College Dorm Must Haves Updated
Ive just updated this college dorm must haves article for this year. It includes 46 college dorm must haves.
Ive covered college dorm list for guys as well as college dorm must haves for girls. In fact, there is quite a bit of overlap for dorm must haves whether youre sending a someone to college.
In writing this article, Im sharing what I believe to be are dorm room essentials. Ive included products that can help with dorm storage ideas as well as dorm hacks and decorating ideas for dorm rooms.
The Ultimate College Packing List: 110 Must
College is an exciting and challenging time for many young adults. Whether you’re going far away or staying nearby, having the right supplies can make a huge difference in making college feel like home. Plus, remembering everything will save you those rushed last-minute trips to the store or waiting for your trash can to be delivered along with your month-long supply of popcorn and ramen.
Check out this college packing list to find out what to bring to college. Make sure to also get the ! But first, what is dorm life really like?
Before You Pack: Understanding The Realities Of Dorm Life
Traditional dorms are singles or doubles, with some triples or quads, and students share a communal bathroom and living area. Some students live in suites or apartments during college, in which they share a bathroom and common living space with a few roommates. Shared bathrooms are a major adjustment for a lot of students, so as you get ready to move into your dorm, think about what will make you most comfortable in these shared spaces.
Most four-year colleges have dining halls and meal plans. Dining halls offer some wonderful, well-balanced options, but they aren’t open all the time and don’t always cater to students’ dietary needs as best as they can. Make sure to have ways to eat and prepare food in your room from the get-go. You’ll be in need of plenty of late-night snacks and meals!
You’re going to spend lots of time around other people and in shared spaces. The best thing to do is to be prepared and make sure you’re being conscientious about your living space and what you need to be comfortable and happy.
For better or worse, this is your home for the next four years. You can never be too prepared! Anything in college is possible, and a lot of craziness will happen. Deciding what to bring to college is challenging, but hopefully this college packing list will get you off to a great start so you can enjoy one of the best times of your life in comfort.
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Dorm Room Essentials In : The Ultimate College Dorm Checklist
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After a year of studying virtually remembering all the dorm room essentials you need to cross off the list can be quite overwhelming. But that doesnt mean its an impossible shopping task. Whether youre moving back to your dorms or youre still studying from home, over at Teen Vogue weve broken out the list of essentials into different categories, making your back-to-school shopping even easier.
However, its extremely important to note that different colleges have specific rules on what you can and cannot have in your room especially when it comes to kitchen supplies, extra furniture, and so definitely make sure to check your schools website before your RA confiscates that mini-fridge or that coffee maker during your first week of college.
Now, without further ado, scroll down to find the ultimate college checklist. From bed sets and desk lamps to face masks and backpacks, weve got you covered:
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Students Need These Essential Perspectives To Thrive In College
The college years are often idealized as being about a great social scene, some interesting classes, and preparation for a career. But, this image belies the reality that collegeand the transition to adulthood that accompanies itis often a rocky path. There are personal, social, and academic challenges that even the most college ready student will face, because this period of life is about change.
For many students, these changes include moving away from family , developing an adult identity, questioning the beliefs they were raised with, and choosing a career path. None of those are easy tasks, and the alarming statistics of depression, substance abuse, and misconduct on campuses are all signs that students are struggling with these changes.
In our work with students transitioning to college, we have found these five messages to be crucial to personal, social, and academic success on campus. While its important for students to hear them before they arrive at their dorms, theyll likely need to continue to hear them as they move through their college years, too.
Sharing these perspectives as students head off to freshman year, then returning to them throughout their college years, is a powerful way to support students in taking control of their college experience.
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Crock Pot Slow Cooker Or Instapot
The great thing about having a Crock Pot or Instapot at college is this: your student can put everything in it that morning for dinner. Then, by the time they get home from class, dinner is servce. Both appliances are money-savers, too. They cut down on eating out expenses.
Important note: our daughters dorms only allowed these appliances if they had an auto-off timer on them. I believe they required this for fire safety reasons. So look for one that says programmable on it.
Theres Nothing New About Our Suggestion To Bring Sheets But Dont Think You Have To Go Overboard With The Linens
Bedding is probably the first thing most incoming first-year students â or, letâs be honest, their parents â think about when beginning the shopping process for furnishing a dorm room. Face it: you donât want to sleep on a bare mattress, especially the impossibly thin and unpredictable twin XLs that occupy dorm rooms across the country. You have to get your hands on bedding, no matter what.
A lot of packing lists will tell you that you HAVE to get an entire buffet of toppings for your bed, including mattress toppers, an entire stash of pillows and blankets, and a second set of bed linens. Want to be let in on a little secret? You donât need all of it. Sure, some things will make your bed a little cozier, and by no means is this an endorsement against any of these items, but you really only need a set of sheets, a pillow or two, and a nice comforter or blanket to add to your bed for warmth.
The main thing to remember with your dorm room bedding is that it doesnât have to be overly made up or decorated in any way if you donât want or need it to be. Treat your bed at school like you treat your one at home â if you donât care too much about what the thread count of your sheets at home are, chances are you wonât care about it in your dorm room either.
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What Not To Bring
Sometimes, you want to bring everything, but your car trunk doesnt want you to. Here are the things you can afford to leave behind :
- Tea kettles, candles, microwaves, or other heat-producing devices These are not allowed. I didnt know they werent allowed!
- Mini-fridges that are too big these are also not allowed!
- Soaps, detergents, and hygienic supplies These are easily accessible once you get here. Read below for convenient places to stock up on these essentials!
- Snacks First, unfortunately liquids are not allowed on planes. And second, you can get all sorts of snacks just about anywhere here. Dont take up space in your luggage for snacks unless theyre something you love and cant find here!
- Cleaning supplies
- School supplies, except for bigger stuff
I hope you get the general idea. Things that you can easily buy at a convenience store can be left behind, and anything dangerous or that does not meet regulations you should definitely not bring.
***Note: this is NOT the full list of things you should not bring. Visit Harvards What to Bring page for Harvards list of what to bring and what not to bring. Be sure to check so you dont bring prohibited items with you!
Schedule A Campus Tour
You can walk around the campus on your own, but scheduling a guided tour will give you more insight into the different areas of campus and what you can expect on your first day. While youre exploring campus, make sure you note where the emergency points and security office are located. Both parents and students should take time before the semester begins to become familiar with the campus safety resources and procedures.
If youre attending a college out of state, use this time to explore your new location. Nows the time to research the popular restaurants, the nearest theaters and music venues, the parks in your proximity to research the history, culture, and local population and to identify some of the neighborhoods, landmarks, attractions, and adjacent towns worth seeing.
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An Extra Set Of Sheets
One of the college must haves is an extra set of sheets. You never know when someone is going to show up and want to stay the night. An extra set of sheets just might save your futon . And theres always a chance that you might spill your SpaghettiOs while doing homework in bedno one wants to do late-night laundry when theyre tired.
The Best College Packing List For Girls
This list has everything and we mean EVERYTHING you need to bring to college.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you purchase through our links. Please read our full disclosure here.
Here is the ultimate college packing list for girls in 2022, with everything you need to bring to college.
Your first year of college is exciting, transformative, and just plain amazing. But before you get to all of that you have to move in first!
The thought of , meeting your new roommate, and figuring out how to pack your wardrobe into that way-too-small closet is nerve-wracking. Figuring out all the little details that make home so great and recreating it at school is a whole other story.
When I was a senior, I researched extensively to figure out exactly what I needed. While you will forget thingsI definitely didthis college packing list is a helpful step towards that daunting move.
To help make The Great Pack easier, Ive broken this college packing list down into categories, and then within each category Ive made subcategories. Each item fits into a specific category, much like a giant checklist, which you can print and use as a guide when you start packing.
This college packing list for girls is made up of the actual items I packed and used, and if I didnt, I made note of it.
Lets get to the items! Keep reading to see our ultimate list of things to bring to college.
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Things I Learned During My Freshman Year Of College
I was reminiscing about freshman year with my friend the other day, which got me thinking, what the heck did I learn my freshman year? I suppose I learned a lot of things, I forgot some others things , and I grew as a person. However, I wish someone had been there in the beginning to impart some real freshman year wisdom on me before I had to learn things the hard way, and watch my friends make some huge mistakes. Perhaps had I had this advice, I wouldnt have committed any party fouls, or dropped any classes. So, without further introduction, here are some things I learned my freshman year, that Ive turned into some nice college tips.
Inexpensive Cotton Towel Set
Towels arent provided, so youll need to bring your own. Getting an inexpensive one will save room in your budget for other necessities, and will keep you from worrying so much if something happens to it or it gets stained from being washed with non-like colors (I personally was far too busy and lazy to separate my colors for every wash
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Going Out Outfits For College
Next, lets talk about what to wear when you go out. Whether youre heading to a party or dinner with your roommate, sometimes you want to dress up a bit. Here are my recommendations:
- 1 Fancy dress Even if you have no plans, bring a nice dress. A good choice is a cocktail dress. You never know if youll be invited to an upscale event, so being prepared is key.
- 2 Nice pants Nice pants might be an elevated pair of jeans or trendy slacks. Either way, make sure theyre something you can get a lot of wear out of.
- 3 Nice tops You have a lot of options here. You might pick your favorite button-down, a crop top, or even just a cute blouse. Make sure its something you wear a lot!
- 1 Blazer Last but not least, a blazer is important if you find yourself needing a professional outfit for a job fair, meeting, or interview.
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Saving Money On Dorm Room Essentials
Many retailers have free shipping and other special savings for college students so read the fine print and take advantage of every offer. Your student may have to provide their .edu email address to be eligible which seems like a fair ask to unlock the savings.
- Bed, Bath & Beyond College Savings Pass lets kids save 20% on all their purchases through 9/30/21, plus free shipping for orders over $39.
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Access Your School Email And Portal
Gaining access to your school’s email and web portal is an essential step when preparing for your first college semester. Your school’s email and web portal open a critical line of communication. These give you access to course information and a way to connect with administrators, instructors, and fellow learners.
What To Bring To College: The Ultimate College Packing List
This page is your go-to guide for figuring out what to bring to college in 2022.
Whether youll be living in a dorm, an apartment, or in the steam tunnels that run underneath campus, this list will provide you with all the college essentials, plus a few fun extras that can improve your life or help you make new friends . Weve put a ton of work into this packing list we hope youll find it helpful.
To make it easy to navigate, everything is broken down into categories. Weve also marked certain items as essential to help you prioritize.
Most links here go to Amazon. Full disclosure: College Info Geek participates in the Amazon Associates program, and well earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through the links on this page . Weve worked hard to recommend items that are both high-quality and inexpensive.
Do note that you also can also buy many of these things locally, and weve put together a printable checklist that you can take to the store if you like. Click the picture to download it!
P.S. Having a properly set-up calendar, task manager, and file system before I started classes saved me a ton of stress. If you want to make sure youre really prepared for college, consider taking my 1-hour productivity systems course:
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Top College Dorm Packing List Items + What Not To Bring
Preparing to go off to college can seem like a daunting task. Packing can be stressful and confusing. My husband and I have collectively spent 12 years living in college dorm rooms including at NYU. If we had our time again we would have brought more of these items below to be that little bit comfier.
Now you can breathe easier with this handy packing list, clothing guide, and list ofwhat to wear, what NOT to bring to college.
Dorm Room Bathroom Supplies
I was lucky enough to have a bathroom right in my college dorm room. Neither my husband nor my daughters were so lucky. That meant that in addition to buying college bedding and the like, they needed dorm room bathroom supplies that they could take to the bath down the hall. Here are some items you may want to add to your students college dorm bathroom checklist
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Checklist: What To Bring To College And What To Leave At Home
As if planning your academic future isn’t enough pressure, odds are your freshman year at college will also be your first time away from home. Everyone from big box stores to relatives and friends wants to tell you what to bring, but do you really need bed risers or your goldfish?
Coordinate with your roommate to eliminate overlap , then stock up with this real-life list of things to bring to college.
Bathroom Caddy For College Dorm
No one wants to carry an armload of shampoo, soap and shavers with them every time they visit a college dorm bathroom. At the same time you cant just leave your stuff on the bathroom counter and expect it will be there the next day. Thats why smart college students invest in a bathroom caddy.
The best bathroom caddy for a college dorm is the one that can fit a ton of stuff and has holes on the bottom or is made of mesh. Why holes or mesh? So that if you bring it into the shower with you, the water can drain out the bottom. Otherwise, soon enough youll have a soupy, moldy mess.
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