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The BeyondWork Back-to-College Survival Guide

It's back-to-school time, and parents of college students know what that means--it's time to make a packing list! When your soon-to-be freshman claims that a home beer-brewing kit is an absolute necessity, bring out this handy list from BeyondWork as a reminder that there's more to college life.

Shower Scene
Yes, college students will spend as much time in the shower as they did at home--and aren't you glad you aren't paying for all that hot water! Because many college dorms don't provide bathroom space for storing personal items, it's handy to have a waterproof basket for carrying shampoo, soap dish, toothbrush and other toiletries back and forth to the shared bathroom. Flip-flops--for traipsing to and fro in hygienic safety--are handy too.

Building Blocks
Getting a dorm room ready for occupancy means plugging things in and building things up--without having Dad around to help. No student should leave home without the following basics. Electrical necessities: Pack extension cords (so the whole room doesn't have to be arranged around one socket); a surge protector (so all that gear can be plugged in at once); and a phone (for calls for help from home when the fuse blows!). If the school has Ethernet connections, make sure your student's computer has Ethernet (network) cards installed. Toolkit: A well-stocked toolbox is practical in more ways than one. Not only is it useful for construction and fixing things, it's a social lubricant, too. Toolkit owners are very popular during the first weeks of school! A toolkit should include: screwdrivers, (Phillips and flathead), a small hammer, a measuring tape, poster tack (to stick posters to the walls without making nail holes), a utility knife, scissors and various types of tape (duct tape, masking and parcel). Keeping comfortable: Many dorms lack air-conditioning, so students heading for hot climates might want an electric fan. A space heater can help keep rooms cozy during the winter months.

Jock Gear
It's easier to dodge anything--including the stress of school--with bouncy shoes. Even if your student says she won't need them, make sure she packs a swimsuit, running shoes, jog bra and other sports equipment. Even that old tennis racket that's been untouched since seventh grade might come in handy.

Home Connectors
Email is great, but it's fun to find messages in the mailbox, too, so make it easy for your child to keep in touch. Purchase pre-stamped postcards at the post office, and address them using printed labels or a stamp with your home address. For a special going-away gift, give your student an address book or electronic organizer filled with names, addresses and phone numbers of relatives and friends.

Decorating Trim
Even if you're not Martha Stewart, you can help your student create a warm, welcoming home-away-from-home in the dorm. Before hitting the stores, however, have your child check with roommate(s) to coordinate colors. Remember: Simplicity is key. It's easier to make the bed (especially a top bunk) when the only bedclothes are a bed pad, pillow, bottom sheet and European duvet or down comforter. Buy two removable covers for the duvet to make laundering easier. Many college beds take extra-long sheets, so take heed of the school's instructions and shop accordingly. A bedside lamp that clips to a frame ensures that your student can study into the wee hours.

Boxed and Found
Dorm rooms aren't exactly spacious, so help your student make the most of every inch. Stock up on a variety of clear plastic storage boxes that fit under the bed and in the closet. Send your student off to school with printed name labels, which will make it easier to tag and identify stored items. Tell him to save and store the boxes his computer and stereo came in, along with the original padding and cardboard inserts; they'll come in handy when he moves out next summer.

Food Fun
Every student loves food, but not every student loves cafeteria food! Consider investing in a mini-fridge (hotel size) for the dorm room. Check with the college first, however, since some prohibit refrigerators and other popular dorm appliances such as crock-pots, coffee makers, blenders, microwaves and popcorn poppers.

The Well-Stocked Desk
Those days of shopping for back-to-school supplies are not quite over yet! Do your part to make studying easier by gathering all the desk supplies your student will need: pens, pencils, highlighters, scissors, glue stick, paperclips, stapler, notebooks, binders, desk lamp, dictionary, desk organizer, three-hole punch and tape in a desk dispenser.

Around The Town
Campus distances are sometimes too great to cover quickly on foot, and getting around can be a major pain for a student who needs to zip from class to the library to band practice to intramural sports and back again. But here's an idea for transportation that's fast, easy to use and simple to maintain: the Razor scooter! Unlike a bike, the Razor folds up for easy carrying and storage, and it weighs just a shade over 6 pounds. These immensely popular scooters require no special licensing and can hold up to 350 pounds. Best of all, you can find them right here on BeyondWork.

Care Packages
Nothing warms a dorm-dweller's heart more than getting an unexpected package in the mail. Brighten your freshman's day with one of these tried-and-true favorites.

Priceless

• Gift certificate redeemable for a batch of chocolate chip cookie. Create the certificate on a self-addressed postcard.

• Disposable camera, plus a request to send snapshots of new friends and environs.

• Handpainted pillowcase or a pillowcase decorated with photos of friends or family. See craft or office supply stores for computer-generated transfer kits.

• Cordless rechargeable vacuum.

• Cotton terry dorm robe.

• Gift certificate to an office-supply or bed-and-bath store.

• Inflatable furniture. Find fun shapes and patterns at Ikea and Linens & Things.

• T-shirt with a silkscreen of the family pet or a sibling. These are available at many photocopy places.

• Return-address stamps or stickers, available from many print shops, such as www.iprint.com.

• Highlighter pens. Available in razzle-dazzle, multi-fluorescent colors, highlighters are a student's best friends! Check out www.officesupplies.com for samples.

Online Gift Stores

• Clothing: www.bluefly.com
  This site has a variety of hip outfits for both men and women.

• Sports gear: www.fogdog.com
  Find athletic equipment and clothes for your student.

• School supplies: www.officesupplies.com