As summer comes to an end, it’s time to start thinking about getting ready to go back to college! While some of us may be moving into a dorm, others will be moving into apartments or houses. Wherever you will be residing for the school year, it’s important to make sure you all pack all the necessities! I decided to create a list of some items that I have found to be absolutely helpful for these last couple of years at UC Merced.

#1 Power Strip

Like many college students, I’m always looking for an outlet to charge my electronics! By buying a power strip, it makes it easy to have a single spot that can power your laptop, phone, and other devices. Power strips also come in a variety of designs, including some that have USB charging ports. Power strips are usually no more than $10, but if you want one that has more outlets or USB charging ports, then expect to pay a little more. Power strips can be found at almost any store, so be sure to get one if you don’t already have one!

#2 First Aid Kit

A first aid kit is an absolute must for anybody to have, and college students are certainly no exception! You can either buy a complete first aid kit or even make your own! If you do decide to make your own, then be sure to include: Band-Aid’s (of all sizes), a heat/ice pack, antibiotic cream, gauze, alcohol wipes, a pair of gloves, and tweezers. Feel free to add any other things to your first aid kit. I personally bought my first aid kit and I definitely used it more than once these two past years!

#3 Food/Snacks

This suggestion is mainly for those living in a dorm. Most students who live on campus are given a meal plan so that they can buy their meals at the cafeteria. However, sometimes hunger strikes late at night and the dining center may be closed! When that happens, you can just take out a microwavable TV dinner or single serve cups of microwavable macaroni and cheese! Also, if you’re feeling lazy and don’t want to leave your room, this is also a great solution! Just be sure to keep your food sealed and closed! A case of water bottles is also a must for a student in a dorm! While it may seem bulky, it helps so that you don’t have to buy the overpriced water bottles at the cafeteria!

You may be wondering where in the heck you will put all this food and beverage I’m suggesting! Well, this takes me to my next suggestion…

#4 Bed Risers

These things have literally been the best things created! Bed risers are less than $10 and provide you with more room to store more of your things! With bed risers, you suddenly have space under your bed to hold things like food, water, and many other things! Luggage, laundry supplies, toilet paper, and spare bedding are just some suggestions for what you can store under your bed. If you have a lot of stuff, bed risers are perfect for you!

#5 Adhesive hooks/strips

I personally did not use these, but my roommate certainly did this! Though these hooks/strips may be slightly pricey, they’re worth it if you have a lot of things to hang up! They are simple to attach to any wall and cause no damage, which makes them the perfect addition to any dorm or room! The hooks are perfect for holding purses or even a towel. The strips are helpful when wanting to attach a mirror to the back of a door, which is what my roommates and I did! Whatever you may want to hang up or attach to a wall, adhesive hooks and strips are the perfect solutions! They can be found at most major stores and can vary in cost, depending in size or weight limit.

Well, I hope this list was helpful for all my readers and fellow college students! Though none of us are really jumping for joy at the idea of going back to school, the least we can do is go back prepared!