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Stop. Slide that credit card into your wallet and set down that dorm room shopping laundry list. Yes, you are facing the mother of all back-to-school shops. And, yes, your first year college student needs SO MANY THINGS. But before you start shopping, try to answer these 50 questions, first.
Fix a snack for your off-to-college teen, sit down, and tackle these together. Open your laptop and drill down to the “Student Housing” or “Residence Life” section on the college website to see what you can discover. Look for the dorm your teen has been assigned to (if they know it yet) and take note of the room dimensions and any specifics provided. Find the list of prohibited items.
One warning, as you go through these questions, college will begin to seem very, very real.
Do you have the (free) Grown and Flown Off-to-College Checklist? It Includes important financial, health and wellness, and legal things to check off your list before your teen leaves home. Download it here.
What should you buy for a college dorm room?
College Dorm Rooms and Storage
1. Are the room dimensions available on the college website for the specific dorm room to help you plan how to use the space?
2. How much hanging space is available in closets or wardrobes?
3. How much floor space is in the closet, and would a shoe shelf be practical or fit?
4. Are the beds elevated or bunk, or traditional? Do you need bed risers to raise the bed to make room for storage space? Note: many beds are already elevated, so risers are unnecessary. Plus, if there are bunk beds, do not get risers!
5. Are desks and desk chairs provided?
6. Does the dorm room come with a dresser?
7. Does the room have a desk lamp? Is there only overhead lighting? Is a lamp on the desk or by the bed something your student could use?
8. Is there a bookcase, or do you need a folding hutch for the top of the desk for book storage?
9. Will your student have roommates, and if so, how many? Will they coordinate on decor or share things like a TV, computer printer, mini-fridge, or area rug?
10. How cold/drafty are the rooms, and how much extra bedding is needed for the winter?
11. Is there air conditioning? If not, will it be hot, and what size and type of fan would work best? WOOZOO fans have become very popular.
12. How much room is there for under-bed storage drawers, or what size storage bins will fit best?
13. Is there space for a suitcase, or should any luggage go home with parents?bCan you use folding duffel bags and/or IKEA Frakta bags (THE BEST) that can be stored flat under the bed?
14. How heavy a sleeper is your student? Do they have an alarm clock or will a cell phone alarm suffice?
15. Will your teen take valuables (passport, jewelry, money, credit cards, prescription drugs) from home that could require a small safe or lockbox?
16. Is your teen taking a pillow from home, or do you want to get them a new pillow or a pair of pillows?
17. Is the college mattress provided icky and feels like a brick? Will your student sleep better on a mattress topper? There is a wide range at many price points and styles.
18. How many outlets does the room have, and will power/strips or surge protectors be helpful? Many colleges prohibit regular extension cords. Regardless, it’s much safer to have a surge protector with a long power cord as plugs are scarce and may be inconveniently positioned.
19. Does the weather turn cold early, so your teen will need to pack winter clothes in September, or will they have a chance to switch out shorts for a jacket during fall break?
Dorm Decor
20. What bits of home does your student want to take with them?
21. How much wall space does your student have, and will they decorate it?
22. Does the school allow decorations to be hammered or stuck on the wall? Are there any wall hangings that are prohibited?
23. Do the windows have blinds, or do you need to have some sort of curtains to install?
24. Is the floor carpeted, or would an area rug be practical/desirable?
25. What is the square footage of the floor for the best rug size?
Bathroom
26. Is your student in a suite of rooms with a shared bathroom, or is it down the hall or nearby?
27. Does your student need a robe or towel wrap for modesty when walking to the bathroom from her dorm room?
28. Can toiletries be stored in the bathroom or carried back and forth in a shower caddy?
29. Where can a wet towel be hung to dry?
30. Does your student already have flip-flops or do they need non-slip shoes that can be worn in the shower?
31. Are you sending towels from home or buying new ones?
32. Would adding a monogram to new towels keep them from getting lost in the laundry room?
Dorm Common Room
33. Would a coffee maker be permitted, or is it (or other) appliances forbidden? We LOVE this Keurig mini that is 5″ wide and comes in several colors.
34. Does the common room have furniture, or are students expected to provide it?
35. Will your student have siblings/out-of-town friends visiting, and do they need extra sheets and blankets?
36. What rentals, if any, does the campus provide, such as microwaves, water coolers, and mini refrigerators?
37. Are there kitchen facilities, and does your student need to bring pots, pans, plates, silverware, etc.?
Laundry and Cleaning
38. Will your student drop off their laundry and be given a bag for that?
39. If they do their laundry, how far away are the machines from their dorm room, and is it easier to carry a bag, get a bag that can be worn as a backpack, or use a basket with handles?
40. Is there a vacuum cleaner that can be borrowed on occasion?
41. What cleaning are students expected to do in their room, bathroom, kitchen, and/or standard room, and do they need their supplies?
Shopping: College Checklist
42. What are your favorite places to shop and do they offer dorm furnishings with discounts for students? Has your student looked for any signup for college students?
43. What are the relative costs of shipping or using the “buy here/deliver there” programs?
44. What box stores are closest to campus? Will you be able to shop there or pick up previously ordered supplies?
45. Is getting to a drug store or campus book store easy, or should your student bring extra toiletries?
46. Is a package delivery location close enough to receive packages, and can your student carry heavy ones back to their room?
47. Will the student have access to a car to buy additional items they might need during move-in?
48. What are your student’s tech needs, and does their college offer discounts for computers purchased through the bookstore?
Move In Day
49. Is there an elevator or only stairs in the building and should you get a folding cart to help with move in??
50. Are you driving or flying with your student on the big day?
Why should you trust us?
The Grown and Flown team includes three moms who’ve raised 8 young adults and have been working on product lists for over 14 years, making them experts. When selecting products they survey the Grown and Flown Parents Facebook group of over 300,000 parents of teens, tweens and young adults. They do opinion polls, surveys and ask open ended questions. They search for products that combine reasonable price with high quality and are recommended by our large following.
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