<p>Before you shop for dorm, make sure you know what the school provides and allows. For example, my daughter’s school has a safe in the closet for each student.</p>
<p>@seatlle_mom—!!! A safe in the closet! OK—when I was at Cornell, the closets didn’t have doors; there would not have been space for a door. This is why I never considered an over-the-door rack of any sort.</p>
<p>I will not be sending dishes unless the are cardboard bowls. There would be bugs in the room…</p>
<p>I don’t recall as much eating in the room. I think we purchased what we needed as we needed it, but I was a big soda drinker, hence the need for the fridge.</p>
<p>And four days early, midway through the last campus visit, we have a decision: my daughter is going to Harvard. Last night it was all still up in the air and the stress level was getting really high, but today it was like a switch was flipped and suddenly the world was crimson colored. So I guess we won’t be the last ones off the boat, carrying the margarita machine with us. Good luck to others still aboard!</p>
<p>Congratulations SomeOldGuy! The Vandy group is growing! </p>
<p>We used to wait to coordinate bedding/colors with our roomie. Does no one do that any longer? Or do your kids already have their roommates?</p>
<p>@eyemamom - Lol - so true! So much different outfitting a dorm for a boy than a girl. </p>
<p>My S had a small room safe that he used to stash a few valuables. We also got him one of the thick down feather mattress toppers. I put it underneath a quilted mattress pad (to keep it from shifting). S loved it - said it was the best thing he brought to college. S also liked a monogrammed fleece throw in his college colors that he received as a graduation present from a neighbor. </p>
<p>@2014ProfDad Congrats on having the decision made! </p>
<p>Congratulations @2014ProfDad !</p>
<p>Most colleges will have a “what to bring” and often a “what NOT to bring” list on their housing website.</p>
<p>Congratulations 2014ProfDad!!!</p>
<p>Congrats on all the recent decisions!
Just dropping in for a tip about BB& B coupons. Yes, most of us get them in the mail, but you can also print the 20% off coupon on line - just google “BB&B coupon” and print as many times as you would like. </p>
<p>Congrats 2014ProfDad – very exciting news!</p>
<p>Some basic things to consider for dorm shopping are laundry supplies – a mesh tote for carting laundry, those easy to use detergent gel pacs, and quarters for the machines. Also, a small toiletry bag/tote for heading down to the dorm bathroom, sufficient to carry soap, shampoo/conditioner, toothbrush, etc. </p>
<p>Congrats on all of the recent weekend decisions!</p>
<p>Just 3 days of cruising time left!</p>
<p>Congrats 2014Profdad!</p>
<p>Congrats on all the new decisions!! I cant believe we’re talking about dorm shopping already. I have my list ready, a ‘modified to fit boy’ version of D12. But probably wont be doing the actual shopping before august.
Microfridge_ we found it much more convenient to rent, since they deliver and pick up at the end of the semester, you dont have to worry about storage. And sophomore housing already had a fridge.</p>
<p>Matress topper__ best thing ever! The dorm mattress is very uncomfy, old and of questionable hygiene.
bed raisers__ add valuable space under the bed</p>
<p>locker__ his univ does provide one in the closet but you have to pay a minimal fee to rent it, so you may want to check before buying.
small hand held vaccum__very useful. But they can wait and work it out with the roomate, to share who brings what. D12 also needed a floor lamp because room lighting was very dull. </p>
<p>BB&B had a store set up on campus during move in days, in case we forgot anything.</p>
<p>The firstaid/medical kit__ essential of course BUT now I’m having a panic attack because someone above mentioned Condoms!!!??!!</p>
<p>Went through the list of what to bring and what not to bring. Son '14 cannot have a toaster, which is kind of unfortunate since he does like English muffins. Oh well. At least he’ll have a full-size refrig to keep the milk for his cereal stash. He’s still thinking about a crock pot, since he likes what I cook in it. </p>
<p>Since we’ll fly down to school, we will only take what we can place in the suitcases. So there will be at least one Wal-Mart trip upon arrival for things like trash cans (need to remind the boy that they do not empty themselves), cleaning supplies, trash bags, Swiffer, vacuum, laundry stuff, toiletries and snacks. May need a blackout curtain – his brother was glad for his all four years. I can ship things right to his dorm, which is a good thing since we can pack up some extra blankets that we have. </p>
<p>Congrats @2014ProfDad !!! </p>
<p>I asked S14 if he was ready for me to deposit (once he woke up from a long nap yesterday afternoon) and he said No, not yet. I asked what he thinks will happen in the next few days that will make him suddenly have clarity- and he said “I have no idea.” <em>sigh</em> Keep the drinks coming. We have 3 more days. </p>
<p>@CT1417 my son loves flannel. He found a flannel duvet and that was purchased as well as a plain alarm clock. He currently has an iHome and he didn’t want that at school. I don’t ask for explanations anymore and it was an easy gift for someone to get. He really just needs a hamper, over the door hanger, and the medicine stockpile besides the actual school supplies. My mom sent me a link to The Container Store to see if I could find anything he needs from there. She has one locally and it would be easy for her to get him a graduation gift and she’d rather get it there than Walmart.</p>
<p>Quarters for laundry – most schools do not use anymore and have the kids just swipe their ID card to do laundry either for free or to be taken out of money they put on the card for that purpose.</p>
<p>Most dorm rooms will come with a trash can. And pretty much every school has a roommate agreement process when they agree on things like when/how often to clean the room up, which will remind them to empty it, if they have a roommate. Other cleaning supplies, unless he uses them at home, he’s unlikely to use them at school. I’d only bother sending them if they are responsible for cleaning their own bathroom. </p>
<p>Things that never got used by S - iron and small ironing board, cleaning supplies other than those premoistened pop-up wipes and a small electric broom. </p>
<p>He did find one of those hanging shelves/sweater organizers useful for all his t-shirts that wouldn’t fit into his dresser. </p>
<p>Also dorm rooms usually come equipped with a desk chair but they are often uncomfortable. If the school permits students to decline or store unwanted items, a nice desk chair is great. </p>
<p>Congrats on all the new decisions and good luck to those still onboard. I’d be a nervous wreck. </p>
<p>I didn’t see any laundry facilities requiring quarters on the 8 campuses we toured. Thanks for the tips about renting a mini fridge and/or a small locker. Are there any current RIT parents that know if that’s an option at the freshman dorms? Time to go over the housing pages again. I know we have a handout about what NOT to bring, and a microwave is on that list. </p>
<p>Forgive me if this was addressed before I was aboard, but how did your S or D thank the teachers that wrote recommendations for them? I believe D ended up with 3, because one college did not consider Art a ‘rigorous’ subject - and boy did that make me mad for a day or two. So on short notice she had to ask an English teacher for a letter, and it must have been a good one because D did get accepted to that college. </p>
<p>My feeling is just an e-mail is not enough, should she do some nice hand-written notes? Should we add something like a gift card to a coffee shop?</p>
<p>My d made a little gift basket from starbucks - a travel mug with a box of tea, cookie and gift card with a thank you card and hand delivered it to her and let her know her final choice.</p>