Packing List

 

Well by now you might recognize that we sure love our lists and there’s no better way to help you pack the necessities to start the grand adventure of living on your own! Hooray for you, and welcome to young adulthood! 

Although it is quite daunting and scary to be off and away, “leaving the nest”-but really family and friends are only a phone call away. So let’s start the year off right and make sure that your home away from home, feels just like that! Make your dorm room as personalized, organized, and home-y as possible. 

Let’s get started (please consult your roommate and housing regulations before purchasing):

Dorm Room Supplies:

Bedding: (Make sure you find measurements for size bed in your dorm)

• Comforter/Bedsheets
• Pillows (Body Pillows are quite magical)
• Boyfriend Pillows (are awesome for your all-nighters and study zones)
• Clothes Hangers

Dishware

• Coffee mug/ Reusable To-Go Cup
• Small set of Dishes
  • 2-4 plates
  • 2-4 bowls
  • 2-4 silverware
  • 2-4 drinking cups
• Paper Towels
• Dishwashing soap
• Disinfectant wipes (dorm rooms spread diseases quickly be careful and disinfect your room regularly- beware of Mono, athletes foot, etc.)
• Water Boiler (Nice to make warm drinks, instant coffee, or noodles in your rooom. Just be careful and make sure you unplug and not start any fires!)

Room Specific

• Poster putty or any kind of Non-Damaging wall hangers (most schools do not allow nails or thumb tacks, or else you will pay a fine at end of year)
• Plastic storage containers with lids for storages
• Camping salt and pepper shakers
• Headphones/ear buds (Major necessity now that you have to share a room with stranger/s)
• Power strip approved by your housing office (make sure you buy a safe brand, usually need to check with your housing office)
• Desk lamp or a bed lamp
• Small Tool kit (Moving in this is very helpful, but throughout the year you will find you will need a hammer or screw driver at random moments)
• Hair dryer/ hair tools
• Small refrigerator (check with your college for restrictions and room layout, you might not need one)
• Wire Cubing shelves (are amazing for organizing your textbooks, picture frames, clothes-they are universal and can be built to your specifications. Highly recommend these!)
• Sewing kit, Scissors, safety pins
• Message board/cork board (Quite iconic for Dorm room life and very useful)
• Flashlight
• Batteries
• Duct Tape
• Febreeze, or a mild air freshner (Candles are not allowed in dorm rooms)
• Shoe organizer
• Laundry Hamper/ Bag (one to carry your detergent too)
• Jewelery Storage (hanging organizers save space)
• Laundry Detergent/softener/dryer sheets
• Alarm Clock

Decorative

• Message board for your door (Quite iconic for College dorms)
• Christmas lights
• Posters (You might see a lot of Pulp Fiction posters)
• Sticker Decals 
• Rug (Make sure you double check with your roommate and make sure it’s reinforced with a non-slip mechanism)
• Curtains (Combined with a shower rod, you can disguise your closet nicely)
• Family photos, photos of friends, photos of Home

Bathroom/ Toiletries

• Robe
• SHOWER SHOES
• Plenty of Towels (Make sure you have at least three)
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Shaving cream and razors
• Shower Caddy! (MAJOR necessity, especially for communal showers)
• Hair Dryer/ Hair tools
• Iron/ mini Ironing table

First Aid

• Band Aids
• Cold Medicine
• Aspirin
• First-Aid Kit

School Related

• Computer/laptop
• Binders and folders for each class your taking
• Printer paper/loose leaf paper
• Pocket Dictionary (classes won’t let you use your phone during lecture)
• Writing utensils
• Quality Backpack (Buy a good brand, you’ll need this backpack for the next four years. I’ve kept the same Northface backpack that’s lasted me a long time. You’ll carry your books now, No-More lockers. Trust me it’s heavy and you’ll get a work out.)
• Calculator! (some math classes will require Texas Instrument calculators so double check with your syllabus first)
• STUDENT PLANNER (Buy a really good one, you’ll need space to organize your projects, games, social calendar, etc.)
• Highlighters
• 3 hole puncher

Miscellaneous

• Money system (debit card, bank account, etc.) ***Stay away from credit cards freshmen year, wait until you learn how to manage money first!***
• Umbrella
• Key Ring
• Lanyard wallet (These specific ones from Vera Bradley are great to store your Student ID, Dorm Key, Car Keys, and money-especially on the weekends)
• Camera (Capture those memories college and freshmen year only happen once, enjoy it!)
• Sports equipment
• Snacks for your room

Cultural

• Corn Pollen
• Ghost Beads
• Medicines
• Cedar/Sage/Smudging items (You may not be able to smudge in your room, because of fire restrictions. But you can ask around to where you can on campus.)
• Ashes (Help you sleep at night)
• I’ve actually smudged every dorm and apartment I’ve ever lived in. My mom taught us to do that. Just a safety precaution. 

DO NOT Take (Items Most likely not allowed)

• Halogen Bulbs or lamps
• Hotplates, skillets, toasters, toaster ovens
• Air Conditioners
• Certain Extension Cords
• CANDLES
• Pets
• Waterbeds