Posted by John Brhel on August 4, 2021
Figuring out what to bring and what not to pack when moving new students onto campus can be overwhelming. Is 100 boxes of Easy Mac enough? To help parents and guardians figure out what to bring this year, we asked members of the Binghamton University Bearcat Family Facebook page to share some of their must-have move-in items. Here are some of the highlights.
My daughter will be a sophomore and the best purchase we made for her room was a foam mattress topper -- she now likes her bed at school better than her bed from home! -- Valerie Whittaker
(Note: Beds take XL twin bedding.)
An electric hot water tea kettle to heat up water for tea, coffee, hot cocoa. -- Barbara Markiewicz Dennehy
(Note: Must be single-use. Multi-cup coffee makers and hot plates are not permitted.)
This year I would double up on the cleaning supplies. Lots of hand soap, hand sanitizer, wipes -- if you can find them! And of course, face masks. -- Tanya Diaz
As a two-time Bing parent, I can’t stress enough to bring snow boots. -- Stephanie Foster Ferretti
Definitely need a bed tray or something for next to the bed to put their phone on. Trust me. I have two at Bing! -- Michele Migge McKiernan
Raincoat is a MUST!! -- Bill Kress
Don't forget your umbrella! -- Lauren Armus Levin
Believe it or not, a small toolkit for those do-it-yourself items you want to put together! My oldest graduated in 2019 and my youngest will be a senior. Both made lots of friends when someone needed a hammer or screwdriver. -- JoAnn Marie Lallier
Don't forget to pack those power strips! Plugs are always a challenge! -- Rachelle Kratzer Grossman
(Note: Power strips/surge suppressors are allowed. Extension cords are not permitted.)
Old shoes for the nature trail. -- Julie Tate
Electric kettle and stash of “add only water” food! -- Joelle Mulich Maurer
Flip flops and caddy for the shower. -- Carol Sklar Nicholson
A fan is a must have! -- Nancy Specht-Turo
Every kind of cold/flu reliever, thermometer, cough medicine, band aids, tweezers, sore throat drops, Pepto, Advil, Tylenol, and anything else you can think of! Not only will it help your student, but roommates and friends as well. -- Diana Overacker
Their favorite stuffy to hold when they miss us. -- Jaclene Scordino-Weston
They need green shirts, sweatshirts for Green Day Friday! -- Kristin Gregor
Xbox to take some of the stress out from their classes. -- Michele Morra-DeSantis
A sturdy backpack that is rainproof. -- Jodi Buck Biernacki
Invest in a really warm winter coat (I spent more than I normally would have, but I made it a graduation gift)...My daughter said a warm coat with a hood made all the difference. -- Kathy Mugan Coletti
Most importantly, a picture of mom. LOL. -- Lisa Notaroberta Iovine
It’s a hamper with wheels. Great and easy to bring clothes and detergent to the laundry room. -- Anne Marie Susca
A cozy rug for under their desks. Keep toes warm while studying! -- Julie Austin Ruhren
Refillable water bottle and/or Brita filter. -- Debbie Druce Herder
Printed updated copies of important documents like driver's ID, emergency contact numbers, bank routing numbers, credit cards, insurance cards, home doctors’ numbers, etc. in a secure location. -- K-Maley O-g
Magnetic clip or command strip hooks are recommended for hanging face masks.
If you have posters you want to hang, bring poster-hanging putty. Look for the blue kind for easier removal (for CIW, Hinman, Mountainview and Apartments) or push pins/thumb tacks (for Dickinson and Newing). Command Strips should work for any building
If you want a microwave or mini-fridge, we recommend renting from here.
For a list of items allowed in residential halls, view this fire safety brochure.
For more info on move-in, 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 info about campus!
John Brhel is a communications manager in the Office of Media and Public Relations and a longtime resident of the Binghamton area. When he's not managing social media accounts or crafting press releases, you can find him drawing, watching movies, or spending time with his family.
Have questions, comments or concerns about the blog? Email us at social@binghamton.edu.
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