Knowing what to bring and what not to bring when transferring new students to campus can be stressful. Are 100 boxes of Easy Mac enough? To help parents and guardians know what to bring this year, we asked members of Binghamton University’s Bearcat Family Facebook page to share some of their must-have items when moving. Here are some highlights.
Foam mattress cover
My daughter will be a sophomore and the best purchase we made for her room was a foam mattress topper – and now she loves her bed at school more than her bed at home! – Valerie Whitaker
(Note: Beds come with twin XL bedding.)
Hot water boiler
Electric hot water tea kettle to heat water for making tea, coffee and hot cocoa. -Barbara Markiewicz Dennehy
(Note: Must be single-use. Multi-cup coffee makers and hotplates are not permitted.)
Cleaning supplies
This year I will double my cleaning supplies. Plenty of hand soap, hand sanitizer, and wipes – if you can find them! And of course face masks. – Tania Diaz
Warm shoes
As a two-time Bing parent, I can’t stress enough to bring snowshoes. -Stephanie Foster Verity
Phone box
Definitely need a bed tray or something next to the bed to put their phone on. Trust me. I have two on Bing! —Michelle Meg McKernan
raincoat
A raincoat is a must!! —Bill Chris
umbrella
Don’t forget your umbrella! -Lauren Armus Levine
Toolkit
Believe it or not, a little kit for the DIY things you want to put together! The oldest graduated in 2019 and the youngest will be seniors. They both make a lot of friends when someone needs a hammer or screwdriver. —Joan Marie Laler
Power strips/surge protectors
Don’t forget to pack those power strips! Plugs are always a challenge! Rachel Kratzer Grossman
(Note: Power strips/surge capacitors are permitted. Extension cords are not permitted.)
Hiking shoes
Old shoes for the nature trail. -Julie Tate
Food ready for preparation
Electric kettle and food stash “just add water”! -Joel Mulich-Maurer
Bathing stuff
Flip flops and shower caddy. – Carol Sklar Nicholson
a fan
A fan is a must! —Nancy Specht Toro
Medication kit
All kinds of cold/flu relievers, thermometers, cough medicines, band-aids, tweezers, sore throat drops, Pepto, Advil, Tylenol, and anything else you can think of! This will not only help your student, but your roommates and friends as well. – Diana Overaker
stuffed animals
Their favorite things to do when they miss us. – Jacqueline Scordino-Weston
Green friday clothes
They need green shirts and blouses for Green Friday! – Christine Gregor
Gaming system
Xbox to take some of the stress out of their classes. —Michelle Mora DeSantis
Waterproof backpack
Durable, rain-resistant backpack. — Judy Buck Biernacki
winter coat
Invest in a really warm winter coat (I spent more than I normally would, but made it a graduation gift)…my daughter said a warm hooded coat made a huge difference. – Cathy Maughan Coletti
Family photos
The most important thing is a picture of my mother. LOL.-Lisa Notaro and Roberta Iovine
Hinder the trader
It is a basket with wheels. Great and easy to bring clothes and detergent to the laundry room. – Anne Marie Soska
Small rug
A comfy rug under their desks. Keep your toes warm while studying! -Julie Austin Rohren
Water bottles/filters
Refillable water bottle and/or Brita filter. -Debbie Druce Herder
Important documents
Up-to-date hard copies of important documents such as driver ID, emergency contact numbers, bank routing numbers, credit cards, insurance cards, home doctors numbers, etc. in a safe place. —K-Maley Og
Additional information
It is recommended to use magnetic clip or command bar hooks to hang face masks.
If you have posters you want to hang, bring poster paste. Look for the blue type for easy removal (for CIW, Hinman, Mountainview and Apartments) or push pins/thumb screws (for Dickinson and Newing). Command strips should work in any building
If you need a microwave or small refrigerator, we recommend renting from here.
For a list of items permitted in residence halls, see the Fire Safety Handbook.
For more information about moving, visit this page from Residential Life.
Be sure to follow the Binghamton University Bearcat Family Facebook page. It’s a great place to connect with fellow parents and get important information about campus!
John Burhill is the communications director for the Office of Media and Public Relations and a longtime resident of the Binghamton area. When he’s not managing social media accounts or drafting press releases, you can find him drawing, watching movies, or spending time with his family.
Do you have questions, comments or concerns about the blog? Email us at social@binghamton.edu.
