A nice, warm comforter.

This:

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/krups-beertender/s135961?a=1552&device=c&network=g&matchtype=&gclid=CJ7r-YucxLwCFRPxOgodjSIAGw

Hitachi wand

A car.

Mini fridge.

The small Keurig coffee/tea maker is great, the pods are a whole lot less messy than even tea bags or coffee "bags" and can also use for cocoa. Can get an assortment of K-cup pods as well.

Rolls of quarters may be useless--most dorms have laundry cards (like a debit card you add money to).

Rolls of quarters for the laundry.

A small adjustable reading light that clamps on to your book to read late night.

Agree with the tool kit. My dad gave me one when I went to college and I used it all the time.

Give her a hot water kettle. I made midnight mac & cheese a lot.
Under the bed boxes.
Fun Tac.
If you know where she's going, gift cards to restaurants and coffee shops in her college town.

Monogrammed towels.

Check the rules on appliances in the dorm room first!

Whiteboard, esp one with a cute design.

Messenger bag

Laundry bag

A tool kit! I got one when I first moved into the dorm and I still own it! Super useful and she will make some friends because she's the only one with a set of tools

This is a very exciting time! I think I did more shopping than DD and could have furnished several dorm rooms. Not exactly a gift for relatives to give - but DD was glad to have large stacking plastic drawers (made by Iris, sold at B,B &B) They fit nicely in a dorm closet, can be stacked to the ceiling (think vertical). A sleeping bag (I like LL BEAN) is nice as an extra blanket or to grab & go when staying with friends. A nice desk lamp, maybe?

I think it's cute to do a "basket" type gift.
examples:
-shower caddy with loofa, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razors, flip flops, robe.
-pampering: assorted nail polish colors, nail files, nail buffers, cotton balls, nail polish remover
-laundry: folding laundry basket, detergent, stain remover, dryer sheets, towels, sheets, rolls of quarters
-coffee maker, travel mugs, assorted coffees/teas

If you want to go the more practical route, there are many dorm room check lists:

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/registry/CollegeChecklistPage

http://www.officedepot.com/a/browse/college/N=5+534016/?cm_mmc=Google-_-NB_BTS_College_HighSchool_MB-_-College_Checklist-_-%2bcollege%20%2bchecklist_49571642-VQ2-g-VQ6-24405097670-VQ15-1t1-VQ16-c

http://www.dormsmart.com/Dorm-Room-Checklist.html

Shower caddy

My DD heads off to college in the fall. For her late spring birthday, relatives would like to buy her things for her new dorm life. What items have your college age students found helpful in the dorms? One idea so far is a coffee/tea maker. Is that a good one (she drink a lot of hot tea)? Any other ideas? Thanks!