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What to bring Freshmen year (from a Freshmen)
42
items College is stressful enough, stop worrying about what to bring. This is the comprehensive list of things I didn't bring initially that I ended up needing!
Sections
3
Room essentials
Supplies
General items
Room essentials
What you need in your room
If you have the room, you NEED the fan. I am perpetually too warm and didn't think to get a fan until after I spent a night broiling. If you can't get a floor fan, I recommend a clip-on fan
EZ-CHILL 16" Oscillating Pedestal Fan
I recommend this if you don't have the room for a standing fan or if you don't want to drive your roommates insane. It's relatively quiet (as quiet as a fan can be) and a solution for all my fellow overheaters
Comfort Zone 6" Clip-On Fan, 2 Speed, Quiet
I didn't realize I didn't have any way to hang up pictures until I went to actually decorate my wall, so save yourself a trip to Walmart and get some strips before you go. If you don't want to use command strips, you can also just get a role of paint...
Command Poster Strips, 64 Damage Free Hangers
I recommend WAITING until you're in the room to see what space you have, then purchase a few storage bins. These specific bins I linked ended up fitting perfectly where I wanted them in my closet!!! I didn't realize how much random stuff I brought wi...
GreenMade Instaview 45 Qt Storage Container 4pk
YES the same girl who is always too hot brought a heated blanket, specifically because it suddenly got cold here and my ancient building is incapable of being warm, so I got this blanket mainly because it looked soft and I love heated blankets. It li...
Tefici Electric Heated Blanket Throw, Soft
The only reason I bought sheets was because my dorm bed is a Twin XL, and I didn't have any sheets that size at my house. I recommend waiting until you get there to figure out the size, most likely it'll be a Twin or Twin XL. Added recommendation: Do...
Gingham Printed Microfiber Kids' Sheet Set By Sweet Home Collection®, TWIN XL - PINK
You guys don't need this specific organizer, but I do recommend getting AN organizer. While you certainly can dump all of your pens and pencils into your desk drawer and dig around, but after the 100th time of having to actually ransack my drawers lo...
Marbrasse 360-Degree Rotating Desk Organizer
This is literally so comfy, I definitely recommend a mattress topper (your back will thank me)
Twin XL 1.5" Performance Memory Foam Mattress Topper - Threshold™: CertiPUR-US, Cooling, Fits 12" Depth
My desk didn't have a lamp, so I needed something small but bright, and this flower lamp fulfilled that need. I also love that it has a storage-like base, which I filled with more stationary stuff
KoudHug Pink Rechargeable LED Desk Lamp
I have these organizers in so many areas of my room, I recommend them because it keeps my room slightly more organized!
StorMiracle 28 PCS Clear Drawer Organizers
Some dorms give you a trashcan (my friend in another hall had one provided) but mine didn't, so you might need to get one. You don't need a huge one (and don't get a huge one, remember you have to figure out what to do with everything you buy if you ...
Bathroom Trash Can with Lid
Supplies
What you need to make college suck a little less
I recommend at least a small whiteboard if you're in a STEM courses, I use mine to practice chemistry equations (so many chemistry equations). Even if you don't like using it for homework, there are so many uses for a whiteboard!
Mr. Pen Mini Dry Erase Board 14” x 11”
100% get yourself some dry erase markers! If your campus has study rooms, there's a good chance they'll have a whiteboard, and it's always good to have dry erase markers in your backpack over hoping to find a non-dried out marker left behind in a stu...
EXPO Low Odor Ultra-Fine Dry Erase Markers
Do yourself a favor and just get a large pack of Lysol wipes. I know we like to think our dorm room isn't gross, but how often are you actually cleaning off surfaces? Having wipes nearby makes it easier to not let your dorm get disgusting.
Lysol Disinfecting Wipes 80 Count (4pk)
Trust me, you want a planner, the amount of assignments that professor's don't even mention because they assume you read the syllabus is insane. Save your sanity, get a planner
2025 Weekly & Monthly Planner, A5, Wildflower
Whatever you do, do not get a hard laundry basket, you're going to have to carry that giant basket all the way to the nearest laundry area (luckily mine is in my building) and you'll hate everything. This bag is so much easier and so worth it to just...
Dalykate Nylon Backpack Laundry Bag with Straps
I love this shower caddy! I've seen a lot of people get the bulky plastic shower caddy, but from what I've seen, they get funky and gross, this one I can wash and dry much easier
Eudele Portable Mesh Shower Caddy 8-Pocket
You might not need 100 hangers, but I ended up using most of them, so I recommend getting more than you think you'll need. Also, velvet hangers are so much better than plastic ones (my clothes don't slide off these hangers!)
Amazon Basics Velvet Non-Slip Hangers, 100pk
I've been using the same black JanSport backpack for most of high school and now college, they definitely are durable and worth the price.
JanSport Laptop Backpack - Black, 15" Sleeve
I recommend giant towels if possible, somehow they feel cozier than normal towels and it feels more secure than a normal sized towel
Utopia Jumbo Bath Sheet 2-Piece Set - Pink
If you can, buy a large pack of washcloths, it's annoying to remember to throw your washcloth in with the laundry, so if you have more then you can swap them and avoid laundry day a little longer :)
Utopia Towels 12 Pack Cotton Washcloths - Pink
Either a small first aid kit or an assorted pack of band aids is a necessity for the dorms, there are so many ways to get injured and no one wants to track down a band aid when you get a particularly bad paper cut at 2am
Mini First Aid Kit - 120 Piece Waterproof
Honestly just get yourself some reliable nail clippers, tweezers, and small scissors, and you'll be set (I like this kit because they're contained and I can just toss the whole kit into my drawer and not worry about losing pieces)
18-Piece Stainless Steel Nail Clippers Set
I recommend that, if not a large broom and dustpan, you at least get a small broom for your room. This will save you the time and energy of trying to track down a broom anytime you track dirt into your room
Mini Handheld Dustpan and Broom Set
Unless you live in a super dry area, there's a high likelihood that you'll have to trek to class in the rain, so get an umbrella before the weather turns bad!
NPCQUN Windproof Compact Travel Umbrella
General items
These are things you should bring, but I don't have a specific brand/product to recommend to you
Toiletries
Toiletries
Medications
Medications