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As it comes closer and closer to the time to move in to your new college dorm, you’re going to eventually be faced with the prospect of buying all of the wonderful things you’ll need next year. While buying new things is always exciting, when you need a whole bunch of things for your new dorm, it’s pretty easy to forget at least one or two things.

Your school surely sent you a nice list of things you should bring, but a lot of times that list is very brief and will leave off many essential items. I’ve just finished my own shopping, and I put together a nice list of things I have bought, have considered buying, or have been recommended to buy.

Now, every college is different. What you need will vary from school to school. Some of these will be provided for you (like wastebaskets), and some may not apply to you depending on what your dorm is like (like a rug). Your school will surely have guidelines about what is acceptable and what is not, and these will definitely vary from school to school. If you are at all unsure, it’s always best to either ask the school or to ask someone who has lived in your college’s dorms before.

Also, only bring what you will actually use. If there’s something on this list that you won’t ever use, then don’t buy it! When it comes to toiletries and school supplies, everybody has his or her own tastes and preferences. Do what works for you. This list is only here to help remind you of what it might be nice to have.

All that said, here’s a list of things that you might want to have

Clothing

Chances are you’re already fine in the clothing department because you’ll be taking a lot of your current clothes with you, but it’s best to always make sure you have enough of what you need.

• Pants/shorts
• Shirts, t-shirts, long-sleeved shirts
• Sweatshirts
• Pajamas or other night-wear
• Robe
• Sportswear, as needed (basketball shorts, tank tops, etc)
• Underwear!
• Plenty of socks
• Belt(s)
• A couple good pairs of shoes
• Flip flops (a college essential!)
• Rain gear suitable for big downpours
• Snow gear, if it snows where you’re going to school
• Quality hat
• Gloves
• Watch
• Plenty of purses (ladies)
• One formal outfit

Laundry

Ideally, you don’t want to have to do laundry more than once a week. If you buy enough supplies, you can cut down the amount of time you waste doing laundry big time.

• Fabric softener
• Bleach (colorsafe is always good!)
• Laundry detergent
• Something to put your dirty clothes in. Make sure you’re also able to carry it easily to the laundry room. I got a nice nylon bag that won’t take up too much space nor be too hard to carry.
• An iron, if necessary
• Marking pen
• Stain remover

Bathroom Essentials

This is where it becomes easy to forget something. There are so many little things, you’re likely to forget something. If it’s something that runs out, like soap, toothpaste, etc., it might be best to buy it in bulk now so that you don’t have to worry about it running out on you at the worst of times.

• Toothbrush, toothpaste
• Razors and shaving cream
• Shampoo, conditioner, body wash
• Soap
• Floss
• Hair Dryer
• Tweezers
• Band aids and other first aid essentials
• Tampons, pads (for the ladies)
• Makeup (also for the ladies)
• Anything needed for contact lenses or glasses
• Anything needed for a retainer you might have
• Deodorant
• Chap stick
• Q-tips
• Brush/comb
• Fingernail/toenail clippers
• Gel/mouse/hair spray
• Perfume/cologne
• Mouthwash
• Aspirin and other must-have over-the-counter medications for conditions you may have, like allergies, stomachache, etc. It’s better to have these on hand now than have to get them when you feel awful. Things like vitamins and cough drops are good to have.
• Lotions, moisturizers, whatever such things you use
• Towels, hand towels, and washcloths. I recommend having at least 3 towels, 3 hand towels, and 7 washcloths, that way you can go a week without doing laundry if you double up slightly.
• Flip flops are a great way to prevent athelete’s foot in the showers.
• Something to carry all this in when you go to the bathroom

Electronics & Appliances

• Computer. Laptops are preferable (how to pick a good computer & quality free software)
• Printer
• Ethernet cord
• Some way to secure your laptop, like a lock
• A carrying case for your laptop
• Alarm clock
• Speakers for your computer and/or a stereo
• USB drive. Most sizes are fine, but I recommend at least one gigabyte.
• Blank media, like CD-Rs or DVD-Rs.
• MP3/CD(/tape?) player and headphones
• Desk lamp
• Power strip with many outlets. Find one with a surge protector!
• Extension cord.
• Camera
• Phone for using on the land line. You never know when your cell phone might be on the fritz.
• Small fan and/or heater depending on what the climate is like
• Chargers for anything that uses one: cell phones, iPods, electric razors, cameras, etc.
• Batteries for anything that needs them: remote controls, alarm clocks, MP3 players, etc. It’s always better to have too many than not have any when you need them most.
• 2/3 prong adapters.

Bedroom Essentials

• Bed sheets. Colleges always seem to use extra long sheets, so when you go shopping, look for “Extra Long Twin” if that’s how your school goes. I recommend buying two sets.
• Blankets. Make sure you have enough to keep you warm, and it’s good to have an extra, for whatever reason.
• Mattress pad
• Posters & pictures to decorate your dorm
• Storage containers, as needed
• Hangers to put all of your clothes on
• Bulletin/white board
• Flashlight
• Febreeze or some other odor remover
• Curtains, if not already provided
• Night light
• Post-It notes
• Rug if you have hardwood floors
• Calendar
• Maybe a broom and a dustpan?
• Waste basket IF your school doesn’t supply one.

School Essentials

Sorry, just because you’re out of high school doesn’t mean you can get out of good ol’ Back to School shopping! Luckily, because you’re older, you no longer need as much of the other things like glue, colored pencils, and so forth.

• Pens and pencils
• Plenty of binder and printer paper
• Paperclips
• Index cards
• Ruler
• Stamps and envelopes
• Notebooks and/or binders
• Folders
• Pencil sharpener
• Stapler and staples
• Highlighters
• Scissors
• Backpack
• Calculator
• Hole punch
• Tape, both scotch and masking tape

Double up on?

For some things, it’s nice to talk to your roommate to see if you two can share some items so that you don’t have to bring two of something and waste space. There are many other items on this list that you could consider sharing, but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you know your roommate particularly well and have discussed this beforehand. Here are good items to consider sharing:

• TV
• DVD player, VCR
• An ironing board, if needed
• Chair(s), bean bag(s)
• Microwave
• Mini-Fridge
• Video game systems

Phew! And that’s the end. If there’s anything I’ve missed, please let me know!

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