Tide Stick

It's going to be your best friend because you won't have the time (or energy) to wash clothes all the time, especially when it's just your fav shirt that has the stain on it and it costs $3 per load.

Sneakers

Being comfortable is going to win over fashion one day and you'll thank me when you can pull out those cute yet comfy Nike's that are in the closet. Plus, if you go to a big school like I do, you're going to be walking A LOT so your feet will thank you.

A Vacuum

Girls! We all shed like crazy & there is nothing worse than walking across your brand new rug and getting a ball full of hair caught in between your toes. Needless to say, it's just gross. So, quick and easy way to fix that is to run a good and strong vacuum over your carpet every week.

Shower Shoes

I cannot stress this enough. I know you might think that all the girls are like you and they're clean and neat but plot twist - THEY ARE NOT. Girls are disgusting and community showers are your worst nightmare so wear the shower shoes. They can help you from slipping in the shower & you won't have to step on the nasty hair rat that's in the shower drain that the girl before you forgot to clean out.

Step Stool

I didn't have this issue because I'm blessed with being six feet tall but my poor roommate had the hardest time. Some dorms have cubby holes above the built-in closets and it's a great idea, however, they are nearly impossible to get into if you are less than six feet. So save yourself some stress & pick yourself up one of those collapsable stools that can easily slide under your bed.

Extra LONG chargers

These will be your best friends because some dorms don't have outlets conveniently beside your bed so you have to plug everything half-way across the room. Even if that's not the case, it's always nice to have a charger that you can turn over with in bed and NOT having your phone come unplugged.

Lap Desks

You see them in the store and think, "Oh, I'm never going to use that." Ha. Ha. Ha. Buy one. Even if you don't do your homework in your bed, you'll want to watch Netflix and it helps to have the lap desk so your stomach doesn't become molted lava after five episodes from the heat off of your laptop.

Side note for the ladies (and guys): it's scientifically proven that the heat from laptops will decrease egg & sperm count. I know we aren't worrying about that now since we're in college but you know, one day, your parents are going to want some grandkids.

White Out

You're going to make so many mistakes, it's almost funny. There will come a time (finals week) that you aren't even sure if you spelled your name right so buy some white out just in case you have some misspellings or write the right answer in the wrong blank. Because professors hate nothing more than sloppy papers and homework assignments.

Extra Pair of Shower Shoes

There comes a time (second semester) when you go back to college from Christmas break and you realize how disgusting your old shower shoes are and how much grime and dirt they have been through. Save yourself some stress and a mental breakdown by having a back-up pair so you can throw those old, disgusting ones away.

Ear Plugs

They might be uncomfortable but when you're sleep deprived from your lovely hall mates bringing every tom, dick, and harry into their room and doing God knows what, you'll thank me because nothing is worse than being woken up by beds hitting the wall.

Yummy Snacks

Yes, the dinning hall has food. But what are you going to do when you have a craving for Pop-Tarts or cookies at 1 a.m.? Cry. That's what you are going to do unless you take my advice & make a list of all the yummy snacks your mom has bought for you in your life and go shopping after you have moved in.

Extra Headphones

At least two pairs of headphones. Why? Because one pair is going to break or you're going to lose a pair or leave a pair in the lecture hall. Just be safe rather than sorry because there is nothing worse than having to listen to loud classmates when you're hungover, I mean, tired.

Pictures from Home

You might think that you're ready to leave your parents and hometown and you might be right. But when the weather starts to get cold and Christmas is slowly approaching, you'll start being homesick. So, even if you don't have pictures on the wall, keep them somewhere to remind you where you came from and that you have a support system.

Fans!

I was blessed but also cursed to live in one of the best dorms at VT, Pritch. But Pritch has no AC so when you are living without AC in the middle of August, you might get Hades and your dorm confused. Quick and Easy way to fix that is to bring, at least, two fans. If you and your roommate each bring two fans, you will be as cool as can be.

Keurig

The great thing about a Keurig is that if can work for either coffee or tea. And if you get the small, one cup at a time, Keurig, it easily fits in a dorm. Just make sure to clean it out every once in a while because it can get moldy and yeah, just clean it.

A bucket

Random, right? Well, when you can get written up by your RA for puking in your community bathroom for alcohol poisoning, a bucket can come in handy. Also, if you're just sick in general because you caught the Hokie Plague, it's good to have a bucket by your bed.

Actual Utensils

It sounds silly but get real utensils. Don't use plastic all of the time because it's horrible for the environment and let's face it, we are the future and we need to take care of the Earth. Besides, it's a money saver when you can just wash the fork and not have to go to Walmart to buy them every month.

Clorox Wipes

They are your friends! There are so many germs when you live in a community like a dorm. From door knobs to sinks so just wipe everything down once a week so you don't get sick because I spent my freshman year sick and it was miserable.

First Aid Kit

There is no mom to fix your blister or cut on the back of your leg. There is also no nurse for you to run to when you have a headache in the middle of class — you have to be a mom & a nurse all in one. So, Target sells these really cute first aid kits that you can fill up with bandages and medicines.

Sewing Kit

A button is going to fall off of your fav sweater or you're going to tear your fav shirt because you were in a rush. So, even if you don't know how to sew, they created YouTube for a reason. Look it up and fix it.

Side note: Don't forget decent scissors

Command Strips

These are a God sent because they stick to almost anything - sometimes they even stick to things that tape does not. I used them to hang up my lights, tapestry and pictures throughout my dorm freshman year and nothing fell down. (except that one time that I accidentally pulled down my tapestry in my sleep lol) But seriously, command strips will save a lot of time and money in the long run.