When you’re preparing to send a kid off to college, there are tons of helpful lists full of “essentials” she doesn’t actually need, like under-bed storage trays (which wouldn’t even be possible in my daughter’s room, since her bed is on top of drawers), or a social media shower curtain (don’t most students still share bathrooms? I’ve got 2 kids in college and neither could even use this), or a mattress pad (nice, but hardly essential).
Oddly enough, none of these “helpful” lists even mentioned the one true essential, past the towels/sheets/clothes. What one needs when setting out anywhere are books to read to for fun and edification.
Read more about the books I felt she had to have with her at my post at 5 Minutes for Mom.