Dorm essentials?

[Mr.Cheese]

I'm serious about headphones. A pair that is relatively comfortable. ALso, if you have too much money and need to get rid of some, there are headphones that function in blocking noise either by acting like ear plugs/hearing protection (so to speak) or cancel environemtal noise electronically. A pair that covers the ear will help a little bit just due to the obvious fact.
I am a fan of Sennheiser products.
Why headphones?
Because sometimes you will want to be alone.
Sometimes you won't want to hear your roommate or his stuff.
Sometimes you won't want to hear the rest of the dorm.
Sometimes you will need to study and will need a way to eliminate distractions.
Sometimes you'll just want to sleep.
You will find that the obscure item known as headphones will become your best friend.

 

[squeakyclean1]

Why headphones?
Sometimes you won't want to hear the rest of the dorm.

Oh, how true that is!

 

[blitz576]

This is good stuff.
Keep it coming college folk!

 

[Ellesar]

one thing that my school did was provide a "What To Bring" that I was able to print off of our housing website. That really helped because I was able to figure out what I needed to get, and what I already had. After we had that list, my mom and I did all of our shopping at Wal-Mart to get what I needed for college.

Finding out what your school's rules for wall decorations are is a good thing. At my school, the only thing we are allowed to use on the walls are poster mounts or that plasti-tak stuff

 

[Wroth]

Main things for me - stuff to make food with. Each floor in my dorm has a full kitchen so you can prep and cook whatever you want. A lot cheaper and HEALTHIER than the stuff they claim is food at the caf. (Our caf is run by Aramark, for those of you unfortunate enough to suffer alongside me, you know what I mean.)

As to a fridge, find one with a lot of room. I thought mine was decent sized, then I noticed the compressor took up so much space. It knocked out about 1/4 of the "fridge" space. Very annoyed. If you can afford it and have the space (a single room or you're dorming with a friend who doesn't mind sharing his closet), get a "3/4" fridge. Not a full sized one, but one that you can put the stuff you need frozen in it and store all your other groceries too. When drunks come marauding through the kitchen, you don't want your meat getting tossed around or losing a crate of perogies to those idiots.

Dishes aren't a particular necessity - just run to the cafe and take the tray back to your room with you. Clean off the dishes and tada! you have your eating utensils, cups and plates.

 

[welshchick]

i've been at college for 18 months now, and i'm moving into dorms for my first time in 3 weeks - i can't wait!! I will only be living there for the last 3 months of term, but it will be great - and this list will be helpful i think.

so glad we don't have to share rooms in the UK though....

 

[Ellesar]

As to a fridge, find one with a lot of room. I thought mine was decent sized, then I noticed the compressor took up so much space. It knocked out about 1/4 of the "fridge" space. Very annoyed. If you can afford it and have the space (a single room or you're dorming with a friend who doesn't mind sharing his closet), get a "3/4" fridge. Not a full sized one, but one that you can put the stuff you need frozen in it and store all your other groceries too. When drunks come marauding through the kitchen, you don't want your meat getting tossed around or losing a crate of perogies to those idiots.

Dishes aren't a particular necessity - just run to the cafe and take the tray back to your room with you. Clean off the dishes and tada! you have your eating utensils, cups and plates.

if you do get a fridge, check to see if your school has any specifications for what type of fridge you can get. my school says our fridges can only be "max. 2.5 cubic ft. capacity; 2.5 amp electrical." also make sure that you're allowed to take things out of the cafeteria. my school doesn't allow any food or other things out of the cafeteria.

 

[fishstix]

I have several years dorm experience. You'll want to bring the following items:

-quarters. rolls and rolls of quarters.
-alarm clockS (always have a backup - preferably battery operated in case some joker messes with the breakers)
-snacks
-music
-posters
-small fridge (if allowed in your dorm)
-school supplies/clothing/toiletries

If you have anything really valuable or special to you, leave it at home. It will be safer with your parents than in the dorm. Especially during the first several weeks. Even if everyone in the dorm is trustworthy, outside thieves like to take advantage of those first few weeks before everyone knows everyone else.

 

[Pope Gonzo]

Take a look at everything you're bringing... and cut it in half. I can all but guarantee you won't be using half of the things you bring. This year (my third and last in the dorms), when I moved in, I had 1)my computer, 2)my laundry basket with clothes and sheets, 3)my backpack with a 12-section folder(best investment I've had in colelge - one folder for all classes) and an old notebook to reuse, 4)a box of DVDs and CDs, and 5)a box of books. And I haven't even touched most of the books. I did also supply the fridge and microwave, but those are almost more of an extra table than anything else

Some people freak out about bringing shower shoes or sandals. I've never used them in three years, and I haven't gotten anything on my feet.

 

[~BelovedDaughter~]

Yeah, I ended up bringing way too much stuff when I first started school. I still brought too much stuff just because I have a problem with not bringing something and then needing it desperately, and the moment I take something back home, I end up needing it the next day. Something I brought to school was my own bottle of hand soap because the kind in our bathroom isn't very good. I also brought a candle warmer (just make sure the candles don't have wicks if you're allowed to bring them) and air freshener and Febreze....the rooms can have a strange smell sometimes, no matter what you do. Bottled water has been a lifesaver, since the water here is not exactly the best, a personal fan (a small one) for those times you need the air to circulate but it's too cold to open the window, a good phone is important if they aren't supplied, I recommend Command Adhesive things because they don't pull the paint off walls and they hold alot better than tape! I also brought pictures and stuff like that to help with the homesickness.

 

[IAMSANGEL]

ok, so about this homesickness thing....is there anything to help with it? im off to Bible colege in september and i just know im going to be the most 'wussy' person there! im going to miss my family!
Thanx for these lists by the way....im making mental notes!

 

[~BelovedDaughter~]

Well, at first I thought calling home alot would make things better, but I found that if I talked to everyone at home too much, it just made it worse. Don't stay in your room all the time! Being a hermit will make you more lonely! Get out there and make friends. I don't really know what else to say on that.

 

[angel_girl86]

Hey peoples,

This might sound like a really dumb question, but, is it true that all 1st and 2nd year students (in America) have to live on campus?

Just wondering cause that's what I've heard, I'm from Australia and am not sure how college works over in the US.

Thanks,
Meyling

 

[blitz576]

Hey peoples,

This might sound like a really dumb question, but, is it true that all 1st and 2nd year students (in America) have to live on campus?

Just wondering cause that's what I've heard, I'm from Australia and am not sure how college works over in the US.

Thanks,
Meyling

I think it varies from school to school, ranging from optional to prefered to required.

 

[Pope Gonzo]

ok, so about this homesickness thing....is there anything to help with it? im off to Bible colege in september and i just know im going to be the most 'wussy' person there! im going to miss my family!
Thanx for these lists by the way....im making mental notes!

Meet people and make friends, and come November you'll be trying to talk your parents into letting you go to *insert friends*'s parents' house with EVERYONE for Thanksgiving because it's gonna be SO much fun and you don't want to miss all your friends!

 

[awesome liver]

never had homesickness, don't care to go home too often. the things that should be packed for everyone:

1. condoms - yeah, a lot of you have issues with sex, but temptation conquers everyman.
2. if your parents give you money for specific things, you're inevitably going to abuse it. cigarettes and alcohol will suck up money like nothing else.
3. cell phone
4. small books (paper back) cos you'll end up wanting to read something sooner or later.
5. an extra bookshelf which is relatively small
6. tupperware
7. coat hangers (plastic)
8. some sort of portable music player - when you're on campus between classes for hours on end, music never hurts anyone.
9. pajama pants & flip flops - always helpful when in a hurry.
10. post it notes
11. dish soap
12. paper towels & napkins
13. ENVELOPES & STAMPS
14. a lighter
15. on a piece of paper, write down how to get to your dorm from the highway. it's very helpful when talking to friends or parents and guiding them. doing it by memory isn't always a best option.
16. a good grasp of pop knowledge to help you get acquainted with your dormmates.
17. usb key. forget your floppy discs and zipdrives. usb keys are the most helpful things ever created for carrying files.

 

[IAMSANGEL]

"condoms - yeah, a lot of you have issues with sex, but temptation conquers everyman."

Not when Jesus is that man/persons life it doesnt! Jesus sets us free from all things....including temptation.

 

[Billy Batson]

"condoms - yeah, a lot of you have issues with sex, but temptation conquers everyman."

Not when Jesus is that man/persons life it doesnt! Jesus sets us free from all things....including temptation.

i've been in college for four years. nobody's perfect.

 

[IAMSANGEL]

i've been in college for four years. nobody's perfect.

No, no. Not perfect by any means. I have made my own mistakes in this area but that was a long time ago and i just mean that since then...the Lord has shown me that with Him, all things are possible! He really really can give us the strength to overcome it. Resist the Devil and he MUST flee.
Trust me

 

[Billy Batson]

i was also a boy scout. "be prepared," was the motto. it's better to have the condom around and use it than not use it, resulting in another issue entirely that has it own moral and legal ramifications.