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Going off to college can provoke anxiety and fear -- in the hearts and minds of the parents of a dormitory-bound student, as much as the student himself or herself. Leaving for college usually marks the first time a child has left home for a prolonged period, and the first instance where Mom and Dad won't serve as chief cook and boo-boo kisser, chauffeur and full-service laundromat. Just the act of preparing for college life can cause formerly angelic older teens to act out in rebellious ways, and normally laid-back parents to tighten their grasps. While kids may appear to be chafing at parental control, it's often the case that kindling small, pointless arguments allows them to keep their fears of the unknown at bay.
A word of comfort
Moms and Dads -- this won't be the last time your child ever needs you, but it's one of the last times you'll get to formally offer your unsolicited guidance. Organized preparation can take the sting out of the empty nest/full dorm difficulties. Having a game plan for the process lets you and your teen battle the tasks ahead instead of one another. You'll be too busy to fight, and too organized to get stressed out.
Do your homework: Assignment 1 (for Parents)
Find out in advance what's supplied in a typical dormitory room or suite, and double-check when you arrive on campus. Your student's registration materials should have contact information for something like a department of "residence life" or "student living," so try that number if you don't see anything relevant listed in the brochures. Some dorms come with only beds and closets or armoires, while others have telephones, bookshelves and bulletin boards. Most American dorm beds are extra-long, so find this out before you purchase sheets and other bedding. If you plan to bring any furniture, be sure to ascertain the room measurements, too, or you might find that nifty chair isn't so much fun to load back onto the truck for a five-hour return trip to Casa Mama.
Do your homework: Assignment 2 (for Students)
Collaborate with roommates on those last-minute in-town purchases, after you get to campus, to eliminate unnecessary duplication of dorm necessities. It shouldn't be a problem for two college kids to share a mini-fridge, but I would advise against two young women sharing a hair dryer. It should go without saying that no one should share a computer.
Study up on storage...
 Storage space is at a premium in dormitories, so aim to contain everything. Purchase various sizes and colors of durable plastic, resealable bins like those made by Rubbermaid. They are stackable, store practically anything, and keep out insects, rodents and moisture. These bins even double as bedside tables. Nylon, zippered duffle bags are good for storing squishy items like bedding and soft clothing.
...and then sleep on it
 Store as much as possible under the bed. Unless the dorm room has bunk beds or lofted sleeping arrangements, purchase a set of plastic bed risers such as are available at Amazon.com, Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond, or your favorite home decor retailer. A set of four should be available in black or white for about $10. Although they look surprisingly like children's beach pails turned upside-down, the risers (or "lifts") are safe and provide greatly increased storage space.
Remember student body safety
Here are some basic safety items that every dorm room or college apartment should have.
- a fully-stocked first aid kit, including a digital thermometer, aspirin or ibuprofen, and copies of all prescriptions
- a flashlight with fresh batteries to use during nighttime fire alarms
- a surge protector, or better yet, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), to save those precious term papers (and your sanity) when the power goes out
You can't learn everything at once...
...so don't try to cram everything at once into your room. Start with the necessities -- bedding, toiletries, computer and school supplies and enough transitional clothing to last until Fall break or Thanksgiving. Unless you're going to school in North Dakota, you probably won't need that parka and winter boots before you see your parents again. Limit the luxuries to favorite music, a few personal items of room decor, a stuffed animal and some family pictures. Don't worry if something is left behind -- almost every city in America has something akin to a Wal-Mart, and you can always send care packages!
Get an A+ in laundry
 Unless Mom and Dad want to be doing three months' worth of laundry at Thanksgiving, students need to start dorm life with a laundry bag or pop-up mesh laundry basket, a couple rolls of quarters, liquid laundry detergent, and written instructions, maybe even laminated, on how to do laundry! It also helps to buy neutral-toned (beige, taupe, etc.) towels and sheets, just in case you don't remember to separate loads as carefully as a laundry veteran.
Don't leave your student listless, Mom and Dad!
Parents, label every bin or box and keep a list of the contents. Give one to your student and keep one at home in case there is any question of whether something was shipped off to school. It will also help for packing at the end of the Spring semester and for starting sophomore year.
Give your kid a list of phone numbers and contact information for friends, family members, and emergency contacts.
Finally, give them a list of all the reasons why you love them and are proud of them before they even get out of those extra-long beds in the morning.
Julie Bestry is a professional organizer and President of Best Results Organizing in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Bestry serves a small office, home office and residential clientele, focusing on information and resource management, clutter control and organizational skill training. Bestry holds a B.S. from Cornell University and an M.A. from Syracuse University. For twelve years before becoming a professional organizer, Bestry was a television program director and consulted with various broadcast companies to improve their operations. Find out more at www.juliebestry.com.
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