23 Things You Should Consider Bringing to College
Ever wonder what college students actually need to bring to college? Here's our list of 23 items you might not have thought about when making your college dorm checklist.
Before we start…
Don't worry about forgetting simple things like your toothbrush. There's plenty of stores nearby where you can grab what you need. In fact, it might be a good idea to have a toothbrush both at home and at college, so you don't have to constantly buy a new one every time you come home when you forget it at school.
Also…
Make sure to talk with your roommate about what items you're bringing and what you are comfortable sharing. This will help you know what to get and what not to buy, so you don't have two of everything taking up space in your room.
23 things for your home away from home
- Umbrella – Bring a small umbrella that fits in your backpack, that way when it pours down unexpectantly during class you can make it back to your dorm and still keep yourself and your things dry.
- Rain jacket – Did we mention it might rain? Make sure you’re prepared!
- Fold-up or beanbag chair – If you have people in your room, having a chair gives them a place to sit. It can also be nice for you, so you don’t have to sit on your bed all the time when you want to sit down.
- Cards/games – For downtime in the evenings, bring a deck of cards or your favorite game. This is a great way to get to know other people and spend time with friends.
- Command hooks – Command hooks are useful for hanging up your room decorations and giving you extra places to hang things like your jacket or towels.
- Extra blankets – Bringing a few extra blankets is always a good idea to lay on the lawn outside or make sure you’re warm enough at night.
- Small rug – Check and see if your dorm room is carpeted. If it isn’t, having a small rug does a lot in not only making the space your own but also keeping your feet warm at night. However, don’t buy a super expensive one either, as there’s a high chance you’ll spill something on it throughout the year like an after-class smoothie.
- Vacuum – A vacuum is nice to quickly sweep up any crumbs or other messes that accumulate in your room. If you don’t want to buy a large or expensive one, handheld vacuums work just as well and save on space too.
- Small fan – Even if your dorm has AC or you have an AC unit, a small fan can be really nice to have for when you still feel hot. It can also count as white noise to help you sleep.
- Desk light – A desk light is good for late night work or if you’re not a fan of the bright overhead light in your room. Consider getting one with a dimmer so you can adjust the amount of light to your needs.
- Bed risers – Bed risers are a nice medium between fully lofting your bed and having it on the ground. In some cases, beds aren’t even able to be lofted, so having bed risers gives you that extra under-bed storage space.
- Under bed storage – These can be as simple as a few bins for your shoes but storing them under the bed saves a ton of space in your room, so you have room to move around and not trip on anything.
- Extra-long phone charger – The outlet where you plug in your phone might not be as close as you would like. Bringing things like extension cords and longer phone chargers helps you from accidentally unplugging your device every time you turn off your alarm.
- Portable phone charger – A portable charger is good for class, bus rides to away games, and anytime you’re out of your room for most of the day.
- Blue light glasses – Blue light glasses help reduce screen glare and light sensitivity, which can be beneficial for late night study sessions or for dealing with headaches caused by too much screen time.
- A few formal outfits – Chances are, you’ll have a couple of professional projects, interviews, or events you attend where you’ll need to dress nicely. Packing 1-2 formal outfits saves you from last minute trips to the store and will make you look prepared for when you present.
- Reusable bags – Bring reusable bags to help you move in, but don’t send them home once you’re done. Keep them for extra storage, trips to the store, or when you need to bring something home later in the year.
- Laundry basket – A laundry basket doubles as a bin to carry your stuff for move-in as well as to hold your pile of dirty clothes and take them to the washer. To save space in your room, getting a collapsable basket might be a good idea too.
- Wall calendar – A wall calendar can be useful for keeping track of important dates like exams, games, and campus events you might want to attend. It can also help you visualize your class schedule better and figure out when the best times are to study or hang out with friends.
- First aid kit – Even a mini first aid kit is useful for minor cuts and scrapes. Be prepared by filling it with band aids and over the counter meds like Tylenol.
- Shower shoes – A lot of colleges have communal bathrooms, which means you’ll be sharing the showers with the other men or women on your floor. Shower shoes are a must-have for good personal hygiene and protect your feet from germs and other possible infections.
- Shower caddy – A shower caddy keeps all your shower items in one place and makes it easy to carry to and from your room. When picking one, a plastic shower caddy is better than a mesh one for dorm life because it is easier to clean and won’t collect mildew if constantly left wet.
- Travel size shower items – Especially if you’re planning to play a sport in college, packing travel sized shower items is useful for when your team has away games so you can rinse off before the bus ride home. These can also be helpful when planning small trips or even in a pinch as you run out of your regular shampoo and don’t have time to run to the store.
At Bluffton University…
New Bluffton students are supported throughout the process of finding their place on campus, beginning with summer orientation and class registration, Welcome Week activities and 60 in 6 where student life organizes 60 events during the first six weeks of the school year. Returning students also offer support. President Ambassadors help specifically with orientation. Student life staff offer support during Welcome Week and beyond, while President’s Ambassadors, who provided input for this post, help with admissions and alumni events.