COLLEGE ADVICE PT. II - DORMS
you don’t need as much as you think you do
seriously, if you don’t use it at home you won’t use it at school except for:
shower caddy + shoes (invest in a sturdy caddy)
robe
earplugs/sleep mask if you’re a light sleeper
get a comfy mattress pad!! it doesn’t have to be expensive – mine was $25 from bed bath and beyond
Clorox wipes!!!!!
a sleeping bag + sleeping pad is great to have for guests or last minute camping/road trips
don’t be afraid of random roommate pairings!! it worked out great for me, and even if you don’t end up bffs you can still get along
communicate with your roommates!! set expectations up front – how clean will you keep the room? will you need to call before you have guests? is their food up for grabs? can you share clothes?
pack as light as you can – you can always grab more stuff over break, and chances are you’ll have less storage than you think
related: don’t bring every pair of shoes you own. one pair of each type is good – sandals, dress shoes, workout shoes, etc
keep some snacks on hand – popcorn, granola bars, cereal are all good for snacking + sharing
those ikea rolling carts are great for storage!!
the dollar store is great for finding little bins for wrangling pens, nail polish, hair ties etc
have an extra set of sheets, because it would take an act of congress to get me to actually do laundry and make up my bed in the same day.
bedding: you can get it super cheap while still being nice/durable!! my quilt was from a west elm outlet for around $30, my sheets from tj maxx for $18, and my backup set was $7 from walmart. i used throw pillows and blankets i already had and bam, super comfy bed.
you’ll probably wanna stay away from white comforters, bc your bed’s gonna be the main seating in your room and you/your friends will wear shoes on there/drop a slice of pizza/generally get it really gross
throw pillows!! my friends laughed when i moved in and had a bunch, but guess who was begging to watch movies on my super comfy bed??? they’re not essential, but it’s nice since you’ll be sitting on your bed a lot
be selective about the school supplies you bring bc they get heavy fast
start hoarding grocery bags!! they’re perfect for desk sized trash cans
bring a lamp (and not just for your desk.) dorm lighting is seriously depressing (esp if you end up with cinderblock walls) so bring your own!
you’re probably not going to have much time for reading, so don’t bother hauling a huge box of books up the stairs.
have a couple extra cups/mugs on hand for friends, but don’t bring your whole cabinet!! you won’t have much space so you don’t want gross dirty mugs hanging around your desk
sponges > dish rags
bring two of each: plates, bowls, silverware sets, travel mugs.
bring a small hamper!! if it’s too big you’ll run out of clothes before you run out of space
tide pods will make your life so much easier
bring some pictures from home to hang around your desk, but leave some room for new pictures!!
keep some extra command hooks/picture strips on hand after move in
cleaning supplies to keep on hand: broom or small vacuum, clorox wipes, and lysol (for when the flu inevitably goes around your hall). that’s honestly all you’ll use/need.
bring anything you need for your hobbies; guitar, paint, yoga mat, etc
wait a couple days after move in to hang up stuff on the wall; you’ll probably move furniture around for a few days still
honestly, you’ll be moving furniture all year
be respectful of your hall mates!! don’t be loud after 10ish or before 9, and keep the common areas clean!!
