyebrows run a natural course. Advice to anyone who needs tweezers — walk over to the girl next door and ask, you are 99.99% sure to find one :D</p>
<p>A stapler always seems like a very cherished tool in our house. I just added it to my D’s list.</p>
<p>This may seem like a no-brainer, but students need a small rolling suitcase, backpack, duffel, etc. that can be used as an overnight bag. I remember that when I was a freshman, I carted my stuff to campus in a couple gigantic suitcases that looked like they’d have been at home on the Titanic. So when I was invited to visit a friend in Boston for a weekend, I ended up having to stuff all my overnight gear in a laundry bag (which, unfortunately, I’d painted to look like a banana for a freshman skit night). Also, students who only bring big suitcases to school will want something smaller for short visits home like at Thanksgiving.</p>
<p>Sally - This was actually the first thing we got our son - a small duffle with wheels for short visits home or elsewhere. He thought it was a great idea when I came home with it. The large suitcase will come home with us (his college is within driving distance).</p>
<p>The small light weight rolling carry all is a fantastic and useful gift for kids this age. We got this for D last Christmas and she groaned and said “Wow - how exciting - luggage” but has used it repeatedly and bonded with it and loves it.</p>
<p>^For eighth grade graduation my parents got my son a rolling carry-on bag. Our reaction was about the same, but has it ever been useful. He traveled with several teams during high school, and now will be taking it and our enormous rolling suitcase (aka “The Beast”) to school.</p>
<p>A football. A wiffle-ball bat and a couple of wiffle balls. Golf clubs.</p>
<p>lol I didn’t even know there was CAT-10 cable already.</p>
<p>Bet you are driving to school with a minivan and not flying.</p>
<p>A pool cue went in the duffel bag at the last minute.</p>
<p>There isn’t a CAT-10 cable. Newest adopted standard is 10-gigabit (Cat-6a). </p>
<p>Cat-7 is currently in the works. Most commonly used cable is Cat-6 (gigabit) or Cat-5e (100 megabit).</p>
<p>That’s a yes on the pool cue as well. Yes, Longprime, driving to school with an SUV. Not flying.</p>
<p>Frisbee. DVDs of favorite shows for movie night. Ice skates (which he’ll get as a gift in December).</p>
<p>D left her pool cue at home last year and then I had to ship it to her!</p>
<p>Raquet ball raquet and tennis raquet. Work-out clothes.</p>