"Simple steps can make the transition to home sweet dorm simple, easy and stress free," says Jackie Salinas of Bed Bath & Beyond. www.bedbathandbeyond.com "Tuition may have increased over time - but the size of the average dorm room has not. Planning in advance and using some basics tools will help make getting to college a lot easier than it was to get into college."
Jackie offers the following tips for both students and parents to help you get started:
Check it Off. Use a comprehensive checklist to figure out what you need to buy and what you can take from home. Bedbathandbeyond.com offers a checklist broken down by category.
Split it Up. Reach out to your roommates before you shop to decide who is bringing what so you avoid bringing (and buying) duplicates.
Check it Out. Before you shop, check with your college or university on the size of your mattress. Is it twin or twin extra long? It would be a shame to buy the perfect sheets and then find out they are too small.
Don't Drive Yourself Nuts! Gone are the days of bungee cording the trunk closed. Bed Bath & Beyond stores offer a unique "Pack & Hold" service that eliminates the hassle of packing the car. Simply shop at a store near home and then pick the items up at the store near college or choose to have the items shipped directly to you at school.
Don't Forget to Make Your Bed! When you get to your dorm room cover your mattress with a mattress protector, a quilted mattress pad, a feather bed, and finally new sheets and a comforter. You'll feel like you're sleeping at a four star hotel, not the freshman quad.
Don't Panic. As prepared as you are - chances are you will forget something. You can buy what you need in local stores; chances are your favorite retailers have a branch near campus. Or check out www.bedbathandbeyond.com offers a college/store locator that makes it easy to find the store closest to college to get the things most likely forgotten like hangers, extension cords and surge protectors.
Shop Smart for College! For the first time two of America's leading retailers, Bed Bath & Beyond and Staples® have partnered to offer the "shop smart for college" Sweepstakes! Now thru September 2nd, visit bedbathandbeyond.com to enter for a chance to win the ultimate prize to share - 2-smart® for two passion coupes, 2-$2,500 Bed Bath & Beyond Gift Cards and 2-$2,500 Staples Gift Cards!
No purchase necessary to enter or win. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. and D.C. age 18 or older. Void where prohibited. See Official Rules, which govern, at bedbathandbeyond.com or in stores for complete details. Sponsor: Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. © 2008 Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. and its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved ©2008 Staples Inc.
Here's some more helpful information for college students moving into the dorm.
·WHAT TO BRING
·1. Underwear and socks are the first things you'll run out of. Bring lots!
2. Bring a bathrobe, a pair of shower shoes, and a shower caddy for that long walk from the showers to your dorm room. )You can also use a caddy if you're sharing a bathroom with several suitemates. It helps keep everything organized and neat.)
3. Bring your favorite sports equipment: tennis racquet, baseball mitt, roller blades, etc. Don't forget helmets or shin guards.
4. Is the school's climate hot or cold? Will you need thermal underwear, gloves and hats or sandals and extra bathing suits?
5. Handi-Tak is ideal for putting up posters without damaging walls.
6. Use cinder blocks or bed elevators to raise your bed, increasing storage space underneath. You can also use cinder blocks to stack boards at intervals for extra shelving.
7. Bring earphones for your radio, stereo or TV to make it easier for techno fans to live with classical music lovers.
8. Take along a disposable camera – they're inexpensive and worry-free.
9. Keys: be sure to have an extra set, including car keys.
10. A roll of duct tape can be indispensable for securing and fixing almost anything.
11. Take along spare pairs of glasses or contact lenses and copies of the prescriptions.
12. Stock up on individual packets of sugar, sweetener, ketchup, mayo and mustard to keep in your dorm room for those midnight snacks.
13. Rolls of quarters are a hot college commodity, needed for laundry, soda, snacks and meters.
14. Take a supply of your regular medications, prescriptions, and your doctors' phone numbers.
15. You can never have enough batteries, in all sizes.
16. Stamps come in handy for snail mail or paying bills.
17. Bring along framed photos of those you love so your dorm room will feel more like home.
18. Let there be light! Remember extension cords, lamps, and extra bulbs.
WHAT TO DO
1. Since you will be living on your bed, your comforter needs to be washable. Check the tag, most are.
2. Sign up for frequent flyer programs with your favorite airlines. Many are affiliated with credit cards that give you mileage for purchases.
3. Put a dry-erase message board on your dorm room door so others can leave messages for you.
4. Make two photocopies of everything in your wallet and your important papers. Keep one copy at home and one at school.
5. Memorize your social security number. It will come in handy more times than you can imagine.
6. Keep a running list of all your extracurricular activities. Someday soon, you'll have to write a résumé.
7. Assemble a small sewing kit with pre-threaded needles, extra buttons and safety pins.
8. Many people have similar-looking clothes (like socks). Write your name or initials on them with a laundry marker.
9. Apply for a passport now. You'll probably need it for that Study Abroad Program or Spring Break trip.
10. Know what you are allergic to – the specific names and types of drugs. When did you have your last tetanus shot?
11. Assemble a small tool kit with all the essentials. Put your name on these items; they will be borrowed.
12. When you buy luggage, remember that it has to be stored, so collapsible bags are best. Almost everyone has black luggage so put some unique identifier on the bags. Or pick a colorful bag.
13. Get your parents a subscription to a local newspaper or the school paper.
14. Get a copy of the college's regional area phone book/yellow pages for your parents. (Maybe they'll send you a surprise birthday cake.)
15. Show some school spirit! Put the decal on the car and order your sweatshirt early.
16. Creative? Make a poster size photo collage, full of memories, to hang on your wall at school.
FOR MORE TIPS ON GETTING READY TO GO TO COLLEGE (FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS TOO) VISIT WWW.BEDBATHandBEYOND.COM
Checklist:
Duet Washcloth $4.99
Duet Hand Towel $7.99
Basket Shower Tote $9.99
Mesh Spng Organza $3.99
Nautica Greenville Twin Extra Long Complete Bed Ensemble $129.99
Nautica Woodmont Twin Extra Long Complete Bed Ensemble $129.99
Pennridge Plaid Twin Quilt $79.99
Indulgence Twin Blanket $39.99
Jumbo Gusset Pillow $7.99
Bodymate® Body Pillow $9.99
Isotonic® Comfort Three-Zone Foam Twin Mattress Topper $39.99
Body Pillow Pillow Protector $9.99
AeroBed® Premier Comfort Zone Raised Twin Bed $199.99
Comfy Folding Chair $39.99
Large Storage Ottoman with Bonus Ottoman $29.99
Organizer Gray Desk Lamp $12.99
5-Light Floor Lamp $29.99
Stratford Series™ Satin Nickel Finish Over-the-Door Valet Hook $6.99
Hook Rack $16.99
Black Gearbox 10-Pocket Shoe Organizer $14.99
Black Cart with Four Fabric Drawers and Solid Top $49.99
Black Bed Lifts™ $9.99
Black 600-Denier Charging Station $14.99
Faux Suede Black Lap Desk $19.99
Tabletop Ironing Board - Caviar $9.99
Darks/Lights Laundry Tote Bag $19.99
Nextar 3.5" Digital Photo Frame $49.99
iHome IH9 Black Alarm Clock $99.99
Rowenta Effective DX1700 Steam Iron $49.99
Shark™ Limited Edition Cordless Hand Vacuum With Motorized Brush $39.99
ecobulb Plus 60-Watt Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb (3-Pack) $7.99
