Top Ten Back to School Supplies for Your College Student

Buying back to school supplies for your college student can be overwhelming. For the past 12 years you've prepared your child for school, but sending them off to college is different. You want your child to have everything he needs to feel at home, but at the same time you don't want to buy every back to school supply advertised in the Sunday paper. When I sent my first child off to school I thought we would need a moving truck to transport his "school supplies". Now, sending our third child off to college we've narrowed down the shopping and packing quite a bit. Here are our top ten school supplies for college success.

1. Refrigerator and microwave. Each dorm room needs at least one. You need a fridge for fresh juice, milk, water and fruit. The freezer is perfect for frozen dinners, snacks and ice cream. The microwave is indispensable for heating noodles, spaghettios, making hot cocoa or warming leftovers. Some schools serve meals only at designated times, so if your child over sleeps at least he can have some cereal and juice. Other times they're just tired of school food and prefer a peanut butter and jelly sandwich either way it is an essential.

2. Pillows and Bedding. Everyone feels better away from home when they have their own special pillows and blankets. Just like when then were a little kid carrying around their teddy and blankie. Colleges generally do not supply any bed linens or pillows. Every child should have two sets of sheets with them, as parents we know how messy they are and how often they clean. A blanket and a quilt or comforter is also a good idea. You never know if the dorms are going to be hot or cold.

3. Fan. My child used his fan almost all year. The dorm rooms were so hot that they even had three or more going at once. Most dorms don't allow you to control the thermostat and very few if any allow air conditioning units.

4. Power strip, extension cords and a long piece of television cable. You never know how many outlets they're going to have or where they'll be. Power strips and extra cords are a must. It also allows you to move around the furniture so that it's comfortable. You want to be able to set up your desk, television and computer wherever you want-not where the plugs are.

5.Television and a DVD player. It's nice to be able to invite new friends over to watch a favorite show or sport. On a cold winter night you can rent a red box, make some popcorn and have a fun evening in. You might want to see if your roommate is bringing one. You may not want to have two of everything. Some of the rooms are pretty small and crowded.

6. Dry erase board and a corkboard. You can let your friends know where you are and when you'll be back. You can hang schedules and photos of family and friends. Your friends will have a place to leave you notes and messages.

7. Tools and Hardware. A hammer, screwdriver, measuring tape and flashlight can come in really handy when you're setting up your dorm. Assembling chairs and desks, hooking up cables and hanging up mirrors go much easier with a few tools from home. Double sided tape, sticky hooks, poster putty and over the door hangers are really useful too.

8. Tupperware in all shapes and sizes. These are great for storing extra school supplies like pens, pencils, markers, staples printer ink, etc. The ones with wheels and drawers are awesome because they serve as mini bureaus and desks. Storage is very limited and most kids just don't have enough places to keep things, so Tupperware is great! You might want to check with your school before back to school shopping, because every school is different on what they do and don't allow. It's better too be safe than sorry.

9. Electronics. Every student needs a laptop or computer, but check with your college first some offer deals and free service. Cell phones are also essential. You want you child to be able to contact you in emergency or just to say, "hi". Ipods are also great to have. It's a compact way to have all their music handy, plus today's ipods have programs for just about anything they need.

10. Shower Caddy and flip-flops. You need a great shower caddy filled with shampoo, conditioner, gel, body wash, deodorant, shaving cream, razors and body lotions. The school doesn't supply these things and having them all together in a handy carrier makes things a lot more organized. Make sure to pack some washcloths and towels too. The colleges don't generally have these either.

The more prepared and organized your child is when starting college the easier it will be for him to adapt to his new school and his new home away from home.