This post is the first of a series to help you with your son/daughter’s college journey. Here are my list of Essentials For College Student.
Essentials For College Student
College Website
Our first step was to go to our son’s university’s website where they listed the suggested supplies, dorm essentials, what not to bring and a lot more.
Having those items in hand, we divided them into lists, checking items off, starting with suggested supplies, because the dorm list was pending contacting his roommate.
Based on that list, I want to share my own version with basics you should consider buying for your college student, even if their college/university does everything online:
College Supply List 2021
You can print the Complete College Supply Packing List and use the right column for checking it off, as start purchasing items.
Here are some of the items we bought our son, just in case you want specific ideas:
So many things I love about this one! The charging port, so your college student doesn’t need to worry about charging the cellphone in between classes and for the headphones as well!
Love how compact this wireless printer is and that it comes with 3 months of FREE ink!
I think the quality and how long it lasts without paying premium price will make The Beats, a great pair of headphones for college.
Bath and Dorm Room Packing List
Make sure you check the dorm bathroom’s dimensions for height and width.
I chose dark colors to match my son’s school colors and the boys urge to get things dirty. You might want to coordinate with the roommate. My son’s roommate said he wasn’t going to buy anything until he got there, so we took action and got some of the things which should have been divided.
Some Items To Consider:
Most dorms use Twin XL for the beds, but you might want to check and something I learned from talking to parents was that the bed’s mattresses are super hard, so having a nice mattress foam is a must!
I imagined endless nights with computer on his lap and the need for an oversized pillow.
I bought two sets hoping he would eventually do laundry.
Keep in mind this is a basic list for each category, depending on your college student, you might need way more than that.
I didn’t add some of the items on my list and some decor items I got for my son’s dorm, like the University Flag, The neon lights, an extension chord to plug his chargers and a Google Home to wake him up, without having to leave his cell on!
Something to keep in mind, a lot of colleges don’t allow you to hang anything on the walls, so you might need the Scotch hangers, hooks, to avoid paying a high fine for the wall to be fixed.
Is your son/daughter a senior? You can start working on that list now!
I recommend you make an Amazon Wish List and send it to relatives and friends who might come to the graduation party, that is a great way to give them an idea of what your child needs.
You can read more about our college experience HERE and how we packed the van for drop off day!
Not ready to start working on it?
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I can’t wait to hear what you think about our Essentials For College Student list.
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Thanks for sharing your list. I have a senior and these are the things we need to be thinking about!
When I was in school, a printer was super handy to have. I used mine a ton. I took online classes so I didn’t need a bunch of traditional school supplies.
Your lists are crucial for a college student, love that you also shared the link where we can buy. Thanks!
Thank you for sharing this lists! My niece is turning college, she will need this.
This is the perfect list of college essentials for sure! Everything you have listed here is a wonderful addition to any dorm room and perfection for college students!
Your post provided a lot of useful information about this set of items! Thank you so much for sharing
I love that backpack! This is the exactly type of backpack a student needs!
We will have to start thinking about this soon. I always wonder about what has changed since my college days. Good to have an idea of what my kids will need!
Hey, your college essentials guide is a lifesaver! 🎓🎒 From laptop to dorm room must-haves, your detailed tips make packing for college stress-free. Love the Amazon Wish List idea for grad party gifts. Your personal touches and experience add a special touch. Looking forward to more in this series! 👍📚
What a great list! So great for those headed off to college. We love our HP printer too!
This is a great list indeed and I know from experience for my son that the mattress toppers for the dorm room mattresses are a must..
These look like good items to have in the dorms for college students!
All of these are great essentials for any college kid. My grandson will be starting soon and I’m going to grab a few of these items you have listed. I like the backpack and the laptop for him, and the shower set for his dorm room.
It’s so much to think about all the college stuff. This is such a well thought out post to help those overwhelmed students and parents.
That backpack is awesome. This will make a great gift for a friend.
These are all great ideas. I think all college students would love to have these.
My son is headed to college in like 2 weeks. Eek! We have a lot of the things you mentioned. I need a shower curtain though.