What kit do students need?

[vivariumvivariumsvivaria]

First born is off to study in September. I was a student, but back in the analogue days.

What do students need? She's got a place in halls, so I'm assuming she needs a mattress topper, bedding, a bit of cleaning stuff, a sleeping bag, a laptop and a shedload of berocca and condoms.

What was the most useful thing your kid got? And what was the most useless?

That's a good idea, I'll maybe get a job lot of blue IKEA bags.

I got her some bamboo plates, they are dishwasher proof but hard to break. And some shots glasses from the charity shop, because let's not pretend that isn't an essential.

I used this list with DS1 www.mumsnet.com/teenagers/university-essentials-checklist

It was pretty good.

IKEA blue bags also make very good laundry bags, particularly if they have to get to another building to do their laundry (quite common)

Third one off this September (fingers crossed for the grades).

Fairy lights (battery operated) obviously critical.

backpacks taboo for obvious reasons.

On a more serious point, and dependent on hall of residence, door stop always a good idea where permitted.

Backpacks are taboo? Like a rucksack? Not obvious enough for me, I'm afraid. That might be due to my boomer issues, though.

My daughter uses one of the M & S coverless duvets. It's really easy and she can get is washed and dried the same day and back on the bed.

Check what kind of hob the kitchen has. Dd took some old pans we had but they didn't work as it was an induction hob.

her list was something like

Duvet, pillow, fitted sheet, mattress topper
Bedside rug (it was her little luxury)
Bathroom bin
Laundry bag with handles
Saucepans
Crockery & cutlery x 2
glasses & mugs x 2 (more if planning on entertaining but that's not been allowed this year)
Kettle & toaster (wasn't provided but check)
Food storage containers (old takeaway cartons)
Utensils
Smelly sticks in glass jars (not essential but dd likes them)
Towels & tea towels
Washing up bowl (it was the item no-one thought of)

Useful thread! Just starting to think about this with DS. Anything your dc took that they didn't need?

A warning: we just brought DD back from her first year and were unable to fit all her accumulated possessions in DHs extremely spacious 4x4. My summer mantra will be ‘less is more’ in the hope that she takes the hint by the autumn.

Oh my goodness shangrilala what did she accumulate?!

It depends on the accommodation and whether or not they are s/c. DDs both got decent kitchen devils style sharp knives for cutting up fruit & veg and stick blenders for if they made soup. Their cutlery is coloured so it's easier to distinguish (Wilko!)

I agree about the stash of dried/packet/tinned foods, especially at the moment. Both had 10 days' supply which they regularly turned over so it didn't go out of date.

Photos of home, pets or friends are useful as are drawing pins. Both my DDs have had rooms with a proper noticeboard, so pins are essential. Both like having calendars on them and photos of family. Also mine have accumulated house plants. I'm not sure how exactly but DD2's uni gave everyone at least one in freshers' week. DD1 is very green-fingered so has a variety.

Well, there were four enormous suitcases of clothes, to start with. I fear she could have been awarded a First for fashion shopping…

Top tips there malbecfan and clearly excellent taste in wine

Shangrilala wow!! My goodness

Bought her a basin and cutlery and some bamboo dishes this week. She is delighted, so, thanks all.

Photos are a great idea. I hadn't thought of that

There are lots of "uni haul" videos on YouTube showing what some people take to uni. Some fill 2 cars worth and others pack it into a suitcase and get on a plane. We have told Ds that if it doesn't fit in the car it is not going.

Crashing at other people's flats usually happens without planning so no sleeping bag needed. Do check out YouTube, no doubt someone is at her uni if not her actual halls of residence and you can see they space they have.

Eve Bennet (Oxford) did a great uni haul video then followed up a year later taking the piss out of herself for why on earth she thought x item would be used.

We're waiting until after results day, so we know whereshe's going, and which Halls she got. She has only applied for self catered.
The lists Ive seen from her first choice uni have quite a few banned items ( fairy lights, candles, etc) so it is def worth checking those.
She is planning to try charity shops for some items, and we can give her some old stuff of ours. I think Wilko looks good for pans etc, but we'll need to know if she needs induction ones or not.
I'm inclined to go for the minimum of stuff to start with and let her buy what she needs when she gets there.

Cork board with pins (in theory for schedules, timetables etc, in practice for photos of friends).

Also, door wedge!! The doors in halls are often heavy and self-shutting for fire and security reasons, but when your DC is in their room, and awake, they will want to door propped open so others know to pop in.

This was the list I used for DS3. He was in self catering. (And has a beard, bless.)

Double duvet and duvet cover and pillow
Single mattress topper single sheets
Cosy blanket
Hammam towels
Dressing gown
Flip flops/slides
Caddy for shampoo/shower gel
Shaver/beard trimmer
Shaver adapter plug

Plants - real or plastic
Door stop for heavy door
Over door coat hooks
Reusable shoppers

Raincoat/warm coat
Lamp
4 plug extension lead with USB ports

Laundry basket/bag
Washing capsules
Over door clothes dryer or radiator dryer
Pegs

Blue tac/map pins and photos

Sponge/dishcloth, (refillable sponge/brush)
Frying pan/Wok
Small pan/s
Large baking tray for oven chips/sausages/nuggets etc.
Sharp knife
Chopping board
Tea towel
2 of each plates, bowls, pasta bowls, mugs and glasses (distinctive pattern useful.)
Cutlery
Cooking utensils, bottle opener, tin opener
Oven gloves
Cook book

Containers for meal left overs (old takeaway containers maybe?)

Stuff to decorate room like fairy lights and wall stickers or posters.

Toiletries

Collapsible crates
Stationary
Small travel bag/rucksack for coming home or visiting friends
First aid kit
Nail clippers

He ‘lost’ the glasses within days then saucepan and frying pan, mugs, chopping board, washing up brush, set of 3 kitchen utensils. Some of which he just forgot were his, some just went missing. We left the oven glove as it was sopping wet and smelt strongly of vodka. The distinctive patterned plates all came home.

Moral is don’t buy anything nice, don’t worry too much about stuff getting lost or borrowed. Buy distinctive coloured stuff where possible because generic black or white just merges with everyone else’s stuff.

He didn’t need the over door hooks but will need them next term. The cook book (nosh for students) got used in the first few weeks but as the kitchen got increasingly grotty, less cooking happened.

I read one of the items on that list as
Pants - real or plastic
Was wondering what on earth students get up to these days 😆

Ooer!

Do people sharpie their name onto kitchen equipment? I may be missing her primary school years, or something.I hated labelling stuff then...

It is a bit primary school, definitely preferable to sticky labels though! Might come across as a bit passive aggressive, and doesn't stop things being broken or nicked, but would help with the confusion over whose stuff is whose!

I think my DS must have been very lucky in his first year flat mates! 6 lads, not known to each other before moving in. DS has still got everything he went with apart from a plate he dropped. They manage to keep the flat clean, and haven't needed their own washing up bowls. They bought toasters etc between them when they moved in - a good bonding experience. They share equipment, chip in to create joint meals and don't steal each others food. And no I didn't write his name on everything before he left!

A topper mattress- some of the older mattresses in halls are in poor condition- they have a mattress protector but springs can push through- essential to a good nights sleep.
Pot of loose change - 50p or £1 coins.

My DD must be very frivolous, as she insisted on bringing a full length
mirror!

Her cooking facilities are extremely limited, so we bought her an egg cooker (poached/boiled/omelette) and an avocado slicer, which takes care of breakfast. She also loves her Hotel Chocolat velvetiser and uses it most nights.

Other useful items may be: extension lead, clothes airer, over door hanger for towels, a plastic container with holes in the bottom for bringing a million bottles to the shower, door stop

The most essential item for studying is noise-cancelling headphones, the best ones you can afford

Oh, I also bought her a mattress topper and an electric blanket (which she didn't need, as the heating is generous), but you never know.

Also a rug, a nice lampshade, throws to cover the ugly chairs and many cushions