Going off to college is an exciting time in a young person’s life. Independence, opportunity, new friendships await. But it can also be a bit of a wake-up call into adulthood. Doing laundry, keeping a tidy living space, making your own grilled cheese.
Sending your kid off to college is no easy fete. Chances are they’ve never lived on their own and will need to quickly learn how to fend for themselves as a newly minted adult. While it’s tempting to become an RA in your child’s freshman dorm, don’t do it. What you can do though is send your kid off to college equipped with the essentials they’ll need to master life on campus.
A durable laundry backpack, shower shoes and a mini fridge are just the tip of the iceberg. To help you with your shopping, we’ve rounded up the Amazon essentials your college-bound kid needs in their dorm room and beyond. Free up some space in the car and ship some items directly to your kid’s dorm room to minimize the schlep on move-in day.
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Bedding
Yes, twin XL bedding can actually be cute.
Bed-in-a-bag, $37.02 at Amazon
Bed Risers
“Dorms rooms have plenty of storage space,” said no one ever. Luckily, these risers will give new students a little extra room.
Bed risers, $8.93 at Amazon
Wall Tapestry
Need a cheap, easy way to cover a big, blank dorm wall? A pretty wall tapestry is your best bet.
Wall tapestry, $12.99 at Amazon
Herschel Backpack
A backpack for obvious reasons.
Herschel backpack, $86 at Amazon
Mini Fridge
The cafeteria won’t be open at 3 am when the study sesh ends and the hunger kicks in. That’s why they’ll need a mini fridge in their dorm.
Mini fridge, $161.15 at Amazon
Shower Shoes
Need we explain why one would not want to walk into a communal college bathroom barefoot?
Bathroom slippers, $9.99 at Amazon
Bluetooth Speaker
This will make outdoor study time approximately one thousand times more fun.
Waterproof Bluetooth speaker, $35.99 at Amazon
Command Hooks
You don’t want to be hit with a long bill of dorm room damages at the end of the semester so avoid putting any holes in the walls with some simple hooks.
Command hooks, $6.29 at Amazon
String Lights
A chic way to display photos to remind them of home.
Clothes pin string lights, $9.99 at Amazon
Mini Vacuum
A full-size vacuum may be too big for a tiny dorm but this handheld one is a necessity.
Handheld cordless vacuum, $53.49 at Amazon
Bathrobe
Walking to the showers in a bathrobe is much more comfortable than a towel.
Bathrobe, $18.99 at Amazon
Sandwich Maker
Sometimes you don’t want to walk all the way to the cafeteria to get a nice, hot sandwich.
Sandwich maker, $16.99 at Amazon
Notebooks
Yes, we live in a digital age but notebooks are still required.
A six-pack of notebooks, $32.50 at Amazon
Shower Caddy
Pretty self-explanatory, right?
Shower caddy, $12.99 at Amazon
Laundry Backpack
A backpack-style laundry bin will make those long walks to the laundry room a whole lot easier.
Laundry backpack, $39.99 at Amazon
Yeti Tumbler
They’re gonna need coffee and lots of it. Help ’em keep it warm in this tumbler.
Yeti tumbler, $29.99 at Amazon
Printer
Printer, $69 at Amazon
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