It’s that time of year again— if you’re a high school senior who’s going off to college, or maybe you’re transferring to a residential college, you’re probably scouring the internet to find out everything you could possibly need. There are lists upon lists out there, but let me tell you: there is no list that includes absolutely everything you’ll need for college (I’ve looked at probably almost all of them).
Since my freshman year is coming to a close, here are 12 items that were not common items on every list, but I found to be extremely important when I got to college:
1. Toothbrush/soap holder
Okay this was something that literally no one ever told me about, but is super important— especially if you’re going to be sharing a bathroom with your floor. These aren’t items you can really just leave lying in the open like you could at home.
2. Long surge protector
3. Portable phone charger
There will likely be a time when you’re in class or somewhere away from your dorm (or there are no outlets nearby) and your phone dies. That’s why I keep one handy. They’re sold plenty of places, but I got mine from Amazon.
4. Velvet hangers
These are mentioned on a lot of lists, but I don’t think anyone really understands the importance of these. Sure, you could buy those cheap, plastic ones from Walmart or Target, but the velvet ones are definitely worth the little bit of extra money. They save so much space in your closet, which comes in handy if you have an absurd amount of clothes like I do.
5. Drying rack
I never considered this a necessary item until I realized how many of my clothes weren’t supposed to be dried, and then tried to find places around my tiny dorm room to lay them out. Most even fold up to be more compact, so that they can be stored easily.
6. Some sort of tools
Something will break, and you will need more than just tape to fix it. A screwdriver and a hammer are probably the most common tools you’ll need, so if you don’t want to invest in a tool box, find cheap versions of those two items.
7. Weekend bag
Whether you’re going to travel to visit a friend at their college, or just go home for a weekend, you’re going to want a bag that’s smaller than your suitcase to take with you. Even just a small backpack that you can throw a couple outfits and toiletries in is perfect.
8. Tupperware/plastic bags
These become necessary for leftovers from dinners out, if you decide to make something, or if you’re just trying to snag a sandwich from the dining hall. Trust me, they will be used.
9. Back/body pillow
I feel this one is overlooked a lot, but one of my favorite things about my bed at school is the excess of pillows I have; it makes the entire bed that much cozier. Plus, if you have friends over for a movie night, they’ll appreciate your many pillows.
10. HDMI cord
Some lounges in your building with probably have a TV, with an HDMI port. Use this cord to hook the TV up to your laptop so you can finally watch Netflix on a big screen again.
11. Cube organizer
This one might be tricky if you’re going to a college that’s farther away, but if you can spare the struggle to bring it back and forth each year, I promise you this item is totally worth it. It stores so much stuff that otherwise I don’t know where I would put.
12. Bed risers
In a small space, every inch of storage room counts. By using these bed risers, you’ll find you can fit even more things under your bed— which is extremely helpful.
So as you’re picking out your items for your dorm room, take my advice into consideration. These are all items I have used frequently throughout my freshman year, and almost all of them I didn’t realize I needed until after I’d moved in. Remember: coming over prepared is better than having to scramble to purchase anything you realized you forgot.
