Alright, Germies. It’s August, which means it’s almost time to start back at school! I’m sure many of you are anxiously awaiting your first days at your new, big college; but, before you move in, let’s make sure you have everything you need.
A general rule of thumb: If you use it every day at home, you’ll need it at school. This obviously goes for clothes, accessories, and toiletries, but this also goes for bigger things, such as a coffee maker for those who have to run to early morning classes (as so many freshmen do). For larger appliances, you might consider getting in contact with your roommate to figure out who will bring the coffee maker or mini fridge or microwave or even the hairdryer. You can save a lot of valuable space by planning ahead.
For all of your showering items, you’ll want to get a shower caddy to store them in. This will make everything easy to store, and it’s much more convenient to carry down the hall to the communal showers. If you do have to share a shower space, you’ll also want to remember some shower shoes, and a robe might be a nice investment. Don’t forget an extra towel or two to get you through laundry day.
Speaking of the dreaded laundry day, many schools use a laundry card system (instead of coins), so you can buy a card somewhere on campus, but you’ll want to already have some detergent handy. Generally, you can find it much cheaper at an actual store than what’s in your campus’s student store.
With your basic needs covered, let’s talk about your desk area. You’ll have your computer, books, notebooks, and various other school supplies, but you will also need a desk lamp, so you can still read until morning once your roommate collapses on her bed for the night. If you’re allowed to have it in the dorms, an extension cord can prove extremely useful for all of your electronics.
Now on to comfort. Be careful when buying sheets for your bed. Yes, you will have a twin sized bed, but a lot of schools have extra long beds that
regular sheets don’t always fit. So, just be sure to double check what you’re buying. There should be an indicator as to whether or not they’ll fit an extra long. Also, as college-mattresses are notoriously hard, you may want to invest in some kind of foam/padded mattress topper. Additionally, you will probably want to bring along some extra blankets and pillows as well for late night hangouts and movie marathons (so, don’t forget the popcorn, either). The blankets could also be useful in case your roommate likes to keep a cool room. And if you are that roommate, you can bring a small fan for yourself.
Now, the least essential, but maybe the most fun: decorations! Sharing a small room with someone may be slightly restricting, but don’t be afraid to personalize your side (within reason). Bring along some wall hangings, posters, pictures, and other sentimental items that you love. This will make your home away from home feel even more cozy.
If you have this stuff down, you’re already off to a great start. Good luck on your first year! I know you’ll do great!