No, seriously, though. Can the people who've been to college and lived in dorms tell me what I might not have thought to get yet, but can't live without?
I had my graduation party today, and came into a LOT of money for buying books and stuff that I'll need for my room, but I'm at a loss as to where I should start.
So could you folks tell me what to get for my new life in the dorm?
Posts: 4816 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Sheets, towels, a stereo, cds, a clock radio, shower shoes are a must as dorm floors are disgusting, a bathrobe, posters, toiletry supplies...
Posts: 9942 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Earplugs and a sleep mask (just in case your roomie listens to music you don't like and stays up all night when you want to sleep).
Seriously...The thing I missed most when I lived in a dorm was a small refrigerator to keep cold drinks and a few snacks in. It would have made things so much easier.
Also, quarters for doing laundry.
Posts: 2454 | Registered: Jan 2003
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Don't forget your popcorn maker and favorite stuffed creature for comfort. An easy to care for living plant is nice, too.
And about the laundry - remember to NOT put red t-sirts in with white underthings and bleach unless you want a lovely pastel pink collection to emerge.
Posts: 5609 | Registered: Jan 2003
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You'll figure it out, I'm sure. Try to keep in mind that an open-door policy (even if you are not there, because you are off to the library to cram for an exam) is better than a closed-door approach.
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Scissors...and don't run with them. Tape. Stapler. Laundry hamper of some sort (they make some of mesh that stand up). Dryer sheets (static is bad in winter). Laundry detergent. a couple GOOD towels.
Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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-Surge protectors -extension cords (potentially) -all the bits and pieces from you computer (if you're taking it), can't tell you how many times I've forgotten one cord or another, or a keyboard or a mouse. -random crap (seriously, random crap is the best) -camera -nice clothes (never know when you're going to have to go to some semi-formal event) -frisbee or other outdoor item for use
Posts: 609 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Bed lamp so that if your roommate wants to sleep you can still study.
I disagree about the open door policy. Leave your door shut when you want to study. I had no trouble studying in my dorm room and rarely used the library. However, I also hosted card nights when I had buckled down and finished all my studying by 8-9 because of the closed door and would then get all the procrastinators into the room to play. Sadly, they would be up till 3am finishing their work, but it was fun! You can have a good balance of social and study times, but you have to stick to your guns.
Posts: 1777 | Registered: Jan 2003
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A couple of other things, some sort of shower caddy and a milk crate or two, those things are great, storage for your closet, chairs in a pinch, shelves, etc, etc. If you've seen one of those car commercials, you'll know what I'm talking about.
Posts: 609 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Non-permanent wall stick-up stuff so you can hang posters, etc, and not have to pay a fee for making holes in the wall when you leave the dorm at the end of the year.
Antifungal cream to keep from getting athelete's foot from the communal showers.
Toilet cleaning supplies (if you have a toilet in your room/suite).
A cell phone, calling card, or other communication device for emergencies.
Your favorite pillow.
Set of sheets, blanket, etc.
Space heater (depends on your dorm, but you might need one, or they might be banned).
Fan (see above)
Hotplate or coffee maker or something you can use to heat up water to make coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
Lay in a supply of cold medications. You'll need them eventually, so you might as well put it on the list to bring from home. Maybe mom & dad will pay. Get non-drowsy formula for the days you simply have to make it to class. Get the stuff that'll knock you out for the nights when you absolutely have to sleep.
Find out in advance if you have to put up your own curtains in the dorm. Some places are like this. Odd, isn't it?
Make sure you have a good calculator. Or a slide rule.
I second the ideas of having a reading lamp. Bring an extra bulb or two.
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Find out in advance what appliances are considered contaband. We weren't supposed to have anything with a heated surface (hotplates, coffeemakers, aaarghh!), everyone still did, we just stored them places other than the countertop.
If you share living space with someone, try to get ahold of them before you go to see what they're bringing.
Calling card was an excellent suggestion. I was so glad I had one.
Posts: 3956 | Registered: Jun 2001
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The pizza delivery place of your choice on speed dial. On the other hand, depending on your eating preferences - not having a refrigerator or microwave in my room contributed to my LOSING ten pounds instead of gaining them my first year of college (the pizza programmed into the phone came later). Whichever extreme you like
edit: also, a credit card is a good idea. The good record you build up now will be useful later in life (made all the difference there was for me ). Carrying a balance is NOT a good idea. Only charge as much as you know you can pay, and do so at the end of each month. All the benefits of credit without the dangers.
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Shower shoes are essential! Some idiot on your floor is going to come with plantar warts and give them to every other poor schlub that does not wear shoes in the shower. Let me tell you from first hand experience that really sucks.
Posts: 81 | Registered: May 2002
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These egg crate mattress things are especially nice. A small TV and vcr if you want to watch movies with gangs of friends, of course, there might be a lounge that has one. computer disks notebooks for each subject gelly roll pens nice things to hang on your door especially a little white board so that your friends can leave you messages if they drop by
dang, i miss college.
Posts: 9942 | Registered: Mar 2003
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It should be emphasized that this friend need not be a fellow student; mac and I fulfilled this function for each other all through college, in different schools and time zones. Posts: 2762 | Registered: Sep 1999
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Of course, by now my pizza sense is so finely developed that I already know when I want to have pizza delivered. If Prague had pizza delivery, I bet I wouldn't even need prompting! Unfortunately, I am forced to make do with eat-in pizzerias - or, more often, bread and cheese at home...did I mention I lost weight moving to Prague, too? *woeful*
*ahem* My brother (alas, I am but I lowly child) became highly popular among his flatmates (despite being on the student judicial board) by downloading *ahem* movies and buying a surround system, thus giving showings of every movie/television show under the sun...
But then honesty is a virtue.
Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
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One indispensable college accessory is a white board for your door. That way people can leave you notes if you're not there, and you can leave notes if you want to let people know where you are. Or you can just write weird and random things on it. We had a lot of fun with the white board on the door of my friends' room this summer.
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Bring two laundry bags so you can separate your lights and darks before you take them to the laundry room. Also remember detergent and bleach.
Cleaning products are always good. A vacuum cleaner can be a wonderful thing, as well.
Plates and such.
Pretty much everything has already been mentioned. Microwave and mini-fridge were most important for me. Well, those and the computer.
If you already have your roommate contact info, you can coordinate with her/them who's going to bring what. After all, you only need one TV/VCR for the room, one stereo system, one microwave. It would not be bad if you each had your own minifridge, though. My freshman year we had two fridges for four girls, and my food kept mysteriously disappearing before I had a chance to eat it. Posts: 3801 | Registered: Jan 2000
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I have to add my voice to those who disagree with having an open-door policy in your room.
I am very protective of my private space, and so was my roommate when I lived in a dorm. We both agreed right from the start that if we wanted to socialize casually, there would be places to go do that. It wasn't that we never invited anyone in for a get-together; we just didn't have an open-admittance policy. If we wanted to entertain, we invited those we wanted to be there. There were about ten rooms on our wing and floor; at least half of them were party central. That was plenty. They didn't need our room, too.
Posts: 2454 | Registered: Jan 2003
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Home Comforts: The Art And Science Of Keeping House will save you more time&money than the book costs. And nope, I ain't no neat freak. Just nice having a GOOD reference on 'how to do things the right way' when the need or the mood strikes me.
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