Stop Drowning in Dorm Lists. Start Enjoying This Milestone!
From Twin XL sheets to shower shoes, we've curated every last dorm essential so you can focus on the moments that matter (like not crying at drop-off).
Rated 5 stars by parents
★★★★★
About me
Look, I get it. Just a couple of months ago, I was exactly where you are—drowning in dorm shopping lists while my older son got ready to move to his 1st college dorm/apartment and my younger one still needs rides everywhere.
I spent THREE MONTHS researching twin XL sheets, comparing shower caddies, and second-guessing whether that mini-fridge was actually worth it. By move-in day, I was so exhausted from the shopping marathon that I missed actually being present for one of the biggest moments of my kid's life.
That's when it hit me: Why should every parent have to reinvent this overwhelming wheel?
College Essentials in a Box exists because I refuse to let you go through what I did. With one kid who just started and another kid heading to college in a couple of years (send coffee), I'm building exactly what I wished I'd had—curated lists that actually make sense, a community that gets the 2AM panic texts, and resources that let you focus on the good stuff.
Because let's be real: These years are flying by. You should be ugly-crying at drop-off (in a good way), not stress-sweating over whether you bought the right laundry basket.
Join our community of parents who've decided there's a better way to do this whole college thing. We're saving our sanity together—one perfectly sized dorm sheet at a time.
You're sending your baby to College, but it feels like you're the one being tested!
Between the endless shopping lists, contradictory dorm rules, and trying to figure out if a "bed riser" is actually necessary (spoiler: it is), preparing for move-in day has become your full-time job.
You've got 47 browser tabs open. Three different spreadsheets. A Pinterest board that's getting out of control. And somehow you're still worried you'll forget that one thing that'll have your kid calling home in tears.
Meanwhile, your shopping cart looks like you robbed a Target, but you're not even sure if half this stuff will fit in that shoebox they call a dorm room.
Your One-Stop Shop for Everything Dorm, Delivered With Your Sanity Intact
College Essentials in a Box takes the guesswork out of dorm shopping with expertly curated lists tailored to your student's specific needs—whether they're joining Greek life at an SEC school or studying engineering at a Big 10 university.
No more wondering if you bought the right size sheets (Twin XL, always Twin XL). No more panic-buying at 11 PM. No more second-guessing whether that mini-fridge will actually fit.
We've done the research and organized everything into one simple, shoppable list. Click what you need, skip what you don't—and get back to actually enjoying this milestone.
We're just getting started, so please be patient with us as we build and grow our lists to meet the diverse demographics of many types of students!
Our Services
Stress-free shopping for college essentials tailored to your student's needs.
Curated Shopping Lists
Our comprehensive lists are tailored by student type, school, and living situation—so you get exactly what your kid needs, nothing they don't.
Packing Checklists
Stop juggling multiple stores and websites. Get everything from bedding to Command strips through our curated, starting with our always FREE packing lists!
Connect with other parents navigating the same waters. Get real answers to your questions and share the wins! Join our College Essentials Facebook and Instagram pages!
Parent Community
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College Essentials made dorm shopping so easy and stress-free for our family!
Sarah T.
The curated lists saved us hours of research and made packing a breeze!
Mike R.
