10 Things I Wish I Had Brought to College
Many college students feel the need to go up and down the aisles of Bed Bath and Beyond or Target and buy every college accessory in site. However, as fully stocked as these stores are, they may not hold everything you need throughout the year.
Here are some things I wish I had brought with me on my first year of college.
1. A printer
Sure lots of colleges have printers in the library, but sometimes it’s most convenient to have a printer of your own. Students leave printing their papers for those minutes right before class. The line for the printing station during that 10 minute break between classes is always the worst thing to be waiting on. Sometimes it feels like you are in line for 10 times longer than you actually are. Being rushed is the worst feeling, and what’s even worse is when you realize your paper is 4 pages longer and there is no stapler in sight. It’s better to just have your own printer with your own stapler right at your desk in your dorm room.
2. Speakers
Sometimes, you just feel like listening to music. Loudly. It’s fine to have your own iPod with headphones for sitting in the library or in study rooms, but other times you just need to have you tunes up loud. When you get out of a shower or are getting ready for a night out with your friends, loud music is always in order. If you have the chance, bring portable speakers! They are great to have when you and your friends are sitting outside on a nice day and wish you could be listening to music.
3. Under the bed storage
This may seem like a simple one, but getting the right kind of storage is tricky! It took me a while to realize that I need a small, but deep, basket to put things in under my bed. For things like a blow dryer and other small belongings, a basket under your bed is perfect.
4. An agenda
The amount of group meetings and events you have to go to in college can seem overwhelming at first. It’s hard to keep track of when everything is! I felt completely lost without an agenda my first semester. Some people try to keep track of things in their phone, but have a physical calendar in front of you is always really helpful in planning for dates far in the future. Try and pick a small agenda that will be easy to carry around and fits nicely in your backpack!
5. Desk Accessories
Desk accessories are a must have for a college dorm room. A jar for pens and pencils, a file separator, and a bookend can be crucial for keeping a neat desk. When you are trying to do homework at your desk, the last thing you want is clutter in these small spaces. Try and find a way to organize everything, but still keep items visible at the same time. A bookend helps keep your textbooks all lined up without having to worry about them falling over all the time.
6. Sports equipment
Many students decide they want to join an intermural team, but realize too late that they left the sports things at home! Bringing a baseball mitt or your basketball shoes will give you the opportunity to join a team last minute.
7. Sunblock/blanket
When the weather starts warming up in spring, all students flock to the quad and any other grass filled space. Sometimes people spend the whole day sitting in the sun. That’s why it is important to bring sunblock! Getting burned is never fun, and feeling itchy while sitting in class is even worse. Bringing a blanket to sit out is something lots of people forget. But sitting on the grass all day leaves imprints on your legs and can get uncomfortable. To enjoy the outdoors as much as possible, be sure to bring a blanket!
8. Humidifier
Now this one may seem strange at first, but it really is something to have in your dorm room! College rooms are small and often times very dry. Have you ever woken up with a scratchy throat or stuffy nose that goes away throughout the day? Well that is caused by dryness in your room, and a humidifier can help solve that problem! Even keeping a small bowl of water out somewhere in your room is better than nothing.
9. Brita
Fresh. Water. It can be hard to find at school. Keeping cases of water bottles in your room takes a space you can’t afford to lose in your dorm room. A Brita takes up much less space and is more ecofriendly! But if you decide to go the Brita route, be sure you bring in a reusable cup!
10. Winter gloves/small shovel
The gloves serve two purposes:
1) prevent your hands from getting cold in a snowball fight and allow you to stay outside longer, and
2) help when you need to dust the snow off your car. Not all college campuses have garage parking where your car will be protected from inclement weather. When a snowstorm hits, cleaning off your car and digging it out of its parking spot can be bothersome. Be sure to bring a small shovel to dig around your car tires!
