This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of CORT for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
This past year was our oldest daughter’s first year of college. She’s living four hours away in the dorm. She loves it, and I’m so glad.
While preparing her to head to college this past year, there were a few things we learned that you just can’t live without.
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#1 Apps for things like food, transportation, etc.
Not only does my daughter use these, but I also use them for her. I’ve sent her my free deals from restaurants that were local to her, so she could get the free food. When we couldn’t be there for her birthday, we sent her a cookie cake via the Insomnia Cookies app.
#2 Productivity & Focus Tools
There are apps that literally reward you for staying off your phone like Forest and Pocket Points. These can really motivate you. My daughter had a professor this year who threatened you’d get an F if he heard a ringtone or saw your phone during class, so you can bet she kept it shut down in her backpack.
#3 Organizers and Space Savers
Luckily, my daughter is in the color guard, and along with the band, they get to move in weeks earlier than everyone else. This gave her time to settle in and really see what she needed for organization. She and her roommate were able to head to the store and buy just a few key items like drawer organizers and things like storage ottomans that doubled as seating to keep everything nice and organized.
#4 Rain gear & Waterproof items
One memory I have from my college days is several boys walking to class in the rain wearing tiny trash bags. I had an umbrella, but I felt bad for them as they had not prepared for the chance of rain.
My daughter also learned this lesson herself. Even though my mom gave her a really nice, big umbrella and a rain poncho that could go over her entire backpack, she didn’t want to use it, and then she got soaked one day. Now she’s so glad to have these items to prevent her laptop and other items from getting soaked.
#5 Software & Cloud Tools
Google Docs and Google Drive are a must along with cloud storage like Dropbox. I am so glad my daughter had many assignments back in high school that required her to learn how to efficiently use these kinds of tools. She can even write a paper straight from her phone using Google Docs when necessary.
#6 Something to Remember Home
Over the months as my daughter has come back home on weekends, she gradually taken things that remind of her home — her favorite electric blanket, her letter jacket from high school. Unfortunately, they don’t allow you to put much of anything on the walls at her dorm (it’s brand new), but we send her Snapchats and videos all the time of home. I send them of her brother and sisters and our dog, Hank. Halloween is a big holiday with our family, so we sent her Snapchats and Facetimed all night since she wasn’t able to be with us.
I also love to send her care packages with things to decorate her room for certain holidays and full of her favorite snacks. It’s a nice way to keep home close even when you’re far away.
What did I miss? Are there other things your kid couldn’t live without their freshman year? Check out CORT’s 6 Things You Can’t Live Without Your Freshman Year!
25 comments
Great list! I think it is really nice to have something to remember home with you.
It’s fun to be away and experience new things! After all, there’s no place like home.
This is an amazing list. When I left to collage my freshman year my mom went with me to try to make it as homey as possible and when my brother was ready to leave she did the same. It really makes a difference, love the cookie app, my brother is about to graduate next semester, he lives in Boston and I live in New Mexico so being able to send him something is nice. Thanks!
This is a good list. It kind of makes me miss the dorms. Lol. I love that you can get so many helpful apps now!
I am a big believer in your #5! If we only prepare students for the life we lived, however will they survive/thrive in the new and exciting world they are going to learn in? Awesome list.
My daughter is two years away from going away and I know she likes the comforts of home especially her bed and snacks. These were some great ideas I will keep in mind when she goes.
I wish these kinds of resources were available when I went away to college! It can be a difficult time to transition, but with these types of comforts I bet it makes things a lot easier!
I sure wish I knew these things when I was in college! You are totally right… especially the rain gear. These are all things that you don’t think about until you are caught without them. Great resource for future freshman!
My stepson is a junior/senior this year and gets by with almost nothing. It always surprises me at what a minimalist he is.
Organizers and space savers are a godsend. They allow you to make the most out of even the smallest spaces and they keep everything neat and organized.
OMG I am totally installing the insomnia cookies app and delivering cookies to my friends now for their birthdays! What a genius idea. I am always sending care packages and I love to gather ideas so I can do different things each time
Getting ready to move on your own for the first time is so scary and also so exciting. It looks like you’ve taken lots of care to make sure she’s prepared. As for the rain gear…sometimes we all have to learn the hard way. I’m sure she gets it now!
These are all great ideas for the college freshman. College students always need extra room if possible in their dorm room. Care packages are the best also.
This is a great post!! I’ll be a college freshman next fall, and many of my friends are freshmen right now — the rain gear is definitely one thing that many of them forgot, but I’ll be sure to remember!!
I love #6. if I was away from home I would love to have something to remind me of home and my family all the time, I’m such a nostalgic!
Yes, I would agree with all of these. My kids aren’t old enough to have to worry about this yet, and I was in college way before cell phones, so some of this is still funny to me just because I’ve never had to think about it! LOL I love that you sent her a cookie on her birthday. Very cool. It’s definitely a totally different world than we I was in college. Everything/one is so connected now!
This is a great list! I’m so glad she’s enjoying her time away. It’s nice though to still be able to see her, and in today’s modern society of course catch up across social media.
That dorm is such a great setup. The snack cart option is genius as well.
I remember when I went away to college. I wish I would have had half of these apps to make things a little easier when I didn’t have a car on campus.
This is the perfect list! It is definitely important to have something that reminds you of home there!!
omg yes! Organizers and space savers are real life savers!! I dont know how I would have survived without them.
I can’t believe how many memories this brought back for my own college days! We’re still a little ways away from these years but it’s a good thing to start thinking about!
It can be hard but it will all be worth it in the end! Stay focused and keep your eyes on the goal!
I think you got everything on the list! I would have loved to get a care package when I was in college.
Yes to all of these things! I love the organizers.