Last fall I sent my first-born twins off to college, and in my true OCD fashion, I spent the summer cruising the Internet for college student must-haves. I read lists of what you definitely need, and what is absolutely a waste of money, and then I consulted with my kids to see what they thought they’d want. And still when they arrived at their separate schools, there were things they needed but didn’t have, and things they had but didn’t need.
So even the best-laid plans might come up short. But I still believe in being prepared. So for parents sending their children off to school this year, I’ve gathered this list of Must-Have’s and Don’t Bothers to help you navigate those summer sales fliers geared specifically towards college students. But there’s a twist — my son and daughter had different suggestions so I’ve noted that below.
The moral of this story:
- Boys and Girls will have different lists.
- Different colleges will have different lists.
- Different children with different interests will have different lists.
My best advice is to do the best you can, use this list as a guide, and then at the end of the school year figure out what they needed and what they didn’t so they’re prepared for sophomore year (and you’re prepared the next child you send off to college).
Must-Haves (Kenna and Max Recommended):
- A Good Mattress Pad — we went for the Lucid 4-inch Gel Memory Foam mattress topper on Amazon and both kids said their beds at school were more comfortable than at home (definitely worth the extra expense)
- Deep Pocket Twin XL sheets — a good mattress pad causes regular sheets to fall off constantly (this one we learned the hard way)
- Plastic Drawers — One thing these kids learned was that there is never enough storage at college so extra drawers for clothes, food, and miscellaneous supplies is a must. (The 3-drawer variety fit nicely under lofted beds)
- Plastic Silverware (both did not appreciate washing the real silverware this environmentally cautious mom bought them)
- Command Strips and Hooks — for posters, photo frames, mirrors etc.
Must-Haves (Kenna)
- A good-sized rug (we watched sales all summer and found an 8x10 rug for under $100)
- Desk Organizers — Kenna became an organizer when she went to college so she had an extra large desk calendar, a container for pens and pencils, and another desk organizer carousel for her makeup
- Microwave — Check with your school, this was not on Max’s list because they have a microwave on every floor
- Decorative Lights — Christmas lights work well
- Desk Lamp — She used her desk a lot, Max’s housed a cubed mini fridge and his television
Must-Haves (Max)
- TV — Only if you bring a gaming system, otherwise you won’t use it (my kid wasn’t much of a gamer and then discovered FortNite. Guess what he bought himself to bring next year?
- Good Speaker — to play music from your smartphone
- Mini-Med Kit — band-aids, antibiotic ointment, Advil, Tums, Airborne, and cold medicine (both of my kids had chronic colds and congestion this year)
- Tide Pods and a Stain Stick
- Clorox Wipes — to make clean up easy
- Extra Phone Charger (apparently someone kept “misplacing” theirs)
- Sweatpants, T-Shirts, Sweatshirts — he recommends a few of each “because that’s all you’ll wear” (Kenna pretty much agreed with that)
- Lots of Clothes Hangers
Don’t Bother (Kenna)
- Plastic plates — get paper plates instead
- Vacuum cleaner — I hate saying this because I can only imagine what that rug was like, but she said they hardly ever used it and recommended a Swiffer with wet pads instead
- Printer — Kenna said she rarely went to printing centers and definitely used her printer, but most kids don’t bring them, they just borrow their friends for the few things that need printing. Kenna just happened to be that friend.
Don’t Bother (Max)
- Rug — His roommate brought one though so he’s considering maybe bringing one this year, but he says it’s not needed
- Vacuum — a dustpan with a mini-sweeper/hand-held broom would be better
- Hand sanitizer — he brought two extra large ones (why I don’t know). One small or none will do.
- Tool Kit — I still say bring a small one, just in case. He says you’ll never need it.
