I went off to college with my clothes, personal care products, typewriter (manual Smith-Corona... lots of years ago :-) ), good dictionary, and a thesaurus.

I found this /article/list for some items that might be helpful for a send-off package:

http://www.fastweb.com/student-life/articles/pack-it-up-what-to-bring-to-college

Beer - just kidding.

Seriously, gift card to the college bookstore or Amazon. Amazon prime has a student rate.

By now they may have received graduation gifts or purchaseed a number of things. I would check with their mom(s) to see what they already have or whether they know of anything they still need.

The list linked above seems pretty good, but there will be things that vary depending on where they will be going, whether they live in a dorm, apartment, and perhaps what their roommate will be bringing [refrigerators if allowed, printers (papers are often submitted electronically, but some need to printed instead or in addition and common area printers can be down, out of paper or ink, etc.), coffee makers or microwave if allowed are the kind of things you probably can share and will be better off not taking up the space for two. Their field of study can also dictate some special requirements.

The list includes chargers for phones, etc. I will recommend a Jackery -- the giant if they will have a tablet (if they don't have one, they may want one or an e-reader if that is within your budget). The Jackery Giant is $35 on Amazon and will charge a phone and tablet or two phones at the same time -- or the same phone a number of times. It kept me and a couple of other family members going when my dad was in the hospital.

Another electronic item both of my sons needed was an external hard drive. They had other reason for them, but it doesn't hurt just for back up of data. You could also pay for a service that backs up automatically. We got something in the mail through the university with a discounted offer for one of those. Most kids have a flash drive or two already -- if they don't, one that can attach to their key ring helps reduce the risk of loss.

Bedding is usually twin xl and my sons both really liked the microfiber sets from Target -- soft, dry fast, launder easily and they are inexpensive. I would add a foam cushion and mattress pad to the bedding items suggested. Every dorm mattress I have seen is thin, vinyl covered and not nearly what they are used to at home Making it a bit more comfortable will help them sleep better.

Most college kids can use and will aappreciate some Starbucks, Dominos or other pizza place and other fast food gift cards, or cash. Gift cards for itunes or apps for whatever phone or other devices they use can help them get new music, but possibly download apps that can be helpful with their work. Amazon would be another good gift card -- students can get Amazon Prime and order things they need, get it quick and not have to bother Mom (I see they have changed the terms -- free for 6 months then a 50% discount. My son used mine, which let me see what he was ordering.). Target, Walmart and Bed Bath and Beyond (BBB has a service where you can order from home and pick up at the store nearest their dorm) might be good goft cards for them to go pick out the orgainzation or storage things they need. My youngest used those drawer units on wheels and a plastic trunk (the trunk as from Walmart). He packed them at home -- rolled them into place under his bed.

A care package from home, especially with homemade cookies or treats, is always great, but don't bother with the care packages the school push (especially to families of freshmen). Both of my boys said thanks, but there was a lot of stuff I would never use and one of them was full of off-brand or no name stuff.

Hope that helps.

I think it depends a lot on the school. And this was a long time ago. But I went to a small school in a small town with not much within walking distances and I didn't have a car. Amazon prime membership and gift card would have been awesome (if such things had existed back then).

my youngest son has really enjoyed having an electric tea kettle for his dorm room... he uses it for mostly for tea, but also has used it for hot cocoa, ramen noodles etc... prefers it over the microwave.

There are many great ideas. The challenge is what have they already accumulated, how much space do they have. College students become experts at storage in small spaces..but still space is usually very limited. Where as the latest appliance may be GREAT in theory, if said student isn't going to use it, it has no business taking up prime real-estate. I might be more likely to wait a week or two and send a box of homemade cookies/snacks. Colleges today are making a side business of offering parents the ability to order pre-made care packages around finals and holidays. I would be likely to tuck in a tiny something that announces the holiday coming up...but I like my world festive. My son, now graduated, is DETERMINED to give and receive only consumable gifts. Life as a college student taught him to keep things minimal.

Boys seem to need so much less that girls. We did find that Command adhesive products like hooks were useful for hanging posters, pictures, clothes. Magnets and magnetic clips (often the beds are metal so magnets can hold cords and notes). Batteries. A small fan. A small flashlight for finding the phone that fell behind the bed. A roll of paper towels (something will spill). Chocolate. Popcorn. Chips. Chip clip. Cider and cocoa packets. Cookies. Don't get pricey ones. DS told me "quantity trumps quality"

Cookies and cash.

These are all wonderful ideas. They will visit me in a couple of weeks, and I wanted to give them a little gift, before they start their new adventure at their new schools. I am going to print these up, and will begin making a little box of things. Thank you!

My father made sure I had an adjustable wrench and a screwdriver.

A little tool box with the essentials, candles and flashlight, headlight flashlight for walking home in the dark, if they can have any type of electric cooking device I would suggest an Aroma cooker multi cooker which can saute and simmer, steam, slow cooker, cook rice and heat up food and keep it warm. I have had one for years and love it. Just bought a new model Sunday at Costco for $29.99 regular price is $49 on the aroma site. Model ARC3000SB. This is a stay cool cooker so it's very safe and very easy to clean. I would have been delighted to have one back then. Extremely easy to use even for boys lol.

Aroma

More great ideas. Had not thought of screwdriver, and yes that would come in handy also. Thank you everyone!

No to the candles, they are not allowed in the dorm.

We've given our college-bound loved ones gift certificates to the book store.