Packing list for my dd's first year of college

My roommate freshman year forgot her pillow!

duct tape might come in handy

Make her a junk-drawer box. Look in your junk drawer and copy all the useful stuff that is there but that you wouldn't think of until you needed it. Scotch tape, batteries, push pins, electrical tape, paper clips, binder clips, loose change, measuring tape, small sewing kit... well, that's what's in mine, and the kind of stuff I put in a junk box when I gave one for a bridal shower gift. Great idea for newlyweds or newly-away-from-home!

Color catchers for laundry. My girls don't like to sort laundry. They like to dump and do one load. Color catchers are GREAT for that!

Well, my living room at the moment is full of dd's stuff as she gets ready for her second year. She's not done yet so maybe what she has out there now are the most important things? No idea, but here's what's there already:

-- the "junk drawer" box that someone mentioned above -- hers is already packed up because she brought it home last year, so we went through it when she got home and replenished things (batteries, duct tape, a missing screwdriver -- "oh yeah Mom, so-and-so borrowed that because she couldn't get her hutch together") and then stashed it under her bed ready for this year.
-- bedding -- two sets of sheets (because both coordinated perfectly with her new comforter   ), comforter, pillow cases, two pillows
-- armchair pillow
-- mini-fridge
-- microwave
-- mini Keurig (priorities you know )
-- trash can
-- text books (rented from Chegg)
-- first aid/health kit (also replenished when she came home for the summer) -- cold medicine, Advil, bandaids, etc., etc.
-- a box of office/school supplies -- including the usual (pens, pencils, etc.), also command hooks, mini clothespins (the girls use these for attaching photos to a ribbon that they string across the walls), ribbon.
-- her favorite spiral notebooks (Staples)
-- some food items -- oatmeal, mac and cheese, applesauce, coffee (the only thing in town besides CVS and other small stores and a disgusting Food Lion, is a Walmart, and the LAST thing I want to do is go to Walmart on college move-in day.     )
-- three plastic bins that will go under her bed. 
-- bed risers
-- hangers
-- one of those shelving units that has the cube-shaped compartments (like the Ikea one only this is cheap from Target, and smaller) and canvas bins to fit in the shelves
-- hanging shoe holder for the closet, hanging sweater holder also for the closet
-- laundry detergent, laundry bag

Missing but to come:
-- desk hutch (still on her desk here at home)
-- clothes (lol)
-- some warm clothes since cold weather will most likely arrive before she's home for their first break
-- all the electronic stuff

Believe it or not she and her roommate manage to fit into one room. 

You've got some great ideas - all I know is we overpacked for her first year and alot of things came home at Christmas Break that she just didn't have room for! Her essentials were a can opener, a few sets of silverware and a big mug to heat up soup, etc.

The first aid kit was the one thing we forgot freshman year. There's nothing more pathetic than a miserable sick kid calling you from the school store asking what kind of medicine she should buy, and having to read you the labels on everything because she had no idea what any of them were.

I don't have anything to add because my son is living at school for the first time this year (leaving in 2 weeks but this thread is very helpful!

Check the dorms rules regarding coffee pots, microwaves, etc. Not all places allow them in the rooms.

My daughter uses neither. And she pretty much shoves all her clothes into the washer together, and everything into the dryer. I'm not sure she even folds them, let alone iron or steam.

I have boys, so my opinion is neither...get Downey Wrinkle Release instead. LOL

Depending upon how far she is going, BedBath &Beyond has a program where you order the items needed and then pick them up at the store closest to her school

I LOVE this idea!