[Caroline :)]

So what do you ACTUALLY need for college?

I don't want to buy an excessive amount of crap and have a pile of junk everywhere...
What would you guys say as essential for dormrooms, nice to have, and deffinately useless??

Thanks!

BTW, do dorms generally tend to be on the cooler side or the warmer side??

[boraxkim]

all of this applies to me but i dunno if they'll apply to you :X

a lamp is a good thing to have (unless your dorm desk comes with one)
tissues
extra bedsheets
TRASHBAGS wahooooo

well i just found a "packing list" from my school site...so it might be helpful to you...i deleted some stuff that you won't need though

You'll need essentials such as:
Touch-tone telephone (an answering machine is a convenience)
Nonhalogen desk, floor, or bedside lamp for reading and studying
Extra-long twin sheet set (or two for when one is in the laundry)
Pillow
Comforter or bedspread and blanket
Towels and washcloths
Alarm clock or clock radio
Bathrobe
Rubber flip-flops for shower
Toiletries (shampoo, soap, shaving cream, hand lotion, etc.)
Hair dryer
Small plastic basket or bucket to carry toiletries to and from the bathroom
Cleaning products (dust rag, general purpose cleaner, etc.)
UL-listed extension cord(s), not to exceed 6' in length

For your wardrobe:
Clothes hangers
Laundry basket or bag (and detergent)
"Under the bed" storage boxes

For mishaps, emergencies, and general "fix its":
First-aid kit
Flashlight

For getting around:
Bicycle
Umbrella
Backpack
Good walking shoes
Boots for wet weather
Warm coat

For study breaks and general relaxing:
Radio, stereo, or portable "walkman" (earphones as well)
Small television
DVD/VCR

For making the most of your study time:
Computer
Surge suppressor or two for electronic equipment (including your stereo)
Calculator
Pens, pencils (pencil sharpener), and hi-liters
Stapler
Scissors
Tape
Ruler

and for me the dorms are just right...cuz we can control our heater/ac..but that might be different for you

[itrayya]

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED.

im currently a 2nd year dorm student.
my first year... i literally brought my whole life with me.
i paid the price of having so much stuff... for nothing.

- detergent to wash up the restroom. (this matters)
- brush to sweep room.

boraxkim has most of it. good.

- lamp
- blue tape (if the school doesnt allow tape that might peel the paint off the wall)
- an ethernet wire for connecting to the internet outlet
- tv
- microwave
- water

the basic blanket, pillow, sheets, clothes... shampoo and soap.

- scent spray for the bathroom
- hangers
- umbrella!!
- snacks (to keep you excited and to keep from hunger)

patience. (depending on the roomy)

trashbags!!! true.

typical school supply. it'll suck to have to always need to borrow things.

i'll let you know when i remember some more.

good luck.

edit: PADS!!!!!!!!!!!! if you're a girl.
it sucks when you need them quick.

[untungl]

desk, computer, sleeping bag, toolbox... hmm... that's basically it. (of course, scratch out the ones that your dorm comes with!)

[yujo]

Next time I plan to bring as little as possible.

Two weeks worth of shirts. 2 Pairs of Jeans. Sweater/Jacket.
Towel/Soap/Sponge
Laptop
Pen/Pencil/Paper
Blanket/Pillow
Backpack

Everything else you can borrow or buy yourself. In the business world, we call it Just-In-Time supplying.

[erure]

PACK LIGHTLY. I brought a lot of crap that I didn't need and my dad bought me a lot of crap I didn't need (i.e. mini fridge, microwave, TV, etc)

It's a really good idea to contact your roommate (and suitemates) to decide on what you will each bring for the whole of the apartment/suite/dorm whatever. My suitemates and I didn't do that and we each had nothing in the beginning except for one girl who brought a TV. We asked her if she could put it downstairs so that we can all use it and she said no. Then my dad came from Korea and bought me all that crap listed above and the same girl who refused to put her TV downstairs was like "you should put your TV and microwave downstairs so that everyone can use it" WTF... Plus my TV kicks her TV's ass (it's a small HDTV)

[Tranberry]

Only bring the absolute essentials!!!! lol I think first-years always bring way more than they need. And it all depends if you're living in a traditional dorm with shared bathrooms and a roomate, or with your own bathroom...or suite/apartment style where you have your own fridge already etc etc.

But for me I am living in a dorm with 1 roomate and we share 1 bathroom. If I could go back in time to when I was packing I would only bring...

- Enough clothes for 2 weeks (because by then you will do your laundry). This is good especially if you live only a few hours away and are able to bring back warm clothes for when winter starts and pack away your summer stuff.
- Slippers for the shower or just in general
- A mini-fridge if you do not have one (good for keeping drinks and food!) Don't forget to bring snacks. It will save you loads of money for when you get hungry at midnight!
- Your regular school supplies (pens, pencil, hiliters, paper, etc.)
- Laptop and printer
- A POWER BAR!!! My dorm room has so few outlets.
- One or two sets of bedsheets
- A pillow and blanket/comforter
- Alarm clock
- Laundry basket/detergent/dryer sheets/clothes hangers
- Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap, body wash, toothpaste, and whatever else you need)
- Storage bins are a wonderful idea if you have room to bring them with you, or buy them once you get there. Excellent for keeping things out of the way and organized!
- Headphones so you don't annoy your roomie with your music
- You may also need earplugs or one of those covers to put over your eyes because your roomie might make it hard for you to sleep sometimes...
- A dish/bowl, a fork/spoon, chopsticks to eat late night snacks (trust me, you don't want to try and find a spoon at 12am lol)
- An umbrella!
- Trash bags...trust me, you'll need them

Well, that's all I can think of for now...just really try to stick with the things you'll need most!

[kimlxf]

So I tend to overpack and at the end of the year, I always regret the amount of mini cooper that I have with me.

You should find out how furnished your room is. Mine (last year and this year) came with everything -- lamp, fridge, and microwave included.

I would recommend a water pitcher and a water purifier instead of buying crudloads of water bottles. That way you can just get water from your bathroom sink and purify it.

Other than that, you need a laptop, laundry hamper, a bathrobe, a little basket thing for your toiletries, and an alarm clock.

Oh yes, get the super long twin-bed sheets.

And if you don't want to do laundry every week, enough underwear and socks to last you for three weeks. (Haha, that's how I roll. )

[MUGETSU]

Don't forget the condoms.

Just to be safe.

[plusone]

is there anything NOT to bring that people usually do?

[mickey012]

first thing you should do is find out what your school actually provides in the room/dorm/apt...THEN bring the essentials.

think about all of your routines from the moment you wake up until you go to sleep. whatever your school doesn't provide and you feel like you'll feel weird if you don't have with you in the dorm (especially if you're going away for college...it'll be difficult to grab your lucky sock if it's hundreds of miles away)...bring!

at the same time, try to pack light...remember whatever you lug with you to school will be what you need to bring back when you move out...and it'll be a pain if you have a shipload of stuff...

tour your dorm if you can!!!!! this gives you a chance to actually see HOW MUCH SPACE you have & how big the furnitures are (so you don't bring enough clothes for 3 closets when you only have one to use)...

there really isn't a "set list" of things to bring...it's all up to what YOU want/need in order to feel comfortable...remember that you'll be living in the dorm for a whole year...so at least make it homey and comfortable...

[Caroline :)]

oooh these are really good tips !
is there anything that you guys took to college and kinda regretted taking??

and what would you recommend buying once at college instead of at home if your college is far away?

[definit]

oooh these are really good tips !
is there anything that you guys took to college and kinda regretted taking??

and what would you recommend buying once at college instead of at home if your college is far away?

stores like wal-mart and target abound in college towns so i'd suggest you buy the following once you've arrived at college:

- storage boxes
- hangers
- wall/door mirror
- carpet/rug
- laundry detergent, fabric softener
- swiffer (if you use it)
- paper towels/tissues
- toiletries like shampoo and soap
- regular snacks like chips and cookies
- water bottles (my mom insisted i bring up two cases of water.. ugh)
- fridge, vacuum, tv, fan (if you want them, and they tend to be pretty cheap at wal-mart)

i think that's it.

[kOoHII]

not sure if it was already mentioned but you DEFINETLY need one of those things where you can plug in multiple plugs...because rooms odn't have too many outlets

[nlgrl]

hmmm, you guys said to contact your roommate on which things to bring, dont you find out who your roommate is first day?

[mz simmonz]

well basically everyone said it all.

-bedding
-toiletries
-cleaning supplies
-food
-certain electronics
-medicine

[JUJU bar]

http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=63167

A thread I created last year.

[texasponiesanddragons]

you orientation leader will tell u

[mnmadi]

foam ear plugsssssssssssssssss

[csnrain]

well someone suggested that you pack everything you think you'll need.....and then take a third out, hehe.
So basically, bring the bare necessities; I'm studying overseas so shipping boxes or bringing a whole bunch of crap is a most definite no