After living in the dorms for four years in college, I got a pretty good idea of what a dorm resident might find useful.  Over the years I've put together a number of dorm kits that I've given to graduating high school students going on to college.  Your friendly neighborhood dollar store can supply you with most of these items.  You don't have to buy everything new, of course.

One of the cornerstone pieces to a dorm kit is the fishing tackle box.  A tackle box is perfect for all the little items that are included in a dorm kit.

Electrical

• Four AA batteries
• Four C batteries
• Four D batteries
• One 9 volt battery
• Extension cord
• 60 watt light bulb
• 20 watt compact fluorescent light bulb
• Electrical tape

Tools

• Pliers
• Wire cutters
• Regular Screwdriver
• Phillips Head Screwdriver
• Hammer
• Assorted Nails
• Assorted wood screws
• Speaker Wire
• Flashlight
• Tackle box with three drawers (about $15)

School supplies

• Ruler
• Stapler with staples
• Tape dispensor
• Elmers Glue
• Book of Stamps
• Thank you note stationery
• Envelopes
• Scissors
• Rubber bands
• Pens
• Sharpie Marker
• Yellow Highlighters
• Post-It notes
• Pencils
• Pencil sharpener
• Eraser

Eating

• Plastic bowl
• Plastic plate
• Mug
• Knife, spoon, fork
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Salt
• Pepper
• Oregano
• Red pepper flakes
• Bottle opener/can opener

Heath

• Band aids
• Aspirin
• Solarcain
• Lomotil
• Sunblock
• Tums
• Chapstick

Other

• Long shoe laces (they can always be cut down)
• Button kit
• Sewing needles pre-threaded
• Roll of quarters (for laundry)
• A couple of large safety pins

Don't forget something fun as well - like a bottle of bubbles!  Put it all in one big box.  You can even offer to ship it to their dorm (or surprise them with their first care package).

Over the years this has been a very popular gift.