Now, many sites offer their own packing list of what you need to take to college. I find that these lists are mostly bloated and contain items that are no-brainers. I'm going to attempt to cover the big must-have categories that require some thought. However, depending on the rules of your institution of choice, you may not be able to, or even want to, have any of the following. So, here goes:
#1. A Mattress pad
For the most part, the vast majority of college dorms are just a little... "worn in." Even if you get into a newer dorm, the mattresses are probably very stiff from lack of use. Plus... the more space you put between yourself and the mysterious previous owner of the bed, the better. Mattress pads make it easier to sleep, and they help make your bed "unique." However, make sure that the pad you get is thin. If you don't, you will have a hard time getting the sheets on the bed, and could have your sheet mysteriously start to come off.
#2. "College-size" sheets
To accomodate taller individuals (like basketball players and many other college athletes) while still keeping the twin size (thus making dorm... "liasons" more difficult), colleges use a special size of bed called twin "extra-long" or dorm size. I seem to remember them being 81 inches long and normal twin size in width, although I may be wrong. Regardless, make sure you check with your college on their bed sizes before buying. If they give you a number bigger than 72" (which is 6'), make sure you get sheets whose length matches or is greater than that number. Many stores will have sales on them in July or August with college students in mind, so watch out.
#3. Flip-flops
Most college prep websites include flipflops because of communal showers, which are just nasty if you don't know what you're doing. However, there's another reason you'll want flipflops. Doing laundry at college costs money, and you might want to make that extra pair of socks last. On warm days, wear the flipflops outside and save yourself laundry. Also, if you're a guy and too "manly" for cute slippers, wear them when visiting around the building, to save time and still have something on your feet. Remember, if there's a fire, you will be required to exit the building, and it would suck to be trapped away from your room without anything on your feet, especially in the snow.
#4. A deck of cards
The first weekend that Freshman are on campus, there are more euchre (or Texas hold 'em, or whatever) games than there are students. Having a deck of cards is a great way to facilitate making friends. You don't need anything elaborate, just a simple deck of playing cards. Even though I never took part in the first weekend card madness, I was still happy to have my own playing cards that I could loan to people or just play solitaire with if I were away from my computer. Of course, I had a special deck with shots from the Pokemon anime on the faces, but that's because I am a geek and a bargain shopper.
#5. Something that can play music
This is one area where you don't need something elaborate. It can be a nice soundsystem, although I recommend against bringing anything with a subwoofer, or it can be a TV, a video game system, and a game that has a sound test mode. Laptops with your CD collection saved to your hard drive work nicely. When you have people over in your room, you're gonna want music as a conversation starter. My first weekend, becuase I hadn't digitized my CD collection, I used my Gamecube with Sonic Adventure 2's Sound Test mode. My roomates weren't too happy, but at least I had something.
#6. A personal computer with ethernet cable
I don't know about your campus of choice, but at mine, everything is wired. We do some classes all or partly online and receive important information by e-mail; even our registration and billing is electronic. At a school like mine, there are a lot of computers, but it's still important to have your own for middle-of-the-night homework and getting in touch with home. You need to make sure it has some kind of nice word processing software, an ethernet card or adapter, and a USB port. Laptop, desktop, does not matter. I recommend a laptop, but desktops work fine too, if you get along with your roommate. Anyway, you'll need some way to connect this computer to the internet--don't count on your college to offer wireless! You'll need a cable, often a Cat-5e cable, to connect either your computer or your wireless router to the internet. Get this early, and make sure you talk to your college's tech support office before buying any kind of ethernet cable or wireless router. Wireless routers are an especially risky buy. Some colleges allow limited, registered wireless networks; some don't. Make sure you know your school's policy before you make a decision. If you don't go the wireless router route (haha), I recommend getting a very long cable. If you shop early enough, you can get a 60 foot one easily... Beleive me, you can need that much.
#7. A USB 2.0 flash drive
Half of you just went "WHAT?" Nowadays you will see college students carrying these small sticks. Some are very thin, some are not. They have a metallic port at one end, although it's often capped. These are USB flash drives. You plug them into a computer using a USB port (those are the recangular ports with two small dots in them). They act as portable storage--sort of like a mini-hard drive. The most common size that I've seen is 128 megabytes, which is just less than half a CD. 256 megs, which is a little smaller than a burned CD, is much more common these days, it seems. You can also find 512 MB as well. All you really need, in my opinion, is 128. Why? To type up homework on your personal computer, take it to a lab, and print. Yes, many colleges do offer some sort of online storage for things to facilitate printing at labs, but this storage is often unreliable. It's good to have a USB device, just as backup. If you have a digital camera, you may even be able to use that as a USB drive!
#8. Cleaning supplies
Some kind of heavy duty bathroom cleaner, kitchen cleaner, and glass cleaner. A toilet brush. Paper towels. These are the things you need to clean a dorm room. You will be expected to clean your room and have it inspected on a regular basis, so make sure you have what is necessary. You may also need a vaccuum and mop; my school checks them out. I don't advocate using school mops though--just get on your hands and knees and scrub unless your bathroom is really big.
#9. A loud, durable alarm clock
Sounds obvious, right? Make sure it's loud. Somehow, waking up is harder in college. Don't ask me how.
#10. Reusable storage bins
Good for moving in, good for storing out of season clothes, good for sending things home and/or moving out. Trust me. They're a lot sturdier than cardboard boxes. Also, in a bind you can use them as nightstands and card tables.
#11. Hangers
Your college does not provide these for you. Many schools do offer some closetspace or a wardrobe, however.
#12. Hand sanitizer
Not washing your hands is a good way to sicken yourself, but what if you don't have time? Hand sanitizer is a lifesafer on welcome weekend and in the campus cafeteria. Possibly literally.
That's all, for now. I will add more as I think of it.