DS has been assigned a double in the dorm he listed as first choice and with the roommate he requested. 
The only thing I knew going in to dorm shopping, was that they required XL twin sheets.
Then I heard people mention that a foam topper can make the thin mattress more comfortable.
I went with just the 1" thickness on that. But the topper is foam and not flat, kind of bumpy and might slide around on the bed so I got a mattress pad that is fitted and streches over the topper and mattress to hold things in place.
I found an extra plush mattress pad so together they are really soft.
Then the fitted sheet goes over that.
That is great that the book stores match prices.
If you need to get novels the school library might also carry them, or our public library has an ebook program where you can borrow ebooks for two weeks if you have a library card in that county.
Still waiting for dorm assignment here- hoping to hear this week!
We also got the protector that zips around the mattress (excited to put that onā¦ 
) then a gel memory foam topper to be covered by a mattress pad- then sheets. At this point that is the plan.
We got the combined gel topper plus mattress pad. I have not bought a bed bug cover. My Sā room will have an XL Full so I will have to special order or just buy a queen.
@bookmom7 Are you also following the Texas Parents Facebook page? Between this thread and that page, I alternate between overwhelmed and comforted. I also must fight the urge to call my DS16 a LHS on this page.
hahaha @gettingschooled - yes! DS = LHS - almost made that mistake already!! Is your son living in a dorm off campus?
Yes a private dorm in West Campus. It has been nice knowing where he will be and not having to wonder but it adds a few complications that have increased the shopping anxiety slightly.
@HappyFace2018 if you count all people in a suite, my DD was assigned to a largest one with 8 people and two bathrooms suite. It is mix of boys and girls suite and some of them are upperclassmen. She will try to switch into 4 people suite with two doubles and one bathroom and hopefully all girls.
Our DS received his room assignment Friday - he and the friend he met through FB and group chats were able to get assigned to the same room, so they are excited about that. Heās in a cluster dorm highrise, looks like on the 5th floor. Each cluster breaks off of the main hallway, with a small hallway leading to 5 double rooms and a bathroom that they share. The clusters are single sex, but the building is co-ed. The bathroom has 2 sinks, 2 stalls, and 2 showers that will be shared by 10 guys. Fortunately, the university cleans the cluster bathrooms daily! Itās mostly a freshman dorm, and is very close to the dining hall, gym, and classroom buildings, so it should work for someone like him who literally rolls out of bed 5 minutes before they have to go somewhere :).
Itās really interesting to learn about the different dorm styles and configurations. Every dorm I lived in (across 2 universities) had the shared bathroom down the hall, and most were single-sex, so Iām always curious about different layouts. I canāt imagine having to go up/down a flight of stairs to get to the bathroom, but our kids are young enough that they probably just get used to it and figure everyone has that setup!
Okay so I wanted to purchase a Jamba Mini Jambix from Amazon but can someone tell me what Prime is? Went I went to check out I got a $20 gift card. Since I know you donāt get something for nothing I opted to hold off on the purchase. Anyone familiar with āPrimeā?
My DD signed up for Prime with her college email. Students get it free for six months. You get free two days shipping with Prime. Plus you can streamline free movies and more.
@Ballerina016 Holy! I have never heard of that! Eight students and a mixed suite! Wow!!
Some of the upperclass dorms have coed suites as well @HappyFace2018
I feel blessed that the dorm decisions and choices were taken out of our hands since there is only one option. With all the other decision previously made and still to be made before move in dayā¦it is nice the dorm is the same for everyone.
There is one dorm building for all freshmen and sophomoresā¦and everyone is in a double that includes a full bathroom within each room (the sink is outside the toilet/shower area). All students are required toi live on campus all four years.
@carolinamom2boys Thank you for helping me get mentally prepared for that one :))
@Waiting2exhale - yes, we use the mattress pad (that has a thin quilted piece on top but is fitted over the mattress) as a buffer between the sheets and everything else underneath (topper, encasement). @fretfulmother - we also pack the bedding upside down. It does make it so fast to make up the bed!
The freshman hall at my college is all doubles (except for medical singles if someone needs 1). I donāt think there are any triples or suites in any of the buildings. And most juniors and seniors get singles. Oh and Target has small laundry baskets on sale for $3.49. I think they are the perfect size for college
I went to the College Life event at our Bed Bath and Beyond store this afternoon. Wasnāt too impressed I pick up a few things that D will find useful, if she doesnāt want them we can always return them. Since she only has two days home between her summer camp job and move in day I figured it was better to just ago ahead and purchase the things I thought she needed and return them if she doesnāt want them.
After some of the threads on CC purchased a bed bug mattress protector (that is not being returned!), a lamp that holds cell phone and ipad with USB hub on the lamp base, a double hanging closet rod, and a small hand held clothes steamer and a small trash can that would work as either a bathroom trash can or in room trash can. I did not win the first raffle and didnāt want to hang around to wait for more raffles but did run into an acquaintance and her daughter and gave them my tickets before I left, hope her d wins something!
@3scoutsmom I know our BB&B has one of those events too but we arenāt going. I think it would be too crowded and chaotic for my tastes
@PAO2008 Glad your son has his schedule. Daughter made hers at SOAR in June. It sounds like your son and my daughter have a similar schedule. She has physics and calc 2. She was assigned an UMRATH double.
Dorm mountain is complete except for getting a few things her and suite mates have to agree upon. The trick is getting it there - I am driving it up on the 24th of Aug. and hope it all fits in my car.
Five more weekends. Countdown is happening too fast. And the whole idea of final weekends with D16 is out the window because she works weekends, while Iām off work on weekends. And she works 6 days a week.
I thought Iād be able to focus on getting her ready (legal docs, dorm mt., etc.) during my own time on weekends, but other major household duties have popped up.
Now I hear that her job extended for an additional week, leaving only 12 days when both she and I will be home together in August. Days she thinks will be a staycation with festivals, beach days, etc. (including her 18th birthday). No mention of college prep tasks.
I think Iāll give her a prioritized to-do list soon and see how she proposes to get it all done before move-in. Iām willing to play assistant if she delegates to me, but a lot of it she just must do herself.
Yes, my inner planner is getting stressed. I hate any last-minute rush.