<p>Thanks sahp2kids & SomeOldGuy.</p>
<p>Any items not found on conventional lists we should be aware of?</p>
<p>Morning all! I have the usual light morning cocktail along with a selection of Allegra, Flonase & other assorted allergy meds for those who are both loving/hating the arrival of Spring.</p>
<p>I am trying to keep up, I swear! but my CC time has become very limited the past month. So glad to hear that decisions are being made. And that narrowing down is occurring. For those still on the SS Indecision, your kiddos will move in a dorm somewhere in August (or September!) </p>
<p>Swizzle: I’m so impressed by your process. I know it seems that you did a lot of work to end up at UConn, but it was all worthwhile. And I am NOT unhappy that you’re not ending up at Emerson. They have a very bad rep for gapping students with FA. My visit with D2 to Emerson left us with the same impression that Debbi801 had. We walked into that school with it being D2’s #1 by 1000% and she walked out of there so disappointed and angry. She’s still p.o’d a year later. </p>
<p>YDS: I’m sorry that S2 has so many conflicts with the accepted students days. Do you think he has enough info to make the decision? </p>
<p>DDHM: About majors…I’m not worrying about them. In both my kids cases, their original major was no big surprise since they’d had a lifelong love of that subject (history for D1 and English/creative writing for D2.) As I’ve watched the process with D1, she realized by the end of her 3rd semester, that while she’ll always be interested in history, the reality of not wanting to teach or go to law school didn’t leave a lot of career paths open. So she’s finishing the history degree but picked up a 2nd major in the B-school. As for D2, we’ll see. I can’t imagine her not finishing an English/CW degree, but that will be a great addition to a more “practical” major as good writers are sorely lacking in business. The Fellows program she’ll be in involved a lot of mentorship/coaching, so I trust that she’ll find an interesting path. And don’t forget, a lot of the jobs that our kiddos will be doing in 10-20 years don’t even exist yet :)</p>
<p>pouncecat: deep down inside, I think my D1 should go to culinary school. I’ve kept my mouth shut, and she’ll finish her degree, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she decided to go that route in a few years. There’s a lot of people making a lot of money making cupcakes. And being their own bosses. Your D sounds like she’s exploring a lot of career ideas which is exactly how it should be at age 18.</p>
<p>Apollo6: so glad that your D made the decision! I’ve heard such great things about the Chinese flagship program & always thought it sounded like a good fit for your D. Hotty Toddy!</p>
<p>GreekMana: about move-in. I was just pondering this and fretting that while D2 moves in on a Friday, D1 moves in that Sunday. I thought back to D1s move in and we were off campus by 5pm on move in day (she had an event that started then.) For D2, we’ll arrive on Thursday (day before) pick up her ship to store from Bed, Bath & Beyond, do the Target run for the supplies for the semester (shampoo, detergent, etc.) as well as Costco (for the chocolate syrup, I kid you not.) Move in on Friday, and I’ll leave on Saturday. Still not sure if we’re flying or driving; that will partially depend on whether it’s just if it’s one parent vs. two parents. I think you’ll be fine flying out on the 21st.</p>
<p>Pouncecat: I’ve sent lots of care packages to D1. Process varies from school to school, and even from carrier to carrier at same school. UA is changing process next year. No RA has ever signed for a package in her case; she’s either picked them up at the campus post office or package delivery center (two different places, but that will change in the fall.)</p>
<p>Kat2013: comprehensive packing list for a boy: 1 towel, sleeping bag, extra pair of undies 
Srsly, boys need way less stuff than girls. I’ve yet to hear of a boy color coordinating his dorm room with his new roommate. I’d say use one of the dorm lists from BB&B or Target & read the list through with him. And get lots of command hooks/strips. Depending on his dorm set up, you may need to get him some cooking related items; does he have access to a kitchen/would he use it? </p>
<p>D1 told me about something she just bought & she said it’s awesome: a laundry backpack from Amazon. Her apt. set up has the laundry room across a parking lot, so her normal laundry basket was awkward. She said it was around $12 so I think it’s this one: [Amazon.com:</a> Vibrant Laundry Backpack - Aqua: Home & Kitchen](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Vibrant-Laundry-Backpack-Aqua/dp/B008HREP4U/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1365600612&sr=8-6&keywords=laundry+backpack]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Vibrant-Laundry-Backpack-Aqua/dp/B008HREP4U/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1365600612&sr=8-6&keywords=laundry+backpack)</p>
<p>Off to try & find the lung I just lost coughing!</p>
<p>BB & B allows you to shop in your home store, they arrange to have that stuff saved for you in the college store, then you check out and pay for the stuff in the college store. It is totally fine to only buy some of what is saved for you. </p>
<p>If you found something in your home store that was not available in the college store, a clearance item for example, they would ship it free to the college store.</p>
<p>RobD - Thanks for the boy chuckle, hope you found a lung! </p>
<p>DeniseC - thanks for the BB&B tips</p>
<p>This might be helpful for some - [Trading</a> Spaces: A Packing List of Essential Stuff for Your Dorm Room](<a href=“http://www.collegesofdistinction.com/component/k2/item/160-trading-spaces-a-packing-list-of-essential-stuff-for-your-dorm-room.html]Trading”>http://www.collegesofdistinction.com/component/k2/item/160-trading-spaces-a-packing-list-of-essential-stuff-for-your-dorm-room.html)</p>
<p>If you scroll to the bottom them have other interesting articles.</p>
<p>You all do realize I am focusing on shopping/packing b/c he hasn’t made a decision yet & I need to keep my mind occupied on something else or I will nag him to dealth!!</p>
<p>I found the same Laundry Backpack for the same price, but with $2.95 shipping here instead of the $8.49 shipping at Amazon: [Laundry</a> Backpack - Vibrant Washing Clothes College Hamper Wash Dirty Dorm Supplies](<a href=“Laundry Backpack - Vibrant Washing Clothes College Hamper Wash Dirty Dorm Supplies”>Laundry Backpack - Vibrant Washing Clothes College Hamper Wash Dirty Dorm Supplies)</p>
<p>Thank you for the list of packing ideas. I came on here this morning to ask for such a list because I realize I am not the first mom to go thru this process (although at times it feels like it! 
)</p>
<p>I love that laundry backpack thing, if my S will use it. I had a drawstring bag I would just carry to the laundry room, but this looks easier. My fear is that S will just keep ordering socks and undies off Amazon all semester~</p>
<p>A couple of other burning questions, of the minor variety:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Planning the grad party now -eek! Curious if you all decorate in the HS colors or the College colors? Last year the parties I went to were split 50-50. And by the way, the HS colors in no way complement the College ones, or I’d try to mix</p></li>
<li><p>WHy do so many people spell out the names of C O L L E G E names like that? I figure it has something to do with it not showing up in a search, but I can’t figure out the logic.</p></li>
<li><p>How is everything going to get done in 2 months - is everyone else looking at end of year banquets, sports Senior nights, admitted student days, grad parties starting in May, AP tests, Finals, etc etc? I feel very overscheduled, and that doesn’t even include my regular work!</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Hey someoldguy, thanks much for the Lovett sountrack to my ‘wist.’. Very sweet.</p>
<p>Here’s a bit older one for you–Incredible String Band, ‘October Song’.</p>
<p>Don’t forget to save all of the BB&B coupons in the mail and online. Have friends and neighbors save them too! They never expire even though there is a printed expiration date. You can go to your local store, scan the exact items that you want and they will be ready for you at the store close to your school. We used a coupon for every item on my DD’s list!</p>
<p>sahp2kids-in our experience, the packages stay about the same though the years, costs rise but merit awards and any FA tends to rise proportionately. We’ve also found that there are departmental scholarships available to soph-seniors that are not available freshman year. Each school, obviously, is different so I would look on the FA pages to see if they have extra awards for later years, etc.</p>
<p>Laundry–I’m buying wheeled laundry baskets for the kids.</p>
<p>I found this website this morning–nice prices and some nice storage things [Dorm</a> Co - College Dorm Supplies, Dorm Bedding, College Trunks, Dorm Furniture, College Posters, Twin XL Bedding, Twin XL Sheets, College Dorm Essentials, Dorm Room Rugs, Twin XL Comforter, College Bedding, Dorm Stuff, Dorm Decor and Cheap College Dor](<a href=“http://www.dormco.com/Default.asp]Dorm”>Dorm Co - College Dorm Supplies, Dorm Bedding, College Comforters, College Trunks, Dorm Furniture, College Bedding, Twin XL Bedding, Twin XL Sheets, College Dorm Essentials, Dorm Comforters, Dorm Room Rugs, Twin XL Comforter, Dorm Stuff, Dorm Decor and Cheap College Dorm Products all Ship for just $2.95!)</p>
<p>ECmotherx2–that is good to know about the BBB coupons. I didn’t know that they don’t really expire!!</p>
<p>Good morning! I’ve got coffee or Bloody Mary’s this morning. Some of you are starting to look too comfortable in your loungers so we have a jog around the deck scheduled for 10AM. </p>
<p>What does a boy need?? D1 had mountains and mountains of stuff, S2 looked like he was going away for the weekend. Gotta love boys!</p>
<p>I have noticed that BBB has changed the way the coupons work. It will say “Save 20% on one item until April 29” and then “Save 10% after April 29”. I still take a stack in when I go.</p>
<p>D has given me permission to give out info. I really think she values some of the comments I have given her from CC. I posted a thread in college search, since she is down to 4 - NU, USC, Tulane, U Rochester - for neuroscience. She will make two more visits, and I think we will be cruising on SS Indecision until April 24th or 25th. In honor of her current favorite, I will have an Abita Strawberry Harvest beer.</p>
<p>Good luck to the kids (and parents of kids) still deciding.</p>
<p>Tx5 - Yes… a jog around the deck…will that help my wistful mood? Seriously, Someoldguy - I’m not sure a pony on a boat was supposed to be a sad thing but it got me all teary. </p>
<p>Then was it Tougis who posted about driving for the mediation factor. Tear’n again. I swear I’m not even the cry’n type… never mind the jog - I need a drink I’ll have whatever the server recommends for this funky mood. </p>
<p>Gotta shake this melancholy cuz as Surfcity points out there’s too much on our schedules…“Ain’t no body got time for that.”</p>
<p>My son has requested “nothing new for college.” He’s taking old towels, old comforter, old sheets, etc. He wants his dorm room to remind him of home. Kind of takes all the fun out of it. But saves us a bundle. D1 had to have new everything.</p>
<p>Megpmom - Hopefully DD13 will meet a boy like your son at college… he could balance her out. I’m sure her room will look like the Target ad when she’s done. Except maybe the towels…she hates new towels. </p>
<p>Remember the song line something like -“You’ve got a brand new pair of roller skates, I’ve got a brand new key”… Well DD13 has a brand new dorm fridge and so I guess she’ll be searching for that roommate with a brand new microwave.</p>
<p>Hey Mom2kids2dogs your D has great choices! Just in case you weren’t aware USC is breaking ground on a new USC Village which will be awesome and just what the school needs… DD13 moved it to her maybe for grad school list because she doesn’t want to live in the construction zone. Some kids can handle it, some like my D prefers a more tranquil setting.</p>
<p>In the “don’t forget, every school is different” category, see what the fridge requirements/ restrictions are at your kiddos school. Found out this week that D2’s school includes the combo microwave/microfridge, so we don’t need to worry about that. Serious question for those that have dealt with microfridge’s: do they fit a 1/2 gallon container of milk? D1 had a full size fridge in her suite, so this is new to me. </p>
<p>Also found out that laundry is “free” and that 300 pages of printing are loaded on their student card. Which may negate the need for a printer.</p>
<p>P e n n seems to encourage microwaves; M I T dorms forbid them. Most places forbid halogen lightbulbs of any kind. Read the Housing rules carefully guys!</p>
<p>Surfy: We separate letters so that they don’t come up with Google searches unless we are giving tidbits that we want the universe to know. For the most part, our comments are directed to people reading this thread.</p>
<p>We depart in ten minutes to the airport for me to deposit my first born son alone into the black hole of the airline system. May the Smartphone Directions and the PhotoID for Security Check and the Remembering to Take out his Bag of Liquids Sense prevail. </p>
<p>DS is calm. I am not calm. Who is serving drinks? I need another Kahlua and Cream please. Make that a Double. Fortunately, it is a kid who would not get lost in a greenway (cross country runner). :D</p>
<p>Printer needs…</p>
<p>Get one anyway. Class starts in 15 minutes and you are in your res hall room, 3 page paper is due but has not been printed yet…no time to go to the computer lab, login, print, etc…so do it from res hall room.</p>
<p>^^^Very true Haystack. D1 has a printer & she’s loved it, but she can be a last minute Lucy. D2 plans much better & as I’ve said before, she’s somewhat monastic with regards to her material belongings and has never “needed” anything in her life. Guess I’ll throw the suggestion out there & see what sticks.</p>
<p>Printer: D1 ALWAYS had one and enough ink cartridges. I have no idea what S2 does, but he has never had a printer. Maybe some papers are submitted electronically now?</p>