Don't Move to the Dorm Without it

Packing for the dorm? As a mom of a college student in his third year of living on campus, I've come up with a list of a few things you should definitely NOT leave behind:

• Mattress Pad. Dormitory accommodations are not exactly known for being plush.  Add a padded mattress topper to increase your sleeping comfort.
• Shower Shoes. Yes, you have to share a shower with half the residents on your floor. Don't share someone else's athlete's foot as well. Now's the time to grab a couple of pairs of cheap rubber flip-flops that you can wear right into the shower. Your toes will thank you later.
• Easy Laundry. I'm not generally one to advocate paying for convenience, but for anyone who has to use a communal laundry room, the detergent pods can't be beat. They're easy to carry, easy to store and impossible to spill--plus, no measuring!
• Power Up. Figure out how many electrical outlets you'll need to plug in your computer, phone charger, printer, fridge, alarm clock, fan and hair appliances. Then bring enough surge-protecting power strips to accommodate them all. Many dorm rooms average one or two outlets per resident, so power strips are essential.
• Pest Resistance. You'll need snacks to fuel those late-night video-game study sessions. While it's nice to share your snacks with roommates and friends, you don't want mice or insects raiding your chocolate-chip cookies.  Keep any food that's not in your fridge inside a secure plastic bin.
• Network. If the campus WiFi signal isn't strong enough to reach those remove dorms, you'll want to plug in to the network.  Be sure to bring a good long network cable. Don't wait until you get to school; the campus store charges a premium for these!
• First-Aid Kit. Bandages, antibiotic cream, pain reliever, Ace bandages, cold medicine and antacids are first-aid essentials. Have them all on hand for those little emergencies.