A great thing is to have a follow up visit shortly after she starts classes. Take her and her new friends out for dinner and a trip to Target. You’ll get to see the crowd she’s hanging out with which has as much influence over her time at college as her major. And it sure does help alleviate empty nesting/homesickness if she’s living far away.

Sleep and Study aides equally important for Dorm room “essentials”. I actually replaced my dorm chair since I did a lot of studying in my room into wee hours of the night. The hard little chair they gave me wasn’t cutting it. If I were the laptop toting library type, an extra laptop power adapter might be handy so one can stay at my desk in the dorm room. Power strips. I’ve always needed those for recharging gadgets or to be able to rearrange furniture to my liking when a wall plug wasn’t convenient.

#11 “essential” – sense of humor, some rules and general agreements for living with others. Especially for a single child (I am one) living with someone other than family can be a big adjustment. Not everyone has the same values and habits nor respect for others property plus assumptions are made. Heck, not everybody takes kindly to life size Twilight posters… And Ahem, college is a time where some people go a little wild. Best for her to make it clear what is cool and what is not. A good habit is to knock on your own door or make some noise before going on.

Let me first say, been there, done that.. SM with an only daughter and I bought her all the new stuff she needed… if only someone had advised me. While having brand new dorm appliances is nice, I would recommend that she make friends with graduating seniors or someone moving off campus and offer to buy their stuff. First choice are those that are from out of state, the further the better because they are less likely to pay more to haul stuff they can replace:)

For you and her- may need to review the type of cell plan you have, unlimted minutes, data plan, friends etc. Not sure how far away from home she will be, but those minutes add up and with new friends on different plans it can add up even if you’re in the same state.

Good luck to both of you!

a) Proper clothing. I needed warm clothes and shoes that weren’t slippery because my school was on a snowy hillside.

b) Something from home. I had pictures and music.

c) Communication devices. I had stamps and envelopes to keep in touch with my best friend and a typewriter for papers. Nowadays I’d go for a computer, internet connection, and maybe a printer–normal people would also want a cell phone.

d) Sleep and study aids if necessary – ear plugs may be handy if the roommate snores for example.

e) Organizational tools – a calendar / day planner / phone alarms or something to keep track of classes, homework, events, project meetings, etc.

f) Open mind and will power. I tried a lot of new things. I refused to try some new things (illegal and scary ones).

Depending on her laundry room, she may need quarters or a card. If she needs coins, a roll of quarters would be helpful.

Bring things like cereals, canned fruits (if you don’t mind them), and other non-perishables to the dorm – sometimes the cafeteria won’t be open before you need to get going, or you missed the dining time!

We technically weren’t allowed a microwave because we were in an older building in my first year, but I had one and didn’t know that stipulation. Myself and the neighbouring girl figured out that we could use it without short-circuiting our rooms if we turned off everything except our computers, so we both shared it and lived with the inconvenience. We were only allowed electrical items that had an auto-shut off (so no the George Foreman grills, etc), but I had a little electric “Hot Pot” (http://www.proctorsilex.com/products/kitchen-appliances-hot-pot.php) that was wonderful! You could use it for soups, pasta, hard boiled eggs, tea, hot chocolate, pretty much anything that you can use a pot on the stove for. People liked borrowing it, especially when the weather was nsaty and we didn’t want to leave for food.

Pictures of friends and home might help if she might get a little home sick, as will a long distance calling card (if a phone is included with her res), or a web cam if she doesn’t have one already. If she has a laptop, having an extra battery and power supply might be helpful, and I agree with a person above about the USB drive.

Check if there is air conditioning – she may want to have a fan (and also may want a little heater, since they don’t always have the heat on even if it’s chilly outside), but those are just things to think about when she’s there.