As I enter my second year of college, I know I am still an amateur at this whole thing. I, along with my classmates, fumbled our way through freshman year, and while we are leaps and bounds ahead of where we were this time last year, don’t believe any college sophomore when they say they have school figured out. There is no way anyone could become an expert about a place with only nine months there. Sure I know how to register for classes now and I am pretty impressed with myself that I can name half the buildings on campus, but I don’t think I will truly be an expert in all things UNC until I’ve been here for four years, and by then it’ll be my time to go -- but that’s ages away, let’s slow down. So even though I still have a lot left to learn, freshman year did teach me a thing of two about what you need in a dorm room, and there’s a lot that isn’t on those lists Bed, Bath, and Beyond gives you.
1. Drying Rack
your bed or in the back of your closet. It’s so much better than risking accidentally shrinking your clothes in the dryer. Plus, then you don’t have to wait for a dryer to open up, and you save the dollar you would have spent on it! Win, win, win.
2. Highlighters
With all the dorm shopping, it’s easy to forget you have to get actual school supplies, too. Grab some highlighters to use in your textbooks. You’ll thank yourself come finals week when you don’t have to read the entire page again to find the important parts.
3. Dish Soap
Along with the plastic plate, bowl, cup, and silverware you should have for those nights you order in, you need dish soap and a sponge to clean them with. And please wash them right away -- the longer the food sits on the plate, the harder it is to get off, trust me.
4. Extra Phone-Charging Cords
Everyone knows Apple purposely makes their chargers so they break in three months so we have to buy more. Don’t fall into their trap; buy a bundle of chargers off of Amazon and you’ll be good for the year.
5. Screwdriver
You never know what you’re going to need it for. Changing batteries in your remote or opening up your computer to dry it out after you spilt coffee on it. It’s always a good idea to have a screwdriver around. And why not add a small hammer and pliers.
6. Small Jars
For your toothbrush, ponytail holders, loose change, anything that doesn’t have a specific place that needs to be kept somewhere. Style points for mason jars.
7. Back-Support Pillow
So you can watch Netflix do your homework on your bed
in comfort.
8. Stamps
You’re guaranteed to be Mom’s favorite if you send her a birthday card. And your friends at other colleges will love getting letters from you. Nothing is as exciting as seeing a piece of mail in your cubby and it not being a Domino’s coupon (though those are good too).
Obviously, these are supplements to your typical dorm packing lists, unless someone wants to try to live with only these seven items. But in the craziness that surrounds move-in day preparations, don’t forget the not-so-obvious items -- you’ll thank yourself later.
