You made it! You are finally on your way to your freshman year of college. You are probably stressing out about the kind of things you should bring, whether or not five hairbrushes is really necessary, or if you actually need that bean bag chair when you know your dorm is the size of a closet, all the little things that make you anxious going into your first year. Don't worry; we have all been there. So here are some things that you will absolutely need in your dorm for your freshman year of college.
1. Command Strips, Command Strips, Command Strips!
I cannot express how important these are. They have saved my life so many times. I had no idea how much I would need them until I found myself begging my parents to send me more. Whether it's hanging pictures, organizing hats or jewelry, or even organizing what to wear each day, command hooks have been my lifeline.
2. Books (Obviously)
Yes, we all need textbooks, and we can't get around it. However, it's not the worst idea to wait until the first week of classes to order them. Some professors will probably over-stress the need for certain textbooks, but then you find someone who took the class before you and they say they never opened the book once and still got a good grade. I can't even remember how much money I wasted my freshman year because of all of the expensive books I had to buy that I never even opened. Also, never never never buy books from your school bookstore if you can help it. Always look on Amazon or eBay first. If it is a new book, they will still be a bit pricey, but never as expensive as the school bookstore in which you could easily spend $1,000 on books in a year.
3. Storage Bins
Everything from food to clothes, to books can be condensed and put into storage bins and give you a ton more space in your little dorm room.
4. Tools
This one was a surprise to me too, but when you want to raise your bed when you move in, there is usually only one tool per floor, and it's without a doubt being used by someone else at the time you need it. At least for raising or bunking your bed when you move in, and lowering your bed when you move out, it would be smart to ask dad to bring along the toolbox.
5. First Aid Kit
You live on your own now. Mom isn't going to be there with a band-aid and some Neosporin every time you need it. I personally like the Johnson & Johnson first aid kit. It has literally everything you could ever need in it, from band-aids to gauze pads to an ice pack, it has it all. If you don't want to be that heavy duty about it, at least get a box of band-aids. Trust me. You will be thanking me later.
