<p>This is a serious question. All the packing checklists on CC are very helpful. But I'm wondering: Based on experience, does anyone have suggestions for what not to bring? An example that made me chuckle, because even I would not do this: I know someone who made her S pack a bowl for popcorn. He dutifully took it along, though eating microwave popcorn out of the bag is perfectly acceptable!</p>
<p>Strangely enough, my mom sent my brother off to college with a huge box of popcorn, and they barely ate any. Their reasoning? "We didn't have a bowl, Mom."</p>
<p>Too funny.....one of the first things S called home for was to tell us to bring a popcorn bowl the next time we visited!</p>
<p>D doesn't have many pieces of "good" jewelry, but the few she has stayed at home.</p>
<p>hmmm...D1 took about 20 pairs of shoes her first year. Not so much the next. ;)</p>
<p>People say bring your birth certificate, passport, etc. I think those can stay at home until the need arises, then the documents can always be sent express mail. Unless the kid has a safe deposit box at a bank near college (which might be a good idea to have anyway).</p>
<p>My son said he would certainly not take his XBox. He said he would get his fill over the summer and then move on to more mature activities like Pong or Beirut.</p>
<p>Decisions about what NOT to take depend so much on how far away the college is and what your kid's needs are. It also depends on what the college will allow in the dorm - all schools have items not allowed.</p>
<p>Three-quarters of everything that my D brought with her freshman year to her nearby school was unnecessary. Among gobs of other stuff, she took way too many clothes and office supply-type items. With my S who will be going far away to college this year, we are sending the basics only. If he needs anything extra, he can shop locally, online, or I can send it. </p>
<p>It's funny you should be talking about popcorn bowls! My S loves the popcorn from hot-air poppers, and will be taking a popper, along with a large tupperware bowl for shooting the popcorn into and storing it. This is his ONE kind-of-weird extra thing.</p>
<p>He will be taking only one book, which is about computer programming. He won't take any video gaming, music or any other electronics beyond his laptop/printer.</p>
<p>He'll get office supply stuff, except for notebooks, after he starts classes and sees what he needs.</p>
<p>I vote for a popcorn bowl. Doubles as a bowl for making brownies. :)</p>
<p>Agree that this is school and student specific.</p>
<p>That said, one thing that seems to pop up on EVERY packing list--my college's included--but that I NEVER saw used, nor had any urge to use myself: laptop lock. Get a name etched in it, install tracking software, or, perhaps most effective of all, just learn to lock the dorm door.</p>
<p>Might be different at other schools, but if you see it on a list, try to ask a few current students if it's actually common. If not, odds that your kid will ever get as far as unwrapping it are probably pretty low.</p>
<p>
[quote]
People say bring your birth certificate, passport, etc. I think those can stay at home until the need arises, then the documents can always be sent express mail.
[/quote]
If you intend to get a job, work study or otherwise, you need your birth certificate, passport or social security card. If you know that already, there's no reason to waste $16 sending it via Express Mail.</p>
<p>Chedva...D1 got a job on campus and didn't need anything but her college id. Her ss, passport and bc all stayed home.</p>
<p>Interesting. My d needed her proof of citizenship.</p>
<p>Chedva, let me disagree with you on that. I'm not a lawyer, but I helped others battle document abuse. Employers can not demand from you to produce your passport if you otherwise satisfied document requirements for yout I-9.</p>
<p>An example: HR discovered that a friend's Permanent Resident Card expired (it was not at the time of hire). They demanded a copy of an unexpired Green Card or the worker would face consequences. Did they have a right to do so?</p>
<p>My biggest advice-KNOW YOUR KID
If your kid is the type who returned from any school trip or camp with almost all the things still packed they prpbably aren't going to change.
My middle child went to 4 yrs of Middle School that went on extensive outdoor ed trips totally almost 30 days of the year. The school had great detailed packing list. For the first three years I fanatically made sure he had everything on the list. Drove myself insane. My son could have cared less if he followed the packing list. He knew what he needed and would use. By his 9th grade year I finally figured out to let him pack himself. This is after 3 yrs of unpacking clean clothes, bike shorts, toitetries that had not even been moved from the stuff sack or ziplock I packed them in. So even though the school list said 3 pairs of bike shorts and a pair of sandals I would pack them even though my son had refused to put a pair of sandals on since age 2 and prefered to ride in basketball shorts.
He returned last month from freshman year with many of the items he brought with him unused. The unopened box of bounce. The laundry soap barely used. Cold meds never opened. 2nd set of sheets still in plastic. He is a minimal type of person.
My oldest on the other hand used many things on those lists.
Both my kids needed to show the actual SS card. My oldest was able to start working without it but no paycheck till she showed the card. We had them send it right back home.</p>
<p>When we were packing up to leave my son was very surprised to discover a deck of cards in his desk drawer. If he'd known they were there he might have used them apparently. So perhaps the lesson is that Mom shouldn't help put things away on arrival?</p>
<p>Both I and roommate's Mom brought lots of cleaning supplies and most of them were still there when we came to pick him up. But we did use them! The room was spotless by the time we left! He never even opened the second set of sheets. I hope he washed the first set...</p>
<p>LOL about the sheets! Finicky D1 brings home her blankets and comforter on every break to get washed.The sheets get washed every week at school. Ummmm...I don't wash comforter and blankets that often! shhhhh...!</p>
<p>Give your kid a copy of his SS card. Keep the original at home.</p>
<p>Don't bother with too many bath towels and washcloth's. S only used 2 of each and managed the whole school year. I did not ask nor did I want to know how often they were washed.
Don't overpack on the clothing. S went to a lot of events where a free t-shirt was given for attending. He collected quite a few throughout the school year and the ones he went with rarely got worn.</p>
<p>This is great! Keep it coming.</p>