My eldest DD is heading off to college in the fall, and I’m planning on picking up small stuff from now till August so she will be fully prepared for her dorm experience. However, my old-fogeyness is impairing me, since it’s been 20 years since I was at college. Please help me with all the latest and greatest that you can’t do without at college these days! 
You might think she needs all sorts of cool electronics but the most important elemental thing for living in a dorm is a good shower tote. (that is just an example. no idea what is the “hot” shower tote this year)
Something I got for high school graduation that I found really thoughtful - monogrammed towels.
A collapsible laundry bag. I can’t find a link, but they’re made of mesh and wire, and can either sit upright, or fold down with a twist.
Check the college rule book before you buy things like hot plates or microwaves. They might not be allowed in the dorms.
No one needs a touch lamp but they’re cool.
A tool kit. Even if she’s living in the dorms, there will still be times when she needs a screwdriver or pliers. barbara k tools are specially designed for women’s smaller hands. Since I’m not only a woman, but a shrimpy woman, I love my barbara k tool kit.
A notebook that’s really light to carry around campus easily yet powerful enough to do everything a college student needs.
A fake ID? 
Kidding…kidding.
I had a small fridge in my room and it was very handy for keeping jucie/drinks/fruit for late night snacks without having to walk down to the vending area.
I was going to say, ‘iPod touch’ but these suggestions are much more useful and much less thought of.
In that vein, then, along with the tool kit, I’d suggest a set of camping utensils and pots and pans, the kind that goes together into a bag. Comes in handy at hostels and other places where you buy your own food and prepare it. Possibly in residence as well, if food preparation is allowed in the rooms.
Another thing that is very useful: a soap container that completely encloses a bar of soap. Put this in a pouch or small bag to contain other personal effects. Very useful when carrying soap into a common shower area, and after use you put the soap back in and dry off the outside.
There are a lot of good things to be found in camping stores. 
If the student has a computer, I’d also suggest a toolkit of miscellaneous plugs and adaptors, like network cords and odd screwdrivers and phone extension cords and such. Consult the recipient first, though. Computer equipment varies.
Depends. I’m studying AutoCAD and I’d have to check the specs carefully before getting that one… the video card may not be supported for 3D rendering. I have read of courses and exams that require specific operating systems, programs, or equipment. Consult the recipient first!
Good, versatile luggage. She’ll be hauling a lot of crap back and forth and here and there for the next few years–not just home, but eventually to friends’ houses over breaks and such. At least a small duffel bag for weekends and a large suitcase for longer breaks.
Depending on her major, she might need special academic license software. (Like Adobe Creative Suite for graphic designers–not sure about other majors.) If she’s not sure, have her call her department and ask what they recommend for computing power and software. If you’re majoring in history and don’t care about computers anyway, you can get away with a lot less than someone majoring in computer science. Same goes for any special equipment she’ll need for her major that she’ll be expected to own. (camera equipment for photographers, etc.)
Non-perishable (or at least slowly perishable) food for her dorm room. Peanut butter, easy mac, cereal, etc. as long as it’s healthy and doesn’t take up too much room. It can help when you’re staying up all night and hungry.
A small fridge. Never underestimate the psychological value of being able to make cereal or a sandwich in your dorm.
Good shoes for walking around campus, depending on the size and climate. I did lots and lots and lots of walking when I was in college.
And I carried around a lot of crap, so a hefty backpack or shoulder bag. I’d recommend good Jansport padded shoulder backpack. They’re about $50 - $100 and well worth it. I went through a backpack a year until I got one, and I still have mine 4 years later and use it as a carry-on. Messenger bags are (or were 6 years ago) more stylish, but after about 3 months, your shoulder starts to kill you. They’re ok for lightweight loads, but not everyday book hauling.
A small box to lock up “important” things in, like her social security card, copy of her birth certificate, money (temporarily–people can just take the whole box), etc. I’m not talking a safe, just one of those lightweight metal boxes about 8" by 4". It’s not a huge deterrent, but it’s going to give her a place to stash things rather than leave them out for anyone to snatch. (Not that that will probably happen! Just always useful when you’re in the same building with hundreds of strangers. Also, dorm rooms get a lot of traffic from socializing college kids.)
Basic first aid: bandaids, antiseptic ointment, pepto bismol, sudafed, tylenol, and a pack of multivitamins. She does not want to wait until she has diarrhea or a horrible head cold to buy this stuff. I promise. Also, she’ll probably want to take a multivitamin, if she doesn’t already. The first year in the dorms is like going to kindergarten–all kinds of nasty germs you’re not used to being around. I also get an energy boost when I take one regularly, and college kids aren’t known for their good nutrition. FWIW, I lived in the dorms twice (dorms, apartment, dorms, apartment) and both times I was sick. When I lived in an apartment, I wasn’t.
Laundry supplies: soap, laundry bag or basket, etc. Also much easier to buy before you actually need them, when mom or dad’s helping you shop.
Rice cooker, with a steam basket. Great not only for rice but also boiling water and warming up soups, and you can steam food at the same time.
Mini fridge.
Arg. missed the edit window.
A cell phone. It will make it much easier and cheaper for her to call (long distance?) home, and she’ll be away from her room much of they day anyway. A pre-paid one will work, but plans might be cheaper, too.
Flip flops for the shower!
Also, I forgot clothes hangers for my clothes my freshman year. Durr.
Power strip or two.
A whiteboard for her door so people can write obscene things… I mean, so her friends can leave notes and stuff. (These were essential items when I went to college in the mid-90’s, YMMV now.)
A clip on book light thingy so she can read/study without disturbing her roommate. Also, headphones.
I second dorm refrigerator and whiteboard for door. Also…dare I say a pack of condoms?
Two things I always give new college-bound students:
A small collapsible umbrella that fits in a backpack.
A big pack of those little Kleenex packages.
Just a pack? What…you don’t think she’s popular?
I third the dorm fridge, and cast votes for the shower equipment. A decent study chair is also necessary, as the chairs in the dorms are usually crap and give you serious backaches after awhile.
This is such a smart idea. I wish I’d thought of it before I moved into the dorms. Also some Airborne or Emergenc-C tablets for her to pop when she starts feeling under the weather. Herbal tea is also nice to have for when you have the sniffles.
Yes, but not from mom and dad. In my mind, that crosses all kinds of boundaries. Obviously, your own relationship with your parents may differ.
Well, I wouldn’t really know, since my daughter is only 3. I don’t know how I will deal with her sexuality (aside from badly, I’m sure).
A good laptop and the good sense to not lose it/ break it/ let it get stolen. Don’t let it out of your sight for a second unless its locked up! Seriously, people always got their electronics stolen. Don’t leave it at the table at the library and walk away, don’t leave it on your desk w/o the lock and leave the door open and go to the bathroom.
Lots of little things - bandaids, creams, OTC pills whatever - when you’re used to mom helping you out when you’re sick then mom’s not there - it’s good to have the NyQuil and Pepto and ibuprofen and whatever on hand. This is very important. I was sick all the time when I lived in the dorms. Living with a couple hundred people in the same building will do that to you. 2 years in dorms and now I get sick much more rarely.
Really she just needs her clothes, towels, laundry stuff, shampoo and all that, shower caddy, bed clothes, SHOWER SHOES, the other stuff I mentioned already, and some photos and stuff from home, good school supplies, and maybe stock her up with extras (of meds soap etc) if she has space to put it. Make sure she brings everything she’ll need but don’t let her bring too much so her room is cluttered right away - that will happen over time. And when you’re moving in and notice you forgot something, join all the other parents/kids at the nearest Walmart or Target in town and go get it
I never lived in a dorm, but here’s what I totally forgot about when moving out of my mom’s house. They’re all little things that it never really occurred to me that people have to buy:
pens
post-its
a pad of paper to sit by the phone for messages
scissors
paper towels (even if she can’t cook in her room, chances are good something will be spilled, sooner or later)
fabric softener sheets - I remembered detergent, forgot all about fabric softener. Stiff towels suck.
feminine hygiene products
basic meds - ibuprofen, cough syrup, decongestant. (Prob’ly want to check and make sure there are no stupid “zero tolerance” policies prohibiting this stuff in students’ rooms.)
If she can have a hot-plate or even a microwave, then a set of potholders for safely removing and/or pouring hot liquids.
A small cutting board and sharp knife will let her cut veggies or cheese for snacks, even if she can’t cook in her room.
A small first aid kit, including bandages and triple-antibiotic ointment, would be nice to have on hand. Anything major, I’m sure she can go to the RA or the health clinic for, but who wants to bug the RA for a blister?
Sorry, nothing “nifty” here, but that first month when she’s on the rag wearing new ill-fitting shoes and gets a headache, pads, band-aids and Midol (and a cell-phone to call Mom) will be greater comfort than an iPod!