It's so easy to google this information for each colleges.

OP, depends on how organized your kid wants to be. Some don't pay attention. And if they end up with 2 rugs, oh well. This is really about them. Not the experience running smoothly for you - or at least not the decorating.

Bed, bath and Beyond usually has a list of college essentials. I have 2 sons so their “must have” list was minimal. The school should have information on what items are permitted or not. Some schools insist that you rent their frig/microwave combo unit. The school will tell you about their bed sizes: regular twin or twin XL for sheet sizes. Girls often want to coordinate bedding, my boys didn’t care.

A lot of this depends on your student. One of mine wanted very specific things to create a specific "look" and the other just went and bought the bedding they liked best at Target on a single trip.
Yes to checking the college website for specific info on what is and is not allowed in rooms and the size of bedding needed. And maybe size or rooms or recommended items to bring.
Yes to coordinating with roommate on large items like fridge, rug or floor fans and (if both care) on colors.
There are tons of lists available (even here on DCUM if you search) on "basics" needed by every student. Take a look at some of those and see how they line up with your kids needs/lifestyle (one person's "can't live without" is another person's "I'll never use this")
I found that friends with older students and online buy/sell groups are great places to look for many dorm-specific needs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid should be finding this stuff out.

Fantastic. How? I guess that was my question. Do "we" (him/me/whoever) find this stuff out ahead of time. If he does that's great.

Most college housing websites have that info now. Once you find out which dorm, you can look it up. Fridges and microwaves are usually worked out between roommates. Here is an example:

https://drexel.edu/campusservices/universityHousing/residence-halls/bentley-hall/

Join the parents group for your kid’s school. You’ll get some helpful advice from BTDT parents specific to that school/dorm. We didn’t find out room/roommate assignments till late July. Housing survey and most forms were done over the summer after RD decisions. But this will vary greatly by school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid should be finding this stuff out.

Fantastic. How? I guess that was my question. Do "we" (him/me/whoever) find this stuff out ahead of time. If he does that's great.

Also by the way, my kid is not the one buying all this stuff. We are buying it for him. As I assume most parents do, or do most parents make their kids outfit their dorm room?

Anonymous wrote:Your kid should be finding this stuff out.

Fantastic. How? I guess that was my question. Do "we" (him/me/whoever) find this stuff out ahead of time. If he does that's great.

Yes, they do communicate ahead around items like fridges. TV is not common or a good idea in my experience (there is one in the lounge typically).

Does your child have a roommate yet? Normally there is a matching survey (which tends to work well) or kids find a roommate through the Facebook page for the incoming class. Then conversations follow.

I have not heard of "portable drawers. My kid kept two large storage bins under her bed, with the help of risers (what elevate the bed, to create more storage underneath). Congratulations.

Hold off until may/June on this

We pre-ordered bed bath beyond and target. picked up prior to move in and then returned what wasn't needed.

Really depends on the school. Some have rooms w/ dimensions etc on the website. Some have students or parents that have made youtube videos or rooms. Some have parent facebook groups or student facebook groups with this info. Google is your friend to find this info.

Kids can reach out to roommates, sometimes they don't respond so that can be frustrating.

You will have all the information you need about the room - size, what it is outfitted with, etc. And yes, most people communicate with their roommate beforehand.

Best bet is to get the basics, and skip everything else - go out to Target/Walmart/Ikea the day you arrive to get what you need to fully outfit the place.

Your kid should be finding this stuff out.

Mom of a high school senior who's been accepted ED to a school 8 hours away.

I have a logistical question about moving in. How much information do we get about the student's specific dorm room prior to the move in date? I'm just thinking that would be really helpful in terms of shopping for the dorm room prior to driving up - fridge or no fridge? TV? Rug? portable drawers?

Also, do most people communicate with their roommate ahead of time and figure out if someone is going to bring a TV or a mini-fridge? I would imagine coordinating that stuff would be useful.

Thanks!