Still so many questions about college...

My DD started college 2 years ago and here are the things we learned:
1) the washer and dryers are pretty harsh on the clothes so it is easiest to use whatever detergent actually works best (not just whatever is easiest to carry) -- DD started out with the pods but then switched to liquid even though it was a bit more of a pain to haul. (No need to stock up on quarters, most machines now run usually on the student ID cards -- they have bar-codes and can be funded with monies for lots of purposes (meals, etc.) Also, I found a "backpack style" laundry bag with a strap -- she said "that was the bomb" -- she preferred that to lug the laundry up and down the flights of stairs as it left her hands free to carry supplies, open doors, etc.

2) she preferred "real" hard copy text books to e-books (she said she needs to feel the pages) but if your DS is acclimated to e-books already, he may prefer that. She said most of her friends used e-books but she hated them. She would price books each semester and compare prices of rentals vs. purchase and also determine whether it was a book she would want to keep after the semester ended or not. She usually rents unless she wants to keep the book long-term.

3) office or school supplies? My DD is not a good example because she LOVES office supplies. But she said realistically you can get by with just notebooks, pens, pencils, post-its (for marking pages and writing notes) but she said a stapler was actually very needed -- said that everyone tends to need to borrow hers.

As for printers, she and her roommate had far more trouble with theirs and more times than not had to print elsewhere. I work at a major university and we have numerous computer labs around campus -- students are allowed a certain allotment of printing per semester and if they go over it, they can still print for a small price that auto bills to their account. So honestly, there is rarely a need for a personal printer.

Other necessities for her were a super long cable for charging her cell phone; towel wrap for walking down the hallways to communal bathroom (though I am not sure guys would have a need for these). She only had moderate success with the 3M hanging strips and hooks -- half of them stayed on the wall, the other half came crashing down pretty quickly.

The last item that we got for her and she said was really valuable in dorms -- a small safe that was tall enough to accommodate her laptop. She had a roommate who notoriously would leave the room and never lock the door. If DD was down the hall in kitchen area or bathroom, she would often come back to open room and all her stuff there for anyone to help themselves to. Once we got the safe, she didn't worry (as much) about her roommate being as careless with the door. she could keep her spare cash, nice jewelry, laptop/tablet and any other valuables protected.

Good luck mom!!!

My oldest will be a senior but I'm finding this thread very helpful! Already taking notes!

This made me laugh! I'd be surprised if my sons clean clothes even make it back in the drawers. I've told him I feel so sorry for his roommate.

I get why you're asking. Why re-invent the wheel??? If the peas who have BTDT have experience to share, why not ask? You're doing nothing wrong, OP.

HELL NO to the iron. Not needed (unless, as a PP says, your son is in a specialized program such as ROTC or something.)

HS and college supplies are night and day.

Downey Wrinkle Release. That is the key-all the lazy teen boy has to do is spray this magic liquid onto the wrinkled garment and tug it about. The next thing you know...wrinkle free clothes. 

Or...he makes friends with the cute girl on the floor below him and begs to borrow hers.

I'll send him with some Downey, thanks for the idea!   And for the other...he's more likely to get her to do the ironing by offering to help with math homework. His dorm floors are co-ed so he won't even have to go to a different floor.      

All good advice! Just wanted to chime in as a professor, I can always tell the most conscientious students...they are the ones with the staplers on the day stuff is turned in (I still require a hard copy for grading), and everyone wants to borrow it!

I think it depends on the school, but printing can be plentiful or scarce. And while I think sometimes "the printer is broken/jammed/out of toner/occupied" may be a stall technique, it does happen. Having a printer in your room can really be convenient if your school's print stations and allowance are scarce or not in good repair.

I would recommend waiting to buy any books. Sometimes they're not needed and he won't know that until class starts.

tmarschall -- that's exactly what DD has told me about her stapler -- NOBODY else carries one so everyone is always asking to borrow hers!

when I was taking college classes. I got a good sized canvas pencil bag that goes in a three ring binder.  I put in a mini stapler, a few paper clips, binder clips, rubber bands, a six inch ruler, mini scissors and other small office things. Kept it all together and wasn't too much.  Most of it wasn't used often to be honest. But I liked having it when I did need it.

Otherwise all I used was a packet of notebook paper, some one subject sprial notebooks for note taking. Most of my homework was turned in online as a digital file. I didn't even print that many papers to turn in.

Regarding books, have your student go to class before buying any textbooks. My kids have found that many of the books are optional and not really needed or only used for 1 chapter. Maybe they can share a book with a classmate or 2 if it's only used a little.

I think it also depends on your major.  My daughter's social work major required few books that were only available at extreme prices like you see in say math or science or engineering majors.  She also took into consideration whether the book was something she would refer back to very much after leaving school.  There are a handful of books that she knows (mostly from mentors in her field) that she will use going forward so she purchased those instead of renting.  We also found that a lot of time, the books didn't get used!  The first year she must have had about 3 books that they never cracked more than once or twice.  Total waste.