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Student Life

Top 10 Objects You Didn’t Think You’d Need In A Dorm Room, But You Should Have

Your freshman year is already going to be a whirlwind, try to make it easier on yourself with these tips.

Stevie Hara

Oct 19, 2020

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Top 10 Objects You Didn’t Think You’d Need In A Dorm Room, But You Should Have

File:Escalante Dorm Room.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Don't expect mini fridges or shower caddies on this list you basic b*tches. Wait, don't get your expectations too high though...

Can opener

File:Kitchen-Modern-Can-Opener.jpg - Wikimedia CommonsFile:Kitchen-Modern-Can-Opener.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

When I realized I bought veggie cans without the pop tab, I had to go around asking everyone on my floor if they had one so I could eat some carrots. While it may be a good ice breaker for meeting people on your floor, save yourself the trouble and buy yourself one.

Pot holder

Pot Holder | noricum | FlickrPot Holder | noricum | Flickr

Being on a meal plan (despite a crappy one), I wasn't making my own food very often. However, I remember putting something in the oven and realizing a few minutes before it was done that I did not have a pot holder and neither did the kitchen. Almost burning yourself by using a bunch of wadded up paper towels is not ideal.

Real silverware

File:Jean Nouvel silverware.JPG - Wikimedia CommonsFile:Jean Nouvel silverware.JPG - Wikimedia Commons

Getting a to-go box from the dining hall is very common and so is forgetting to grab plastic utensils. Be more environmentally conscious anyways and buy real reusable silverware.

Rice cooker

File:Anshin Rice Cooker with Smart Switch.jpg - Wikimedia CommonsFile:Anshin Rice Cooker with Smart Switch.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Having a crappy meal plan meant that I was eating maybe one meal a day during most of the week. Buying myself a cheap, but sturdy rice cooker helped solve that. Rice is very cheap and lasts a long while and you can add vegetables and whatever sauce you'd like to it. Essential.

Lap desk

A lap desk.

Honestly, my favorite thing on this list. I've used it constantly since I started college. It helps keep your laptop from overheating while you're using it on your bed, but I also used it to eat cereal. An outstanding product.

Mattress topper

A mattress topper is the key to getting a good nights sleep in college. https://www.amazon.com/HOFISH-Inches-Infused-Mattress-Topper-Twin/dp/B072C4S2NH

The mattresses are most likely going to be rough. You're already going to be pulling all nighters for classes, don't go through more because of your shitty mattress.

Surge protector

File:Belkin-Surge-Protector.jpg - Wikimedia CommonsFile:Belkin-Surge-Protector.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Especially if you live in a dorm that isn't air conditioned, you're going to be plugging in more things than you realize. Give yourself more outlets.

Water boiler

File:Water boiler.jpg - Wikimedia CommonsFile:Water boiler.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Perfect to cozy up in your dorm and make tea and coffee. Or if you hate coffee like me...hot chocolate. Also saw someone make ramen in their water boiler once. Strange, but it worked.

Reading pillow

BP Shaggy Faux Fur Lounge Pillow

Our freshman dorm buildings early on in the year switched out the comfy rocker (though outdated) chairs in our dorms for folding chairs. Folding chairs. Never sat at my desk to do homework that year. Besides, I stayed up late watching Netflix almost every night, so the pillow was wondrous for my back.

Door stopper

File:Rubber door stop in action.jpg - Wikimedia CommonsFile:Rubber door stop in action.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Honestly, this one is probably not great right now during COVID-19, but everyone on my floor during freshman year would prop open their doors and everyone got to know everyone super well because of it. We didn't have a door stopper and used my shower show to keep it open.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Recommended for you

Top 10 Objects You Didn’t Think You’d Need In A Dorm Room, But You Should Have

Your freshman year is already going to be a whirlwind, try to make it easier on yourself with these tips.

Can opener

Pot holder

Real silverware

Rice cooker

Lap desk

Mattress topper

Surge protector

Water boiler

Reading pillow

Door stopper

Subscribe to our Newsletter

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

Who knows where we would be without them.

1. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, even when they really aren’t funny.

2. Thank you for singing unbearably loud with me all the time.

3. Thank you for letting me vent to you for hours about anything and basically being my personal therapist.

4. Thank you for ordering pizza with me at 2 in the morning.

5. Thank you for all the movie days when we don’t feel like moving.

6. Thank you for being my workout buddy everyday.

7. Thank you for sharing your closets with me.

8. Thank you for taking naps with me at random hours during the day.

9. Thank you for cleaning our home with me when we absolutely need to.

10. Thank you for all the rides when it’s late and you don’t want me to walk home alone in the dark.

11. Thank you for studying with me in our kitchen when we didn't want to go the library.

12. Thank you for making dinner with me.

13. Thank you for helping with my hair, makeup and outfit every time we go out.

14. Thank you for taking countless ugly pictures with me.

15. Thank you for not judging me when I go too long without showering.

16. Thank you for making our apartment feel like a second home.

17. Thank you for being there through all of our boy troubles.

18. Thank you for giving me a hug when I feel homesick.

19. Thank you for getting excited with me when one of us gets a good grade on an exam.

20. Thank you for still being my friend and not judging me when I say or do dumb things.

21. Thank you for telling me what I should do when I am sick.

22. Thank you for dancing horribly with me everywhere we go.

23. Thank you for staying up super late with me when we aren’t tired or can’t sleep.

24. Thank you for being super weird with me.

25. Thank you for all the unforgettable college memories.

26. And most of all, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have.

I may or may not be stressing right now.

1. "What do I have to study for?"

2. "What class do I need to study for the most?"

3. "I’m going to ace this."

4. "Focus!"

5."I have no idea what I'm reading."

6. "I should call my smart friend about this."

7. "I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail."

8. "I’m dropping out of school."

9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"

10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."

11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."

12. "I wanna go to bed."

13. "We did not learn this!"

14. "I should go get food."

15. "Why do we even have finals?"

16. "I don’t want to be at the library."

17. "Get off your phone."

18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."

19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."

20. "You have to study now!"

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine. — Snow White

The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. — Rafiki

You don't have time to be timid. You must be bold and daring. — Lumière

If watching is all you're gonna do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya. — Laverne

Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one. — Grandmother Willow

Always let your conscience be your guide. — Jiminy Cricket

To infinity and beyond. — Buzz Lightyear

Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. — Pooh

Let it go. — Elsa

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all. — Thumper

Today's special moments are tomorrow's memories. — Genie

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

Money

Socks

Blankets

Gift Cards

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