College students are getting ready to head off to campus, where they will try to cram as much stuff as possible into a tiny dorm room.

Here are some tips on figuring out what your student really needs, and what they should leave at home.

1. Check the rules. Before buying anything, check dorm policies at your school to see what you are (and are not) allowed to bring. Many schools prohibit hot plates and other appliances with a heating element. Halogen lamps and air conditioners are also on some schools' "banned" list.

2. See what's already there. Know exactly what (if anything) the school provides. For example, schools such as Penn State have fridges and/or microwaves already installed in dorm rooms. Check sizes of existing furnishings – for example, most dorm beds are extra long twins, meaning standard length sheets won't fit.

3. Scout out local stores. Most large college campuses have stores like Target (Stock Quote: TGT) or Wal-Mart (Stock Quote: WMT) nearby. If you don't want to transport more stuff than necessary – or if you realize you forgot a few essentials – you can probably stock up on whatever you need. Don't delay, though: stores near campuses often experience a high demand for dorm staples like desk lamps and computer supplies during move-in week.

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