What should I bring to my dorm in the fall?

A mini-refrigerator would probably be very handy.

…a brain, encyclopedias,dictionary,brain puzzles.

Macbook would be so handy.. Like a tv.

a dustbuster

If you’re going far away to school (and flying), a lot of the following stuff you can buy at the nearest target or wherever. If you’re driving you might want to start shopping now and you can fill up a car with your stuff. Here’s a list, in no particular order:

Bedding, towels, and such. Your dorm room will probably have a twin-xL bed, so make sure you buy the right size sheets. Buy pillows when you get there if you’re flying, throw some into your car if you’re driving.

A desk lamp, trash can, alarm clock, laundry basket or hamper. Again, all this stuff you probably want to buy when you get there.

Basic food utensils, a plate, bowl, mug, and silverware. Even if you think you’ll be eating in the dining hall all the time, believe me, you’ll want this stuff.

Sticky hooks for hanging stuff (bathrobe, towels, scarves, coats) on your walls. Dorm rooms never seem to have enough hooks.

If you’re going to have a roommate, coordinate bringing a mini-fridge and/or microwave with them. This is something you can probably live without for a few days, so if you don’t know who your roommate is you can hold off until you get there and meet them. It’s definitely very handy to have both a fridge and a microwave, although if there’s a dorm kitchen with a microwave then it becomes much less necessary.

Games! Definitely a pack of cards, any board games you have and like. Party games like Taboo are fun too.

Photos from home. It’s nice to have some printed out to hang on your walls.

Don’t bring a TV! Everyone just watches movies and stuff on their laptops.

An evil twin. And a good laptop.

you might want to check with univ housing for a list. They probably have something on a web site.

Bring some kind of wire basket for your shower stuff.

Depending on your room size and roommate situation, you’ll probably want to build a loft in your room. Basically, this means elevating your beds toward the ceiling with 2×4’s and nuts and bolts. You’ll probably have to wait until you get to campus to find someone (i.e. big strong boys) to do it for you for some $$$ or food. Lots of times, there’s someone who does it as kind of a specialty at the beginning of the school year.

If you’re ambitious, you can team up with another set of girls and make one room the sleep/study room and the other the party room, but it’s probably best to wait until you get to know some people first to see who you like.

42” flat panel TV, large funnel, 36” flexible tubing, Costco sized jar of Advil, adequate speakers, kegorator, a mop, disco ball for the ceiling, large external disk drive to store mp3’s, maybe a calculator to tabulate how much people owe you for beer. hmm, probably some other less important stuff as well but nothing else is coming to mind right now.

Be careful not to take too much. That room is most likely smaller than you think.

Regarding the suggestion of a mini fridge, my university had a Microwave/Fridge in each dorm room so you might want to check on that for your school.

Hannahsugs mentions bringing a desk lamp, among many other good suggestions- I would say definitely bring a desk lamp, but also bring table lamps or floor lamps. Your dorm room will probably only have over-head lighting, which makes a strange room seem all the more bleak and unwelcoming. Also, most dorm rooms have kind of dingy flooring- industrial carpet or linoleum. I brought three or four rugs to cover up the linoleum in my room and it made a HUGE difference.

I realize these aren’t particularly practical suggestions, but they will make a new and strange place feel more comfortable and homey, which was a very important thing for me when I first went to college. Good luck!

and do NOT forget your chastity belt. LOL

A small toolkit, including pliers and a little hammer. Also, a sewing kit.

MacBook with lots of porn. And books. And a brain. And food.

If in an area that gets hot at all, a small, but efficient turbo fan. Even if only for a few weeks in the Fall and Spring, many times rooms don’t have proper ventilation. Many colleges have beds that convert into lofts.

So far all I’ve bought is a not-so-mini mini-fridge and an x-box. lol…

Rubber flip flops for the shower, unless you want to share athlete’s foot with your roomies for the rest of your life. NEVER shower without them

Cash or a credit card. Buy stuff as you find that you need it. 24 hours in your new room and you will have a good idea about what you need.

Oh god, Zack’s back…

lived in dorms for all 4 years of college. Distance from your home is definitely a factor. If you can wait I suggest u buy most of your stuff when back to school sales begin. You get incredible deals for everything including dorm room stuff and laptops. What you should be aware of is that the bed size in your dorm room may not be a typical size found at a families house. Inquire with the dorm to confirm what bedsheet size to get. Flipflop and a basket with a hook(to carry ur toothbrush etc) is a must for going to bathroom. A dirty clothes hamper is also a nessciry to watch your clothes

wash your clothes. If you are bring it home get a cloth hamper instead of a basket because you can simply tie ur hamper when transporting it. For more general stuff in your room coordinate with your roomate to share the burden of furnishing hour dorm. Do not buy the expensive high end stuff because inevitably they will get lost, broken or stolen. When possible take your family old stuff so that you wont feel bad when it get broken plus it will give ur family an excuse to get new stuff.An iron board and iron is good to have.

a major thing to bring is a photo frame with pictures of people who matter in your life. Dont worry too much if your forget something you can always buy it once you get there. Congratulations in getting into college :-) message me if you got any questions

well you should get a fridge FOR YOUR SELF.. microwave.. eating utensils.. rubber flip flops.. shampoo.. razors.. soap.. tooth brush.. a printer.. paper.. bed sheets.. pillows.. A COMPUTER LOCK!! ... laptop.. if they dont have wireless then get an ethernet cable.. tv with the cables.. mini vacuum .. towels.. napkins.. plastic boxes to keep things in.. laundry baskets.. there might be trash cans .. if not buy one.. plastic rubber mat to go under the fridge.. waters… snacks because you dont really have time for eating nor breakfast

i have lived in the dorms for one year so far and these things all come in handy.. trust me.. just have fun. and keep your side clean because you never know when your room mate might bring in all his/her friends in.. oh and bring in a fan because where i was the air didnt even work for half the year.. just have fun.. and dont take that much stuff because its easy moving in but getting out is such a hassle.

Ditto on Hannahugs.

Also try to find comfy homey things to bring. To put on the walls. My first year at college’s wall was so plain. The rest of the college years was filled with posters, pictures, arts to make it homey.

My roomates and I made a little couch one year out of long pillows (outdoor pillows) Pier 1 imports have creative pillows.

Brought an electric wok (if you are allowed to bring such items) we had fun experimenting chocolate and peanut butter egg rolls. And to cook a home mealed stir fry things etc. Also electric popcorn maker. Be careful of fire hazards though.

Mini Refrigerators were great. My roomate and I piled ours two mini fridge up to make a tall ‘fridge’ smile.

Have fun during your college years!