Helping your student prepare for living on campus can be a fun way to spend time together this summer! Make a college packing list and go shopping for residence hall items together. Your student may not have a realistic view of how much they can comfortably fit into their residence hall room. Help them decide which clothes, shoes and personal items are good to pack, and which may need to be brought later as the weather changes. Bringing warmer clothes when the temperature drops is a great reason to visit your student on campus.
Remind your student to avoid setting expectations based on social media trends and Pinterest ideas. Instead, help them to plan a room that suits their individual personality and comfort level. You can encourage your student to reach out to their roommate before they move on campus. They can coordinate plans for room decorations and supplies to help cut down on costs and save space. It is also great for them to begin getting to know each other before living together.
“Bring less stuff than you think you need. You can always get more later for your residence hall!” —Trisha, class of 2027
When you get to campus, you may want to shop for some necessities rather than bringing them from home. Parents will have free time on the Sunday night of Discover Week when students have meetings with their orientation small group and residence hall. This may be a good time to pick up any items that you were not able to get before traveling to campus.