**Please note...all of these suggestions are just that...suggestions. You know your student, what they like and will possibly use over the year.**
Link to the MTU packing suggestions page:
http://www.mtu.edu/admissions/accepted/bring/
Please note the following items are on their DO NOT BRING list:
- Candles/Incense
- Electric Heaters
- Air Conditioners
- Halogen Lights
- High School Textbooks
- Many Suitcases
- Toaster
- Toaster Oven/Hot Plate
To get it out of the way early....the Infamous Pool Noodle....or Pipe Insulation
- If you look at this picture of the bed, see the metal bar that will be right over their head when they sit at the desk? My son almost knocked himself out a few times on that bar. A pool noodle or pipe insulation attached with zip ties makes it much safer.
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- Also, when the bed is lofted above the desk, which I guess is a pretty standard configuration, it's really easy to keep hitting your head on the bed frame. The solution is to buy a pool noodle and cut it to slide on the metal frame. Zip ties come in handy for attaching the noodle.
- Two noodles, one for the under the bed and one for the ladder up to bed.
- Also good to cut one up and use on the ladder side. Makes climbing it much easier.
- Hot water pipe foam also works great for the bed frame.
- I second the pipe foam tube instead of the pool noodle.....it's easier since it already has the slit in it....not to mention, isn't a crazy color. Home Depot or Lowes have them....
- If you are not the first ones to Wal-Mart or Ace hardware there will be no pool noodles, window fans nor extension cords.
Here is a picture of pipe insulation. You can get it at Swift's Hardware in Houghton, or at Lowe's or Home Depot. It's precut, and it has adhesive on it so you don't need to cut it or use zip ties
Here is a pool noodle. It needs to be cut and then attached to the bed via zip ties
Suggestions from the Michigan Tech Parents Facebook page:
Room
stack of plastic drawers or a 2x3 cube shelving unit for in the closet
Futon
- ordered an "Emily" futon from Walmart and had it sent to her dorm.
- futon wont work in mcnair.
- Futon in Wads took up most of the floor space but they were happy
Box fan - rooms tend to be warm - some use them all year
Over the door hanger for towel
Over the door pocket shoe holder on inside of armoire door for small things
The desk chairs they furnish are not so comfortable so this is a worthy purchase to either bring up or send up early or order online!
Desk lamp
Hangers
Bed
Sheets: Posts
You don't need to buy the dorm sheets sold by the university. Here is a poll of where parents buy them:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MichiganTechParents/permalink/1813626382052332/
Also see these posts for more info
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MichiganTechParents/permalink/855139924567654/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MichiganTechParents/permalink/1046030872145224/
Protected (and soft) mattress pad/Egg crate
Pillow
Alarm clock or phone alarm - my son liked to put the alarm across the room so he had to get out of bed
Bunk bed tray 
Electronics
Computer and all related items
Extra monitor
Printer/ink
Extension cords/ Power strips
Coax cables/Ethernet cords (longer the better)
Head phones - Full size and noise cancelling are popular with earbuds for walking around
Speakers - small bluetooth or large wired
TV - have seen all sizes coming and going.
- There is very little room and so much of what the kids watch now is via computer make sure the roomies talk / email to make those decisions.
- roommate went out and bought a big screen that at most may have seen use for video games.
- I would not buy smaller than 32", thinking ahead when they are out of the dorms
- A tv with hdmi makes for a wonderful computer monitor
Laundry/Cleaning
Laundry soap, dryer sheets, Color Catchers, laundry basket. Washers & dryers (as of 2021) are free.
Clorox Wipes - well maybe for the girls :)
Febreeze
School
Books you have purchased
school/office supplies they like to use
Backpack
Calculator
Personal
Rain Coat/Umbrella
First Aid/sewing kit made of typical medication to avoid late night runs to walmart.
Winter coat/hat/gloves/boots/long underwear/snow pants
Dress clothes/suit and resume paper for Career Fair
Toiletries
Health insurance card
Shower caddie
Food items
Frig....the ones with a small freezer section are popular
Plates/silverware/pans/cups if they wish to use the kitchen in Wads
Coffee maker & supplies
Snacks
Misc.
zip ties (see noodle discussion)
bungee cords - helpful for a lot of things. Some use them to hold their box fan in their window (helpful for some dorms that don't have large window ledges).
duct tape
"S" hooks / Carabeeners - used to hang backpacks, jackets, towels, hats etc on the bed rails or armoire doors
3M removable hooks
Sporting equipment - all sorts
Batteries
Flashlight or app on phone
Storage
Bike - dorms have storage
Weapons - contact Public Safety
Fishing rod - command hooks on wall
Skis - can get locker at Mt Ripley, but they go fast
Hockey equipment - can get locker at SDC
Here is a post that discusses getting items to campus from distant states:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MichiganTechParents/permalink/820342761380704/
Items that parents have said they DID NOT NEED or USE
- Extra blankets - rooms are warm
- Robe
- He is not taking his printer back, took up too much space on his desk, and they very rarely need to print things, most assignments/homework are submitted electronically.
- No alarm clock either, he uses his phone.
- He's taking less clothing.
- Ethernet Cable - He might want one for the reliability, but my daughter tells me she had very few issues with WiFi. She didn't take an ethernet cable last year and doesn't seem to want one this year, either.
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