what are dorm must-haves!?

Mattress topper a box of medicines for food poising, fever, viral, allergies, sore throat, burns, bandaids etc cause when you are sick and have to go to the store it will kill you

This might not be particularly helpful, but I would strongly recommend you wait to buy a bunch of stuff until after you get there. Think about what you'll absolutely need to live in the first month, and then you can figure out what to get once you're in your space. Honestly, I think there were only 2 things that I bought that felt 100% worth it, and those were a keurig and a small vacuum. But everyone has different needs and stuff, so I think it's best to figure it out as you go.

Crocs, for the showers

Best purchase I ever made: go on Amazon, search for “Brita pitchers,” find the smallest size and order it. When you get to your dorm, take the shelf out of your mini fridge that kind of cuts it in half. Go to the bathroom and fill up the brita with sink/shower water. Put in in the fridge. You have fresh water for a couple of days without going through tons of plastic or having to constantly go out to get more

The things I forgot when I moved into my dorm:

• Pins for the pinboard above my desk
• Stapler, even if you're taking digital notes it can be useful to print practice papers
• Dressing gown, very useful for going to the bathroom and midnight fire alarms (my hall had 6 fire alarms in the first semester, two after 12am)
• Phone chargers, one of my c cables died and it was very annoying
• hdmi cable, the common room tv didn't have one
• Bowl, cup, plate, knife/fork/chopsticks, good for nighttime snacking or tea
• Big water bottle, it's annoying to be always refilling
• Extra chair, a camp stool will do, I ended up using the night stand as a chair when I had guests, it was terrible lol
• Shower shoes, personal choice, not everyone wears them
• Shower caddy for soap etc
• Wet wipes were really useful, just for wiping down surfaces
• Washing basket or bag, laundry rooms might be far away, don't forget washing liquid too
• For me, it was the first time I lived in a very air-conditioned place and I got nose bleeds, an air humidifier helped with that

It seems like people typically go overboard on decorative stuff. You’ll want a shower caddy if your bathroom isn’t en suite, shower shoes, and a med kit. Beyond that I’d try to keep it simple and limit your decor. You’ll be moving once every 9 months and you won’t actually be in your room that much. My roommates used to say I messed with the aesthetic by not playing along, but I didn’t see a need to be wasteful and have streamers and ten accent pillows.

Here’s my universal list of what to bring for the dorm:

[ ] Basic athletic/workout gear – shorts, t-shirts, athletic shoes

[ ] Basic outerwear (location dependent) - raincoat, rain boots, umbrella, warm winter coat, gloves, hat, snow boots

[ ] Basic clothing - include a nice outfit or two (job interview, semi-formal, formal occasion)

[ ] Basic shoes - sneakers, everyday shoes, nice shoes

[ ] Cleaning supplies - Clorox wipes and/or paper towels & cleaning spray

[ ] Hangers, laundry basket or bag, detergent, tide pen

[ ] Hanging shoe bag or shoe rack

[ ] Over the counter and prescription medicine, First Aid kit - Bandaids, neosporin, Tylenol, etc.

[ ] Re-sealable food containers, snacks, water bottle, utensils, plate, cup, ziploc bags, sponge, dish soap

[ ] Room decorations, command hooks, removable adhesive for posters & pictures

[ ] Twin or twin XL sheets (check bed size with college), pillowcases, pillow(s), comforter/duvet, mattress pad and/or mattress topper

[ ] Shower tote to hold toiletries, flip-flops for the shower

[ ] Shower shoes

[ ] Toiletries: Shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush & case, toothpaste, deodorant, body wash or soap & container, face soap, moisturizer, etc., nail file, tweezers, qtips, feminine products

[ ] Towels, bath and hand towels, washcloths (2-3 each or it’s too many to wash). Bathrobe if you use one.

[ ] Trash can and trash bags

Electronics:

[ ] Cell phone, watch, headphones and chargers

[ ] Laptop and surge protector(s)

[ ] Fan or two if no A/C (consider a full-size fan)

[ ] Hair dryer

Personal stuff:

[ ] Wallet, phone case or small backpack to carry ID. Keyper phone case if actual keys are used

[ ] Backpack and basic school supplies

[ ] Favorite book, toy, game, stuffed animals, other personal attachment things you can’t live without

[ ] Hobby/activity supplies, especially if you’re an athlete or planning to join a club that requires equipment

Extras:

[ ] Refrigerator or rent the Refrigerator/Microwave combo. Check with school of what’s allowed

[ ] Air purifier

[ ] Rug. Can order later once you know the size of your room

[ ] Filtered water pitcher or water bottle with filter. Is there a water fountain or kitchenette on the floor?

[ ] Small tool kit

[ ] Small sewing kit - needles, thread, scissors

[ ] Electric tea kettle or coffee maker

[ ] Dustbuster/mini vacuum

[ ] Portable speaker

[ ] Desk lamp

[ ] Plastic rolling drawers for extra storage, underbed storage bins

when my brother was graduating high school my mom bought a BUNCH of first aid kits and gave them out as graduation gifts to all his friends

Obviously all the essentials, but if anything extra, I would get a water filter/pitcher. I used a brita, because all that’s there is the sink water.

Medicine. I essentially kept a pharmacy. Ibprofen, allergy meds, decongestants for allergies, DayQuil and niquil, bandages, itch cream, antibiotic cream, rubbing alcohol, gauze, and a weekly medication box if you take any daily meds so you can remember on the go.

Also I can’t stress enough to take supplements like biotin and vitamin c. Biotin kept my nails and hair from getting brittle from stress and vitamin c is supposed to help your immune system and college is essentially a pietrie dish.

GET YOUR MEDS. You will be living alone and you will want to have all the medicines you already take for daily health like vitamins and allergy pills (if applicable). Common cold/fever tablets like Dayquil/Nyquil and Benadryl will also save your grades for the time you will inevitably get sick. I have a mold allergy and it was absolute hell in my hall for my immune system until I started taking medicines again that I didn't feel like I was living in an old shoebox anymore. And you should be drinking water doubly so when sick

Once you get there, cleaning supplies. Lysol wipes, a broom or small vacuum, paper towels, dish soap and a sponge, and if you have a private bathroom, tub and toilet cleaner. Most dorm rooms aren't cleaned as well as they need to be between residents.

An electric kettle

I work in Residence Life.

Don’t bring much other than the basics. Often, students will bring everything they can and then some. This leads to situations where there are multiple rugs, mini fridges, clashing decor, excessive furniture, silverware, trash cans, etc.

Pack minimally. Stationery, some snacks, bedding, clothing (even with clothing pack minimally until you know how much closet and/dresser space you have.), a water bottle (especially for orientation as you may be walking outside a lot), toiletries, etc. Once you know how much space there is, how much furniture, and closet/dresser space, then you will have a better idea on the bigger stuff.

Things to bring after you’re settled:: space may be limited so bring storage containers, in cabinet form but also just regular bins to keep to the side. Hanging racks to put in random places such as your bed frame, back of closet door (If the door allows), long phone charging cable in case you are on the top bunk or id the plugin socket is farther from your bed/desk, power strips, microwaveable meals that don’t need to be cooled, a blindfold cover for sleeping because you will have to share the lights, cleaning products (tissue paper, cleaning wipes, rags, etc), trash bags, trash for personal use and another for toiletries, bath mat for shower, soap, toilet paper, tissue paper, and I am a huge proponent of carrying small packets of tissue paper everywhere in case you find yourself in the bathroom without toilet paper, hanging chains so you can have more hanger space, etc.

Of course some of the items are dependent on how much space you have available, whether you have community or personal bathrooms, etc. but definitely find creative ways to utilize your space.

Other things you can do: You may be able to bunk or loft (higher bed without another bed below yours) your bed. If you have the opportunity, I suggest everybody lofts their bed so they can slide their desk and maybe even dresser underneath it. This really opens the room up.

Do not bring those LED light strips. They look nice but they peel paint off of walls and you may be charged for the damage. Same with command strips. Don’t bring them. Find other ways to hang stuff.

Use masking tape instead of scotch tape. It’s easier to peel off and see so that you know you’ve removed all the tape.

Reslife should reach out to do a roommate agreement with your roommates to set agreed upon living expectations. Definitely do this. And when you do, be as exact as possible. So if there is a question such as, “when is lights out?” Don’t say, “whenever”. Say give an exact time. Lights out is at 12am during the week and 2am during the weekend. This is very important, no matter how well you get along with your roommates.

Definitely do a Room Condition Report. These are to list all the damage that was already in your room when you moved in. Reslife will use this to compare the damage at the end of the year when you leave. If you miss something then you may get charged for it. Absolutely take photos of all the damage, not close up. Ensure it’s farther back so you can tell exactly where in the room the damage is located. It may be unnecessary, but you could also send the photos to your RD so that there is a time stamp on the damage. I have charged students for damage that was listed on their RCR. It was my mistake, but closing is chaotic and there are so many rooms and I miss things. Students have come back to me about these and I was able to remove the charges because of the RCR and photos. I have even removed damages that weren’t on the RCR because I had photos with time stamps.

Do not use a luffa. They carry bacteria that can give you all sorts of gross ailments. Please don’t use a luffa ever again.

Do not bring candles, extension cords, anything that has open coils (like space heaters, toasters, air fryers, etc). Review the student policy manual so you don’t accidentally bring something prohibited (or that you know what is prohibited so you can hide when leaving for breaks).

Know that Residence Directors (RDs) and RAs (Residence Assistants) are there to support you. Make sure you become acquainted with them. If you need anything at all, you can always reach out to your RD. They are likely to assist you, provide you with resources you need, walk you through situations like conversations with roommates, friends, etc. They are one of your best resources on campus. The RAs as well. They are students who understand what it is like to be a student, more than the RDs. They’re also some of the best resources.

Go to programming and join clubs both on campus and within your residence hall (dorm). This is who you meet people, have fun, learn things, and become more engaged on campus. Serious studies have taken place that show the more time a student spends engaging with their community, academics, extra curricular on a college campus then the more likely that student is to succeed in college.

Always read emails from the college and college departments. You want to be sure you are as informed and up to date as possible. Often, students will find me freaking out about something or another than had been emailed to them multiple times. They just never read their email. Don’t be that person. Your life will be much easier.

That is all off the top of my head. Please feel free to ask more questions if you have any!

If you can, get a mini fridge that fits your school's guidelines. It's helpful to keep some personal foods/snacks to yourself. Even in past sophomore yr or whenever you go off campus, keep using it if you live with others. Roommates/housemates/suitemates often take up a lot of space in shared fridges, leaving you with hardly any room for your own stuff. Had this issue this past school yr woth a couple I lived with, even tho they had their own mini fridge that held a ton of food. I get if they have certain items too big for their's, but hardly left space for me in the freezer. My mini didn't freeze certain foods well enough so I used it only for certain items I knew it can refrudgerate or freeze well (hardly freeze foods anyways). Mostly used it to hold drinks ir small things that needed to be cooled for a bit.

For bed: get a good quality mattress topper, thick foam ones will save your back big time! I got a meh one & often suffered from terribe shoulder pains if I slept weird. If you can tolerate a firm pillow, the ones that are like a block shape, get one for neck pain.

Avoid plastic laundry hampers, get the fabric ones. I had a small plastic one & it broke mid first semester so someone left out a big fabric one that lasted for the remainder of college. Ofc dont overload since college washers can't do too big of a load.

Depending on your note-taking style, either get a binder & a few packs of notebook paper, or a 5-subject notebook (so you can't forget a notebook for class. If your professors allow laptops/ipads to take notes, that works too, but handwriting notes is better for studying. You could also study by taking most notes digitally, then summarize by hand, which many of my friends have done.

Get shower shoes (target or online), don't shower barefoot to avoid foot fungus/athletes foot! Ppl are nasty anyways and pee in the shower. This is esp in freshmen only dorms. Feel free to ask me if you have more college supply questions. I've graduated in May so I've learned what are needs vs wants.

It depends on your accommodation and what all is already provided to you, but for me, an electric kettle was a must. If you have a twin or triple sharing room, which my university did, I contacted my roommates beforehand and split the cost of most things that we were about to get. If you have a single person room, I would suggest that you get essentials needed to get you through a day or two and shop for the rest according to your requirements.

must buy: mini fridge, microwave, storage totes, laptop

avoid: air fryers, toaster ovens, gigantic TVs

on the flip side, a rug make look nice but it gets gross and just becomes another chore to clean and you already don’t have space if you’re sharing a room.

1. ottoman- you can use it to climb up onto your bed, as storage (especially for hiding things you aren't supposed to have, and as an extra seat
2. rug- if your ottoman slides without a rug I would recommend getting a small one so you don't eat shit
3. extra towels, sheets, etc.- I feel like this one's self-explanatory but it's always nice to have extras
4. laundry basket/hamper, detergent, quarters (if the machines in your dorm use them)
5. basic tool kit- thankfully I brought extra screwdrivers cuz someone borrowed one of mine and then ghosted me when I tried to get it back
6. dryer erase board + marker- if your dorm lets you hang them on your door, it's a fun way to interact with your neighbors
7. pot- I had a little portable pot that plugged into the wall that made it so I could make pasta and stuff, some dorms (mine included) don't allow them, so just have a spot to hide it also on the subject of pot, if you are going to smoke in your room I would recommend stuffing a towel under your door, smoking out the window, and then spraying some air freshener. I used this method and my roommate would come home and say that the only reason she knew I was smoking was because she could smell the air freshener
8. mattress topper!!- these make the uncomfortable dorm beds so much more comfortable
9. surge protected power strips- a lot of places only allow surge protected ones so I highly recommend them
10. alarm clock- I don't use an alarm clock but if you use one you should probably bring it
11. umbrella, raincoat- rain
12. nail clippers, razor, trash bags, trash can
13. meds- prescription meds, cold meds, Tums, ibuprofen, ice packs, etc.
14. broom- your room gets gross so fast, I would recommend sweeping at least once a week
15. Brita- unless the water bottle filler in your dorm is nice and tastes good, you will probably want this
16. toilet paper- the stuff the dorms supply is really cheap thin toilet paper so if you want to bring some, you should
17. mini fridge and microwave

if you have a bathroom attached, bring supplies to clean it (toilet brush, toilet cleaner, scrub brushes for cleaning the shower and sinks, Clorox wipes, trash bags, dish soap, sponge, paper towels)

also like blankets, pillows, clothes, toiletries, charging cords, computer, etc

Tbh when I was getting read to move off to college, I just started keeping a mental note everyday of the things I used around the house. Scissors to cut a tag, ooh ill need some for my dorm. Band aids, oh I'll have to buy some. Broom, hmm that would be useful. There's no way you'll have every last thing you need in the first move unfortunately, but you can save yourself some struggle by at least grabbing all the things you find yourself using day to day.

wait before you get a bunch of stuff.

essentials: - toiletries - towel - shower shoes - bedsheets - pillow - laptop - charger - pencils and pens - notebook - clothes

Yeah you don't really need that much, only stuff I bought was a mini fridge, shower caddy, and sandals for the shower. I can't really think of what else you'd need besides normal school supplies.

If you’re going to college somewhere that gets a lot of rain or even just rains sometimes, an umbrella and rain boots. You have to do a lot of walking to classes and other places, trust me the rain boots are a life saver in a down pour

As a sophomore I bought a three-tier rolling cart for bedside and it’s been an excellent purchase. Well worth the $25 spent. Wait til you are already at college to buy this though — don’t lug it with you

A pair of waterproof shoes/boots, lots of quarters for the laundry

Desk fan. Your dorm likely doesn’t have good AC/Heating. it also gets SO STALE in the rooms. Good for circulation (and keeping your laptop from overheating)

1. Mattress topper
2. spare sheets/and 2 extra blankets
3. Storage, storage, storage. Those bins with the drawers are great. One for food, two for clothing, one for office supplies.
4. a desk organizer and a platform for your computer (for your neck and posture)
5. OFFICE SUPPLIES. Pen, paper, BINDERS.
6. A physical alarm clock/desk clock
7. Wait and see how your roommate feels - but blackout curtains
8. noise cancelling headphones
9. shower caddy bag

extension chords WITH SURGE PROTECTORS!!! and make sure the surge protectors work! one of my extension chords had a broken surge protector and my ipad ended up getting fried the first month of my first semester :(

I got a monitor to go with my laptop, it made everything I did on the computer 100x easier being able to delegate different things to different screens

Haven’t seen anyone mention this yet, but noise-cancelling earplugs. The foam kind.

You might notice that your neighbors aren’t anywhere near as respectful about quiet hours and your sleep/studying as they should be. Personally this past year there was a 2-week period where my dorm neighbors would keep me awake for an extra 2-3 hours every night because they were so loud. That only stopped because the RA said something.

I made this list bc I have a few friends who are a little younger than me and going into college so have this.

-Medicine (cold, allergy, Vicks, IMMUNITY BOOSTERS) -FOAM. MATTRESS. PAD -Shower shoes -Shower Caddy -At least one mini appliance (Keurig, waffle iron, etc) -Cleaning supplies (swiffer, dry+wet, Dyson roller) -Posters/decor -Umbrella -Slippers/indoor shoes

These were the ones I could think of right away in the moment - obv there will be more you may need

Definitely a LONG phone charger

Your own office chair. Dorms usually provide considerably barebones amenities. Mattress topper. Shower caddy. Laundry bin(s).

The best advice I could give is only bring what you need to start and add stuff as you go. That’s the best way to learn what you need. Also, it’s a pain in the ass trying to get everything all at once before moving in, plus you’ll inevitably not use a lot of stuff and need to use lots which you don’t have.

Unless you’re one of those vanity loving people who MUST have the most pretty room on the floor then this advice isn’t for you but please no glitter bombing the hallways.

brita, a kettle, plastic drawer for foods/snacks (good way to organize), first aid/medicine bin, umbrella

A highly rated mattress topper, brita filter, a husband pillow and shower shoes

Shower caddy / flip flops or crocs

Stock of ramen noodles

Fucking shower shoes.

A fan for cooling off in case the AC messes up, nail clippers and tweezers (IF you pluck hair with tweezers), a shower caddy to hold all your shower supplies and clothing in the dorm showers, if you can afford and if the dorm doesn’t offer; microwave and mini fridges can be very helpful, if the college doesn’t supply towels in adequate amounts and you just like your own personal belongings more, then towels and rags (this means you will be responsible for their cleanness), if the school doesn’t supply them, laundry detergent, shower shoes optionally, hair ties, toothbrushes and paste if the school doesn’t supply, a sheet and blankets and pillows, pins for the pinboard, sticky tack if you want posters in your room (sticky tack does no damage to walls). This is all if you can afford things like this and I’d say it also depends on your college’s system of what they personally supply- that being said, it may be helpful to settle in a little before you bring all this stuff. This is from personal experience of things that I brought or ended up bringing at my campus.

Shower shoes, shower bag, mattress topper, laundry backpack, first aid and cough meds, snacks, bag to hang off bed for keys and wallet and phone at night (have them in same place in case of fire drill) wait to order anything else

A search bar /s

In all seriousness, this sub gets tons of these posts with tons of advice. Have a look around too!

First off, look online to familiarize yourself with your dorm’s prohibited items, as well as if it comes with any specific things, both in the room and the building in general.

For communal items in the dorm, definitely coordinate with your roommates to figure out who’s getting what- things like cleaning supplies can be split between y’all.

For Personal Items- Most of the other comments here have covered anything I’d say tbh 😅 though reiterating, less is more; you can always use this first year as a “trial run” of sorts- you’ll get a feel for what you do & don’t need, and then you’ll have a better idea of it for the future.

wait until you move in and you can coordinate with your roommate if you have one and then you will not need to buy everything yourself.

My husband reported after move-in that he saw a lot of parents wheeling refrigerators and TVs back to their cars.

Earplugs. My floor mates would invite like 15 people over and they'd be screaming in the coming room until 4am on week nights

If you live in a humid area get a humidifer (idk if I spelled it right). I attended my first year in Galveston (island in Gulf of Mexico near Houston, Texas) so it was useful in preventing mold n stuff.

Do you have a roommate?? See if there's anything they're bringing that you could leave behind (vacuum TV etc) my roommate and I shared a lot of stuff besides our clothes, toiletries and bedding

cold meds, shower shoes, clorox wipes, shower caddy, extension cords and those multi plug things (i forget what they’re called), led mirror (if you’re a girl), desk lamp, kettle, command strips/hooks, slippers, brita and an ice cube tray

Extension cord that you can plug all of your chargers into, small clip on fan that you can clip to the bedframe, one of those towels with elastic and Velcro that are easy to wrap around you and wear while walking to and from the shower, seconding the person who said basic medical items for getting sick (eg cough drops)

Condoms you filthy animals 😃

Good walking shoes that fit and comfortable socks. I got a laundry sack that hangs on a hook which is great because it saves floor space.

airfryer 100%%

Medicine. I never got sick, like ever before college. Maybe once a year. Then my school had multiple COVID outbreaks, my suitemate got multiple sinus infections, I got a respiratory infection that lasted for a month and a half, my boyfriend got a respiratory infection, and so many colds and flus-- no matter the season. Holy fuck, medicine (+ hand sanitizer, disinfectant). Vitamin C packets right when you feel something coming on will save you. As well as electrolyte packets for the hot season.

remindme! 379 days

A fan - dorms are hella stinky sometimes 😀

ethernet cable if your dorm has a port is a godsend for stable internet

Thanks for making this post OP

Only take stuff you need first week Sheets Bedding Towel Hygiene product Lap top Personal items

Rest you can buy either Amazon or local stores

Do not over pack It is hard to manage lots of stuff in small dorm room

One thing to consider is weather. How hot or cold does it get in the area? Do you need to prepare for both? My university gets snow for 6 months out of the year and I underprepared for it. I needed to order a lot of thermals, warm blankets, and long socks

Don't be cluttered in lol

Shower shoes!!

I really loved my three level cart from IKEA. They advertised it with a table top (which is really a cutting board) but it was tall enough for me to reach from my bed. I had a lamp and could charge my devices there within easy reach. I used it to hold my hobby stuff with the other levels and I absolutely loved it.

Tiny little hand vac, and a little wash tub for your dirty dishes to sit in, then be washed in, and stored in

Foldable closet organizer FOR THE SHOWER

This is random and no one else had it, but if you have a communal shower with many people, chances are the shelves are broken. This is will hold all of your stuff. One shelf for clean clothes, one for dirty clothes, and one for soaps. This saved me because all I had was one small hook that could have held one towel. This gave me space for everything else

Air freshener

tape measurer

A step stool for the bed

if you have trouble sleeping WHITE NOISE MACHINE!!! the walls are thin and the people are loud lol

Don’t forget good nail clippers if you like your nails short!

Follow your dorm’s social media account. Dorms always do giveaways & events such as food trucks, home essentials, electronics, merchandise, gift cards and other fun events. So stay up to date with your building

Battery vacuum cleaner.

an ottoman with storage space inside, glass cleaner and multipurpose cleaning wipes, a laundry bag, i would 100% suggest the laundry detergent sheets. much easier to carry to the laundry room than a jug of detergent. depending on where you are a fan. my dorm had no ac and it was very hot for the first couple of months and the last couple of months. shower shoes even if your room has a shower, it’s just more sanitary. and if your room does have a bathroom some bathroom bleach spray. if it’s communal don’t worry about that tho. don’t bring too many shoes they take up a lot of space. and then medicine like the others were saying. def some pain killers, nyquil/dayquil, allergy meds, maybe some pepto for stomachaches and nausea, and whatever else you may feel you need. i also found having an electric kettle really nice for making ramens or coffee and tea.

Bidet

A laundry basket with WHEELS! Majority of the time the laundromat isn’t on the same floor and you’ll need to take the elevator. Don’t get one you need to carry, get one on wheels. Saves you energy!

I personally did not find a brita to be necessary but for me a mini fan was absolutely a must have. Just keep in mind that what’s essential for one person can be pretty useless for another so ultimately think about what you use in your personal life