Top 10 College Dorm Room Essentials | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Top 10 College Dorm Room Essentials

These are the items you'd never think to bring with you.

107
Top 10 College Dorm Room Essentials
Miranda McHodgkins

My freshman year of college I lived in a small, one-room dorm with a roommate. There wasn't a lot of space, so I had to only bring the essentials. When I was preparing to move into my dorm, I had no idea what to bring with me. All I had as a reference was a paper with a list of obvious items such as a jacket and bed sheets. I spent hours watching dorm videos on YouTube to get ideas on what to bring. Although I feel like I was fairly prepared and brought up a lot of useful items, there were items I forgot or ended up needing but did not have. Even though summer has just started, I know that incoming college freshman are starting to go shopping and starting to think about what they will bring with them to their dorm. Here are the top ten essentials students need to bring with them:

1. Medicine

In college, students live in close quarters with everyone, so your bound to get sick at one point or another. Some medicine students should have on hand include: NyQuil, DayQuil, Advil, Midol, and cough drops. A lot of colleges recommend that students refrain from bringing a car their first year because there isn't enough parking for everyone. So if it's late and a student can't get a ride to the store to get medicine, they'll be miserable all night.

2. Felt Hangers

Instead of bringing regular hangers, use the felt hangers, aka huggable hangers. The felt sticks to material and allows clothes to fit closer together, so that more clothes can fit in the tiny dorm closet.

3. Febreeze

Students are going to want Febreeze on hand because smells linger in dorms because it's such a small space. Many people end up bringing a microwave so they can heat up food and Febreeze will help to eliminate those smells from the dorm room.

4. First Aid Kit

A first aid kit is always important to have. This is one thing that never crossed my mind to bring, but my roommate actually brought one and it ended up coming in handy. Even if you don't think you'll use it, it's better to have it just in case.

5. Chair Pillow

A chair pillow is always great to have for doing homework or eating on a bed, which is what students do over 70 percent of the time because it's comfier than sitting at a desk.

6. Planner


A planner is important to have because life in college can be crazy and hectic with classes, clubs, events, and work and it's hard to remember everything without writing it down. The trick to being successful in college is to stay organized.

7. Shower Caddy

In most dorms, the whole hall shares a bathroom, so it's important to have something to carry all the toiletries like soap, shampoo, conditioner, razors, and a toothbrush, so that you don't have to make several trips to and from the bathroom.

8. Shower Shoes

Since everyone shares a bathroom, it's important to wear shower shoes. It's just more sanitary and protects your feet from being exposed to bacteria or fungus.

9. Mattress Pad

The beds in dorms are very uncomfortable, so a mattress pad will come in handy to make the bed softer and more comfortable.

10. Fan

Bring a fan! When it was hot outside, it got even hotter in the dorms and wasn't pleasant. Since there is no air conditioning it is important to bring something to cool off the room.

For more ideas check out this video: College Dorm Room Essentials

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

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

187394
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

13076
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

456506
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

25775
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments