As the fall semester of school approaches, back-to-school advertisements are beginning to feed lies to incoming freshmen.
Those ads will tell freshmen that they need to buy multiple rugs, dozens of organizing trays, and shelves for snacks.
These poor babies will buy such items, only to find them pointless and unusable throughout the semester.
But have no fear, I am here to list more unusual items incoming freshmen should bring to college.
So buckle up, and join me on this realistic, un-comprehensive journey to college dorm-room shopping.
1. Your Textbooks
Yeah, you should probably buy these; however, you should definitely wait until after the first day of class. During the first class, your professor will explain the textbook in detail, and you will learn whether you can buy an older edition or an e-book, rent it for part of the semester, or not buy the book at all. For many, classes you may only use the book occasionally, and you’ll be just fine going to the library and checking the reserves (where many of the textbooks are available).
2. Coffeemaker
If you’re into coffee even a little bit, investing in a machine for your dorm room is a solid idea. College is very tiring and can turn the slightest flirtation with caffeine into a full-blown addiction, so having a Keurig or drip pot in your dorm is perfect for when you don’t want watery cafeteria coffee and you can’t afford a trip to a coffee shop.
3. Broom
I mean, unless you want dirt and crumbs to stick to your feet every time you walk barefoot across the room. It’s your call, but I’d recommend one.
4. Bandages, Tissues, Etc.
See, the thing about college is, when you cut yourself on that sharp nail sticking out of your desk, you’re the one who’s going to have to fix it. And if you forgot to grab bandages during your dorm-shopping trip, you’re going to have to run to the nearest store and try not bleed on anything. And when you have a runny nose in class and you're forced to sandpaper your nose with school toilet paper, you’re going to wish you had grabbed those little plastic packs of Puffs with lotion infused in them.
5. Your Social Security and Health Insurance Cards
Kind of weird and definitely adulty, but you never know, you might need them.
6. A Netflix Subscription
Trust me, at some point during the first week of school, you’re going to want an effective time waster, and nothing wastes time better than Netflix. So go ahead and drop $9.99 on a subscription (if you’re able), and I promise you won’t regret it, especially when you’re bored out of your mind on that first snow day.
7. A Mattress Topper -- Or Two
Dorm-room mattresses have a bad rap for being thin and lumpy, so counteract that and save your back by springing for a mattress topper. You won’t regret it!
8. A Lamp
When those mid-semester, all-night study sessions hit, you and your roommate are going to be thankful for bedside lamps. Lamps are also great for when you want gentler lighting than the florescent overhead.
9. Dish Soap
Stop by the dollar store and pick up a bottle for when you need to wash out your coffee mugs and you find a tupperware container of two-week-old leftovers.
