Basic College Supplies For New Students
Going off to college or sending your child off to college is an exciting milestone in life. Hopes, dreams of the future and plans to make an interesting life all come together in the moments when a child is packing up their room one last time before heading off to school. You want to make sure your student has everything they need, and the list of basic college supplies needed are items that are easy to find and will make your special student’s life easier.
Dorm rooms usually come quipped with twin or extra long twin beds. Check with your student’s assigned resident hall to see what size they use and be sure to get plenty of bedding and linens. This is a staple of college supplies that most parents forget about. Students do laundry infrequently, so buying more than one set of sheets and blankets ensures your child will have a clean, comfortable bed. Good pillows, a reliable alarm clock, and a foam mattress topper complete the list of things you need to make sure your child has a complete bedroom suite.
Most dormitories allow microwave ovens and this is a great addition to the room. Quick meals, late night study snacks, drinks, and breakfasts will be easy for your student to make in the microwave and can help avoid the pitfalls of fast food or vending machines often found on campuses. A mini fridge stocked with water, fruits, some frozen entrees and pre-cut vegetables is a great way to set up a student’s starter kitchen and help them recognize the opportunity they have to make healthy food choices.
A computer and printer is another set up your child will need as a basic college supply item. Laptops are great for students to take to class and use for note taking and research and are invaluable while in the dorm room completing assignments. Having a reliable printer in room ensures your student can print papers, presentations or other needed documents easily, efficiently and without the hassle of going to the library, computer lab, or print shop.
Setting up your student’s dorm room with all the items they need can be a fun and exciting process if you plan, budget, and think about what your student’s individual needs and tastes are. Bedding including sheets, pillows and coverlets, microwaves, mini refrigerators stocked with healthy snacks, a computer and a printer are all basic college supplies that will help your student start off on the right foot.
Schedule a time to sit down with your college bound child today and figure out what items they want, need and like and set a budget you can stick to. Starting early in the summer allows you to buy things slowly and stretch the cost out over several months so you are not hit with big supply and tuition bills all at one time. Shopping for basic college supplies is a fun way to bond and discuss expectations, hopes and excitement for the experiences going off to college offers and can become a long lasting and treasured family memory.
