OT Goiing Off To College...

A sponge, soap, and a dish towel to wash and dry your dishes.
What's the bathroom situation? Is it communal or do you share with a roommate? You made need to supply toilet paper. If its not communal you'll probably want a bath mat when you get out of the shower and hand soap for the sink.
An extra trash can, just a small one, can be useful. I use one for my dorm bathroom (I share with my roommate and the two girls next door) for "feminine" trash. Though another idea it can be used for recyclables.
Can you bring a mini fridge? A microwave? I use mine alllll the time.
A bulletin board or white board can be handy to write notes to yourself or hang up important papers.
I don't have a lot in my dorm, just the stuff you mentioned. You'll use your laptop for entertainment needs when you're not hanging out with friends or off campus somewhere.
And a tool kit is a great idea! I use mine a lot more than you would think.
Oh, and be sure to bring school supplies, which includes tape, scissors, a stapler, and a three-ring hole punch.

If you're going to school 10 hours away, I'd recommend buying everything when you get there....obviously not clothes... but school supplies, soap, bathroom stuff, anything that you are going to have to buy specifically for college...wait and buy it when you get to where you're going. Set aside the money for whatever items you need to buy and hit up the Target/Walmart/Bed Bath and Beyond wherever you're moving to.


Seems silly to load up a car, fly or mail school supplies...etc

One thing I would definitely recommend would be a warm blanket and a nice standing or desktop fan. Temperatures in the dorms tend to be either freezing cold or blazing hot so both would come in handy at some point!

For the bathroom situation, I'm in a suite with 3 other girls so I only have to share a bathroom with them. I know we are in charge of bathroom supplies.

We are allowed to take a mini fridge, I'm taking one down because my roommate and I like to snack on fruits and veggies.

There's a super Walmart right up the street so getting stuff while I'm there shouldn''t be a problem.

I know we aren't allowed to take coffee makers, but I have an alternative to that (I would) but idk about a microwave. They actually may supply that, but I am not sure.

Does the fact that the dorms are coed make any difference on things to bring or make sure I don't bring?

Power strip/surge protector thing and extension cord are must haves. If you share a bathroom with other girls I wouldn't worry too much about having guys on your floor. Most of the things I would suggest for coed dorms are only if you had community baths. 3M hooks and sticky tack if you want to hang things on the wall. A massive monthly wall calendar to share with your roommate is something else I would highly recommend so you know each other's schedules. It really does help if you know in advance if she will be coming back from the library at 2 am. Post it's are good for studying and also really sweet to leave little notes for people on their doors. It sounds lame but they make little mini safes you can buy that might be good to have if you're taking anything valuable or with personal info on it (passport etc). Things tend to go missing in dorms sadly. Any kind of storage containers that can stack will help keep you organized in a small space. Good headphones are more important than you'd think when sharing a small space.

Sorry this is so random haha I tried to think of things I wish someone had told me or the random stuff I had to buy.

Agree with everything that's been posted. In addition, I'd suggest..

WHAT TO BRING:
- Extra Blanket (its nice to have them on cold nights)
- Shower Flip flops ARE. A. MUST. Even if you live in a suite with your own bathroom. You need them.
- Stuffed animal or two. I'm being serious. You'll want one especially if you're 10 hours away.
- Small Fan. I go to school/live in upstate NY and I keep my fan on 24/7, even in the dead of winter. It serves 2 purposes: to circulate air in a stuffy room and to provide white noise when you're trying to sleep. It will drown out noisy neighbors/snoring room mates
- Pictures of home memories!
- Desk lamp
- A sturdy laundry basket. Nothing is worse than a flimsy laundry basket that wont stand up and flops all over.
- Def bring that tool set!! Hammer, set of screw drivers, and pliers will most certainly come in handy. As well as a reliable flash light along with extra batteries.
- At least 3 sets of of towels and wash clothes.
- A nice/dressy outfit. Comes handy for presentations or surprise interviews/ ceremonies.
- Full length mirror.
- Microwavable Plastic Rice cookers, like those from pampered chef, come in VERY handy. You don't need them, but they are nice to have. Mine is constantly being used by my suite mates. You can make ANYTHING with those things!
- Cleaning things (Lysol Wipes, Windex, Swiffer Mop, Broom, Febreeze. Accidents WILL happen. Especially in small spaces.)
- Decorations to make your new home feel more "homey". Old cheer bows look cute hung on the wall.
- First aid supplies and small sewing kit.
- An alarm clock. Even if you use your phone, you should have a back up so you don't miss your classes.
- Stationary, envelopes, stamps. You'd be surprised how many times you'll need things like that. Especially envelopes and stamps.
- A sharp knife that has a protective piece.
- Comfy clothes!!
- Anything that's important to you like bibles/religious items, tokens, good luck charms for those really hard tests
- A good backpack. Especially one that can fit a laptop, textbooks and notebooks.
- Just throwing this out there though some might not approve..... your own shot glass. Can be used for a lot more than drinking but it's annoying/inconvenient to share or borrow when you are. Please be smart and responsible when using alcohol.


WHAT NOT TO BRING:
- A ton of clothes. They will take up so much space. It's nice to have a few extra options but you don't need everything in your closet at home. Also, be aware that if you don't have clothes left at home, you'll have to bring that much more home with you on breaks. And then back to school. It's not fun. This also goes for shoes.
- A ton of DVDs. Bring your favorites, of course. But be aware that DVDS take up a TON of space and its more to keep track of; especially if you or your suite mates start loaning them out to other friends. Learn to find movies on line (they are out there, believe me. You can find any movie online for free). Or get Netflix.
- Books you want to read for fun. Because you wont have time. You really wont.
- A ton of pillows. Bring the ones you need for sleeping (obviously regular pillows, body pillows are SUPER nice to have!!) and then maybe ONE OR TWO decorative/fun pillows, but make sure they are still functional. Just remember, when they aren't on your bed, they are on the floor in the way.
- Pets that require a lot of responsibility. Please remember that animals in the dorm situation are sometimes the victims of harmful pranks and can get very shaken with loud noises (screaming, yelling, loud music, fire alarms, etc).
- Large furniture that can't be used for multiple purposes.
- Illegal appliances (unless you're good at hiding them.)


College is so fun and exciting! You will learn sooo much in and out of the class room! I'm always excited for those who are going off to college for the first time. You'll grow up a lot when you live away from home!

Also forgot to add this:

Bring a copy of all important information. Have important phone numbers written down in case you lose your phone, copies or scans of a social security card or passport (if/when you get a job and actually want to get paid), insurance information, doctors information/medical records you might need like papers for prescriptions, any transcripts from previous schools you might need, financial aid info, copies of recommendation letters for scholarships, job search info, emergency info, etc. It's a pain having to rely on your parents to mail these things on the off chance you need them, especially if you're very far away.

Anddd bring medicine. NyQuil is great. It'll knock you right out not matter how sick you feel Dorms are petri dishes for germs and illnesses. Plus stress, exhaustion, and lack of nutrition will really do damage to your body and immune system. Be prepared. If you are sensitive to nature, bring some sort of medication or remedy for allergy symptoms. Little story: Freshman year, during the spring time, I started getting this really bad cold and I could not for the life of me figure out what it was. I rarely get sick and I don't have any allergies to anything. My immune system is pretty dang strong. But I found out that because I was not used to the environment my school was in, my body wasn't used to the pollen and plants in that area. My body actually had to get used to the plant life around me because I wasn't used to it yet. I'm now fine during the spring, my body and immune system has adjusted very well.

So yeah, that might happen, especially since you will be so far from home. Just keep little things like that in mind.

Like someone else said above, don't bring a lot of decorative stuff unless it's hanging or for the wall. My roommate's mom liked to have a pillow and a blanket on each end of our futon and I absolute HATE those things. It really all does end up in the floor and it's just annoying...

Also, I would suggest getting a shoe caddy! One like this:

It leaves room at the bottom of your closet for rain boots, uggs, etc. I also keep belts and other little clothing items in there. I got mine from TJ Maxx or Ross for like $3.

And one of these:

Me and my friend bought these at the same place as the shoe caddy for probably $8 and didn't really think that they would come in handy, but I LOVE it. Our closets slide so we couldn't put them there. Instead we stuck them in our bunk frame, like right up against the mattress if that makes sense. I hang purses, scarves, my bathroom towel, and whatever jacket I'm wearing. It's really convient.

I'll try to come up with a list of what I have in my room..

Clothes:
-To transport hanging clothes, I put all of mine on hangers then pull trash bags over them so they are kind of like how they would come from the cleaners. When moving in and out it takes about 5 minutes to put everything in/out of my closet.
-Be prepared for all weather, whenever. I go to school in New England where the weather is unpredictable. I picked up my Uggs and other boots in September but I was still wearing sandals and other warmer weather clothes into mid-October.
-The hanging shoe organizer is great too! I can fit 2-3 pairs of sandals and flats in one compartment.
-For all my t-shirts, which any cheerleader has a ton of, I have them folded in a plastic drawer under my bed like this: You can see the graphics easily so you don't have to go digging through and make a mess. It's a lifesaver!

Cleaning:
-A vacuum! I never realized how often I'd use it but I find myself vacuuming my room every week, easily.
-I always find myself wanting a swiffer wet jet.
-Lysol wipes are always a must.. you never know when you'll need them
-For laundry: Not not get a mesh laundry basket! They fall apart halfway through the semester. By October I bought a more sturdy one. Also the little detergent pods are a great alternative and save a lot of space.

Food:
-As much as people love their microwave, I don't have one and I'm perfectly fine. Think about the food you put in a microwave. How much of it is good for you? Not much.
-I have a small fridge that I really just keep fruit, juice, and water in.
-Get a plastic bin for non-refridgerated foods so they stay fresh.
-You probably don't need as many dishes as you're going to bring. My mom made me bring a full 4 person dish set basically and I never have more than a bowl or a couple cups out to wash. It's nice to have extra but you don't need a ton!

Decor:
-Getting a body pillow was the best idea I ever had. Mine is up against my wall so my bed kind of doubles as a couch.
- Wall decals are a quick and easy way to add color to your room
- PICTURES PICTURES PICURES
- I have a Bath and Body Works wall flower plugged in my room and I love it! My friends can always tell when I put a new one in from down the hallway.

College Essentials! - Polyvore

Theres a really good collection with stuff you'll need!

Glue gun, when we get bored we got to craft store and get rhinestones and stuff to make cheer bows or phone cases, and bring lots of dvds!

cheeeeer93 said:

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I did this too! The only pain is keeping up with it...haha, but mine looked pretty much the same as that and I kept shorts & nikes and other stuff on the other side. Worked great!

Thanks y'all. This has definitely helped in my packing thus far. Removed a few things from my boxes and added a few others.

Something my daughter wants for this semester is a Dorm Space Saver from Bed Bath and Beyond. It is a metal shelving unit (2 shelves) that goes over your bed - kind of like a headboard. The shelves are $59.99 and if you sign up for their emails you will get a 20% off in-store coupon. Look it up on their website. It does look like a great way to get a little more storage in those oh-so-spacious dorm rooms. And they do ship if there isn't a store convenient to your location.