JB Organizing: Organizing for College
We are sending our 4th child in 3 years off to college next month. Needless to say, we have learned a lot – after sending the first 3. This time, we are much more efficient in our purchasing and much smarter about where and when to buy what we do buy. One of the best things we did, is to have our our current college students make a list of the things they found that they did need that first year of college. Here are their insights (and some of ours too 🙂 (Note: I chose to not edit their wording and punctuation – as it shows a lot about the level of importance they place on certain items; thus useful to note) Finally, please note that the following list, does not include specific items of clothing (like jeans, shorts, gym shoes etc.); as we are assuming that those are given and will be included.
Random:
Command hooks – Small, medium, and large.
Brita Water filter
Bed Light
Bedside caddy (Hangs on the side of the bed – sometimes held in place by the mattress)
Hangers? If needed
Robe
Flip Flops (especially if sharing a communal bathroom)
A good water bottle!!!!
1 extension cord
2 power strips
Rug for floor
Cough drops
Good pair of boots for rain and snow (obviously dependent on the weather where they go to school – she is in Michigan 🙂
Good rain jacket
Good winter jacket
Umbrella
Desk light
Laundry basket – foldable
Medicine (Mitol, advil, nyquil, melatonin)
Fan
Mini tool kit (Ikea has a great one)
Mirror – (over the door is best, as most dorms don’t let you hand things like that on the walls.)
Closet organizer – cloth hanging one with shelves
Drawer Organizers
Tape measure
Dust Pan and small broom
Food:
5 bowls and 3 plates (not a lot) just make sure they are microwavable and not cheap
5 real forks and 3 real spoons
Plastic forks and spoons (I found it was way easier to buy plastic because they did not run out as fast as you think, but I also had people in my room all the time using them, plus they’re not expensive)
1 good sharp knife and small cutting board
3 food containers (each a different size)
Mini fridge (if not provided in the room by the school)
Microwave (if not provided in the room by the school)
Big plastic bags and little!!!
Bed:
Bedspread/comforter
Mattress pad
Pillows
Pillow cases (1 backup)
Only 2 sets of sheets
Bath:
2 towels
Shower caddy (if sharing a communal bathroom)
Washcloths
1 shampoo
2 conditioner
2 body wash
Shaving cream
Razors
Bath rug (if they have their own bathroom)
Shower curtain (if they have their own bathroom)
Cleaning:
Mini trash can (some come with)
Trash bags a lot!!!
Paper towels!!
Detergent pods (2 bags)
All purpose cleaner
Dish soap
Glass cleaner
Wet wipes!!!
School Supplies:
(3) 5 star notebooks and 3 folders (Everything is online you do not need anything really)
1 pack pencils and pens
Index cards!! And holder
Stapler
Tape
Paperclips
Tacks
Scissors