A local column by Ellen Nitchals

Being a parent is hard - or so I've heard - and when the time comes for the little ones leave the nest it gets even harder. So, as kids my age start packing up to go to college, parents do what their instinct tells them.

They load them up with as much stuff as possible.

Bean-bag chairs, mini-fridges, shower kits, new alarm clocks, spare socks, coffee machines, the works. They send them off into the world with the supplies they'll need to succeed, hoping that they'll get enough rest in spite of the constant caffeine hype and use good lighting and posture when reading like the good little homework machines they've become since starting high school.

OK, this might be a slight exaggeration. But it does happen. Parents get concerned about their kids leaving home, they want them to be comfortable, and so they help them build their own home-away-from-home in a college dorm they've never seen before.

Unfortunately, companies know this, and they're capitalizing on it.

One place where my mother and I went shopping for dorm accessories had a handy shopping list for all your dorm needs. Eschewing things like family portraits, sensible footwear, painter's tape to hang things up, or a bike with a lock, it instead listed a variety of things from a blender, toaster oven, and place settings for four to multiple chairs, throw pillows, a desk and shelving units.

Now, let me pause here to say that while this sounds like extreme criticism, it's not exactly meant that way. However, I would suggest that parents, instead of following that list, understand what the average modern dorm is like: tiny, already furnished, and not the kind of place to set up a restaurant or a living room. It would follow, then, that place settings for four, an array of small appliances, and more furniture than I have in my current room would not be things I - or most college-bound kids - would ever need.

Instead, I would like to recommend to parents or soon-to-be college freshmen a few essential items that I would imagine (and have heard) are indispensable.

• Get a coffee maker. Not only will caffeine drive you, but the coffee maker - without the grounds in it, of course - will heat up water you can then use with instant oatmeal, ramen, and other stomach-appeasing late-night munchies. I found a good one for about $30 and it takes up less space than my desk lamp.

• Speaking of lamps, lighting is totally important. Floor lamps, desk lamps, Christmas lights to set the mood, that night light with My Little Ponies on it that you've had since you were 6 - bring them all. Just be careful about the bulb types - my college in particular doesn't allow halogen lamps. Just check what the guidelines are before you shell out money. Full-spectrum bulbs are usually a great idea, too - they help your mood, and most college dorms are built for efficiency, not for aesthetics, so you're probably going to want the best mood-lifters you can find if your dorm starts to feel like a prison cell.

• Bring a laptop. Portability, easy use, and anytime access. What else do I need to say? I will, however, point out that if you're planning on getting new hardware or software just for college, you should check out what deals your campus has. Most campuses offer great deals through a specific company or companies, so if your college has such an affiliation, you're sure to get an awesome deal.

Once you've got the basics down, the rest is detail. Just make sure you have the essentials - light to read by and cheer you up, an Internet connection, and some method of mass caffeine consumption.

Ellen Nitchals, a recent graduate of Corvallis High School, will be attending Willamette University next year. She can be contacted at ellen.nitchals@gmail.com.