As summer draws to an end, college students are moving back into the dorms and trying to think about the various things needed for college. There are the essentials like bedding, towels, school supplies, and your clothes, but there are some “must-haves” and things needed for college to make your dorm room one of the coolest on campus.
Useful Things Needed for College
What Are Some Things Needed for College? For most students, a laptop is a must. It makes life easier and it makes learning more fun. You may also need an iron. Freshly pressed clothes always look tidy. It also saves time. An iron can be found at any office supply store, or you can purchase one for yourself. Here is a list of what you must pack for college.
A cash box can secure valuables. For a woman, a bathrobe or a towel wrap can be useful. A small medicine/first aid kit can also be a wise investment. Fill it with all the medication your teen takes at home, as well as some extras. A thermometer and cold remedy are necessities. Moreover, a dishcloth will make cleaning easier. The items on the list are not limited to clothes.
An Ethernet cable
An Ethernet cable is a necessity for any college. Wi-Fi is nice, but it slows down when multiple devices are using it. An Ethernet cable will make your studies much faster and allow you to finish your homework and projects more quickly.
Laptop
A laptop and charger are indispensable office tools. A printer is also necessary. Even if you can use the campus printer, bringing your laptop will save you a lot of time. Writing notes by hand is an excellent way to understand the material and retain the information. Also, you can even prepare your paper tasks on your laptop or if you need help with college essay writing, you can find the professional service in a few clicks. If you’re planning to study in a library or a classroom, it is a great idea to have a notebook in which to write down your notes.
Other Must-Have Things for Your Room
Before you run out and buy the things needed for college that you think will be cool for your room, check with your roommate and make sure they are on board with every purchase. Plus if you check with your roommate you guys can figure out a way to split the costs! Don’t immediately assume that you have to buy everything for your room to be cool.
First, you should consider rearranging your room. The stock arrangements that your room will be set up in are far from desirable. Don’t be afraid to move your beds, desks, wardrobes, etc. around to a better location.
Think outside of the box
Think outside of the box too! Often you can loft your bed and have a nice hangout spot underneath. Or even just a little extra floor space for you and your roommate. You can even bunk your beds for a whole new level of floor space! Get creative and find the right arrangement for you. Once you have found the perfect layout for your room, it’s time to fill it with the best gadgets and gizmos.
Fridge
One of the first things needed for college is a mini-fridge for your room. You never know when hunger may strike, or when you’ll get a late-night craving so it’s better to be prepared with a fully stocked fridge. You can find fridges at almost any main department store and around move in time there are plenty of sales so you can find one fairly inexpensive.
After your fridge, another one of the things needed for college is either a coffee maker or electric teakettle or even both! On rainy days you spend in your room watching Netflix (or studying) you’ll want a nice warm cup of something to sip on. And walking all of the ways to your cafeteria will be out of the question. Some things to get to add a little comfort to your room are both a fan and some sort of air freshener.
Candles
Candles are typically not allowed in dorms, but that doesn’t mean your room can’t smell lovely. There are many flameless candles and air fresheners. They are a great investment and you’ll be thankful when your roommate starts forgetting to take the trash out.
Fans
Fans are useful especially in older dorms where AC isn’t an option. That way you can cool off without disturbing your roommate.
Now that you have all of the basics things needed for college covered. It’s time to think about the extras.
Some “Guy thing”
To be the coolest room in the dorm you need to have something to attract people to your room. Speakers are a great way to bring people by flocks to your room. Speakers are usually more of a “guy thing” but girls feel free to get some great speakers too! Be careful with how loud you play your music though. Especially at night, you don’t want to disturb your neighbors and have your RA banging at your door.
If speakers aren’t your thing, a TV may be a better option. You can get some great TVs for fairly cheap through Craigslist. Once you have a TV the options are endless. You can get a gaming system and host game nights in your room. Have a Wii competition and show everyone a great time?
Or you can host movie nights in your room! Have everyone else bring snacks and you hold the coolest room. Plus with all these new series out on Netflix and Hulu, everyone can come over to keep up with their favorite shows.
Conclusion
Whatever you do with your dorm, the most important thing you can do is make your space your own. Dorm rooms can feel impersonal, but that doesn’t have to be how you spend your time there. I hope sharing these things needed for college helps you get started on the right foot. Good luck!
