Anonymous wrote:My rising Junior was a Freshman with lots of Covid rules. He had to carry all of his things with only 1 trip. No help from family No going back to the car. It is amazing how little you really need. And now, with shipping so easy, just wait till they are there and fill in later.

Yes---shipping/amazon is huge versus when we all went to college. You can get almost anything delivered easily. Go with less and then add as needed. Dorm rooms are much smaller than you think

I am hoping less stuff goes up any year.

Top sheet, extra set of sheets, extra towel

Really the only thing that wasn't used/worn were clothes. As soon as he got home he had a large pile to donate.

With next day shipping, just get the bare basics and let them fill out based on what they need or really want.

Anonymous wrote:You made me chuckle at "Tickety Tok!"

This whole dorm design thing feels so foreign to me and my D. My sister was like "What theme are you going with?" and my D was like "Say what now?" (in her head of course, she would not say that to her aunt). Her idea of decor is some posters and fairy lights. Done!

But, she/we could definitely go overboard on stuff we think would be useful but actually wouldn't, so that part is really helpful.

Based on what I see on the groups being sold at the end of the year, I can say special artwork, fairy lights; heck even expensive bedding and tons of pillows!

Desk organizing stuff. He never uses his desk...it is a surface to accumulate stuff lol.

You made me chuckle at "Tickety Tok!"

This whole dorm design thing feels so foreign to me and my D. My sister was like "What theme are you going with?" and my D was like "Say what now?" (in her head of course, she would not say that to her aunt). Her idea of decor is some posters and fairy lights. Done!

But, she/we could definitely go overboard on stuff we think would be useful but actually wouldn't, so that part is really helpful.

If you search the parent facebook group for the specific college, you might find helpful answers. The answers are probably going to vary by school.

Agree with the storage ottoman poster above.

Also unused, drawer sorters for underwear, socks
https://www.amazon.com/WIFTREY-Underwear-Dividers-Organizers-Undergarment/dp/B09T9J8SD6/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=1HKB07UEETKOW&keywords=underwear+sorter&qid=1654776713&sprefix=underwear+sorter%2Caps%2C58&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFHWTlUV05JWjVSVjcmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA1OTQ3OTgyWUtFNkNCQVJFWFBLJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA0OTcyMzUyTUxSMFhDSFBEOTVOJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Fortunately they don't cost much but they add to waste in this country.

Minimum is best. Dorm rooms are small. Don’t get caught in the madness. We bought expensive bedding but outside that not much.

My oldest didn't use: "Storage ottoman" like this:
https://www.target.com/p/storage-ottoman-black-room-essentials-8482/-/A-81792868?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tgtao&DFA=71700000012735310&CPNG=PLA_Furniture%2BShopping_Local%7CFurniture_Ecomm_Home&adgroup=SC_Furniture&LID=700000001170770pgs&LNM=PRODUCT_GROUP&network=g&device=c&location=9007569&targetid=aud-1453399007896:pla-955739937354&ds_rl=1246978&ds_rl=1247068&ds_rl=1248099&gclid=CjwKCAjwtIaVBhBkEiwAsr7-c_rJmksxr2rPaLQ1bPtJ0G7DD_lutTTaYK96bs3Um01a-LujSk8M2RoCHqIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

A white board

plates and bowls (2 of each) that I thought he might want for eating snacks in his room

Don't bring too much, honestly. I get girls want to decorate, I assume, but everything you use freshman year will likely be irrelevant the following year. The rooms are small and you can do a target run once you really find out what you need. Don't overpack is really the best advice. And those (including my DS) that had to go or come quickly due to covid were so much happier than those with expensive or cumbersome stuff you had to quickly get home.

My rising Junior was a Freshman with lots of Covid rules. He had to carry all of his things with only 1 trip. No help from family No going back to the car. It is amazing how little you really need. And now, with shipping so easy, just wait till they are there and fill in later.

To help the parents of incoming freshmen/women, share here what you bought for your kid’s dorm that got tossed at the end of the year or was never used or even came home before the year started.

Moms and dads are their kids (mostly girls) are in a buying frenzy right now to have that instagram perfect/Tickity-Tock famous dorm room decoration video.