For a good amount of graduating seniors, you will be shopping to find all of the things you may need for living in a dorm. It’s hard to know exactly what you need until you’re there, and there are some things you’ll really want that you might not need. So here’s some advice from a college student going into her second year:
For the room
Firstly, lights are a must-have. Some dorms have desks with built-in lamps, but the overhead lights are usually extremely dim and don’t provide nearly enough light, especially at night when all of your studying will be done. Another desk lamp will probably do, because you might not be able to afford to give up the floor space. This is an opportunity to splurge on some twinkling lights to hang over your bed.
You will also need extension cords and a vacuum. I had a carpet so crumbs collected like crazy. Most dorms say they have a vacuum available for rental, but no one really wants to lug a vacuum up three flights of stairs. These were things that I made sure not to forget, and they ended up being extremely worth it. It’s also noteworthy that you should bring basic cleaning supplies like Clorox wipes, furniture cloths/a duster (REALLY. Dust collects like CRAZY in such a small space. We had an inch of dust within a week, and it was seriously gross), and a spray air-freshener to help for winter days when everything is shut up.
If you plan on having electronics, make sure you bring plenty of batteries, because that was one thing my dorm floor was severely short of on a daily basis (and thanks to my freshman roommates for letting me borrow so many in a year). I would also suggest bringing two collapsible laundry baskets with you, because laundry tends to pile up. While I was doing my laundry, I could get loads done faster because I wasn’t waiting to empty another basket, and one can be designated for dirty laundry, and one can be for washed laundry.
For the bathroom
For the summer months, you should take sunscreen with you, and always have two pairs of flip-flops, one acting as shower shoes. No matter how often your bathrooms are cleaned, you should never leave your feet exposed. Also, it is extremely helpful to have a large shower caddy. I had one that was too small in my freshman year, and I regretted dropping bottles through the hallway. One that hangs in the shower is usually helpful, but most times will not work because of the shower heads being too large.
I would bring at least 3-4 towels. For my freshman year, I had one extra large towel and then three normal sized and two rags. It helped save me from doing laundry constantly.
For you
Clothes go by exceptionally fast in college, but you also find soon that you will have almost no room for them. I was lucky to have a closet in my first year, but since most dorms only have dressers, I would try to conserve space. Under-bed storage is usually your best friend, if you have a bunk-bed and you get the bottom. But either way, collapsible storage that can go through the move will be helpful to you. I would recommend bringing as many different shirts as you can, and folding as much as you can get away with. Storing your shoes under your bed saves on a ton of space.
Here are some extra personal care items that might be of use:
- Lotion for your face (I know my entire dorm got sick because the air was simply too dry, so a humidifier might also be a good investment)
- Baby wipes
- Deodorant
- Ibuprofen
- A first aid kit with plenty of bandages
- Face wash
- A screwdriver
- Nail polish remover
- Bobby pins
- Cooking utensils and at least two of each piece of real silverware (having plastic silverware is easier but if you’re cooking something, you should have some)
- Your favorite movies
- Cups to hold pens in
- Pictures of family/friends
- A cork board if you are organized
I would keep most of these personal items with you at all times because they turn out to be more useful than you think.
Moving can be hard, particularly if it’s for the first time. This is not meant to be a list of everything you should have when moving, but I hope that maybe I mentioned some things that you may have forgotten. If this is your first year, make sure to have fun!
