What to Bring to Your College Dorm

by Alvin Nguyen
revised: July 2011

P Frie rinte r At ndly L The is End t

What to Bring to Your College Dorm

by Alvin Nguyen
A lot of advices are offered on the Internet and from people about what you should bring to your college dorm. My overarching advice is to plan ahead. Figuring out what you need, what you will need, and what you want will greatly save time and money. Before going out and buying stuff, it is a good idea to form a list of things that you will bring to your dorm. Attached at the end is a list of all the things I brought to college. What You Need My first advice is to write down on a notepad everything that you touch and use in a period of two weeks. This will give you a general idea of what you use on a daily basis. This should be your core items you will need in college. This list is unique to each person. What You Will Need This is the hardest part of the planning. At the time I was formulating these lists before beginning my first year, I had no idea what school supplies I needed for my classes. I chose to bring everything that I would possibly need throughout the school year. This way, when I am writing my term paper and realize that I am out of ink and out of paper for my printer, all I need to do is to reach into a box and pull out the stuff I need. A little bit of planning and fore thought will save a lot of headaches. What You Want Do not make the mistake of bringing everything you own to your college dorm, because you will not have the room to store it all. There are a lot of things that you do not need but want to bring. Take some time to evaluate whether you will use it and whether you have room for it. You must check with your college housing for the exact 3-dimensional space of your part of the room. You may or may not have space under your bed and share a closet. To Buy or Not to Buy After forming a list, I went shopping for every item on the list. I quickly realized that there is a lot of stuff, and some will cost a lot. I advise you to search around the house for stuff that is on your list. For example, if I already have my own personal stapler at home, I will not need to buy one specifically for college; just take the one I already have. In addition, start shopping early. You do not have to buy everything at the same time. Rather, start early and look for sales and clearances. I bought most of my stuff on sale from Wal-Mart, Target, Office Depot, and Staples. Pack with the End Game in Mind Once you collected all the stuff you will be bringing, try to consolidate everything to some sort of containers. Most colleges give you approximately two hours to move everything into your dorm due to limited unloading and parking spaces. Having everything in a container makes moving-in an easy work. In addition, at the end of the school year during final exams, you will have to pack everything to get ready to move out. The school also gives you about two hours to move out of your room. If you keep the containers in your room as storage devices, you can maximize study time and minimize packing time at the end of the year.

Do not wait for Back to School sales. Sometimes, the item that you want may cost more than during the clearance clearance sale a month before.

Containers I recommend distribution containers or flip-top totes because they are stackable and fit easily underneath beds. In addition, the lid is attached to the bin itself. These can be found at Wal-Mart or Costco.

I also recommend an extra large duffle bag for clothes rather than suit cases. I bought mine from Wal-Mart for about ten dollars. This allowed me to bring my clothes to and from home easily (especially for breaks and holidays). Also, the duffle bag folds flat to fit into your closet or under the bed when not in use.

Under-the-Bed Low-Profile Wheeled Storage Containers are great for holding shoes and keeping other things organized. They can also be found at Wal-Mart. Again, check with your college housing if there is open space under your bed.

If your room is large and would want to bring furniture, bring storage furniture. A hollow ottoman can hold books while serving as a chair and footrest.

Getting Your Stuff To and From College Remember how much space your stuff took in your car/van at the beginning of the year. Keep in mind that you will accumulate a lot of more stuff during the course of the school year, and therefore, you will need more car/van space when you move out. If possible, begin taking stuff home during your spring break, especially the stuff you did not use during the first semester. (I brought along a rice cooker, and I did not use it once during my first year .) Sample Inventory Okay, you have a long list of items written on your notepad. A whole bunch of containers of various types, and actual physical items all over the floor! You need to divide your list into sub-lists according to your containers. Use those lists as your lists of inventory to pack each container. The following are my containers with their corresponding inventory list, as a sample list for you.

School Supplies
Desk Organizer/Pencil Cup Scissors Black Pen x2 (Pilot G-2 0.7 or Pentel R.S.V.P. Pens) Blue Pen x2(Pilot G-2 0.7 or Pentel R.S.V.P. Pens) Red Pen x2 (Pilot G-2 0.7 or Pentel R.S.V.P. Pens) White-out Pen Wooden Pencils (Dixon Ticonderoga) x20 Mechanical Pencils (Bic Round Stic Grip Pencil 0.7) x 20 Mechanical Pencil Lead (0.7) Glue Sticks Geometry/Ruler Set Pink Highlighter Orange Highlighter Yellow Highlighter Green Highlighter Blue Highlighter Eraser (Staedtler) x 3 Small/Large Paper Clips Small/Large Binder Clips Tape Dispenser Scotch Tape Stapler Staples Sticky Notes Large Dry Erase Board (to do math and other stuff) Small Dry Erase Board (message board for door) Dry Erase Markers Black Permanent Markers (Sharpies) Pencil Sharpener Mailing Envelopes Mailing Stamps File Folders Manila Envelopes Binders x 3 Binder Dividers Sticky Bookmarks Pushpins (for Corkboard) Calendar Plastic Folders (Staples Brand) Backpack 12-inch Ruler Notecards, 3x5 Ream of Printer Paper x 2 (~1.5 reams per semester) Printer Inks x 2 of each color (Very important!!) College Ruled Spiral Notebooks Graphing Calculator (TI-84 Plus) College Ruled Notebook Paper (A Lot!)

Container: Distribution Container

For a greener option, use book darts!

Or ... use a wooden slide rule if you are daring.

Shower/Toiletry
Floss Deodorant Nail clippers Wash cloth Towels Toothbrush x 2 Toothbrush Travel Case Toothpaste (~1.5 tube per school year) Shower Sandals 1 Roll of Toilet Paper (in case if bathroom is out) Shower Caddy Shampoo Body Soap Bar x 2 (~2 bars per semester) or shower gel/body wash Q-Tips Comb Brush Electric Shaver Electric Shaver Charger Mouthwash Nail File Tweezers Eyedrops Contacts Contact Solution Contact Case Eyedrops

Container: Hanging Toiletry Bag

OR
Container: Shower Caddy

Guys: Safety Razor Shaving Cream/Mug Soap Shaving Mug Shaving Brush Double Edged Safety Blades Girls: Razor Makeup Stuff Hair Ties/Clips Bobby Pins Feminine Products Face Wash Moisturizer Blotting Paper

contributed by my sister Vina

In my dorm, I had a communal shower and bathroom, similar to gym/pool showers. Fortyeight guys shared four showers, eight sinks, and five toilets. It is smart to have an emergency roll of toilet paper. It is also recommended to wear shower sandals.

Computing/Electronic Equipment
Extension Cord (check with housing fire code) Power Strips/Surge Protectors x 2 (or enough for computer equipment, cell phone, mp3/ipod) Network Cable (15'; long enough to reach the opposite wall if the jack happens to be there) Batteries (10 AA, 10 AAA - at least) Laptop Spare Laptop Battery Monitor (optional) External Hard Drive Laptop Docking Station (highly recommended!!) Laptop Locking Cables (for laptop and external hard drive) External Speakers Mouse Mouse Pad Printer/Copier/Scanner (HP Photosmart C5550 All-in-One) Laptop Sleeve Blank CDs (25 pack) USB Flash Drive (2GB or larger) Cell Phone Cell Phone Charger mp3 Player/iPod mp3 Player/iPod Charger Headphones (both ear bud and over-the-ear) Microphone Headset (for Video Chatting) Digital Camera Digital Camera Charger Memory Card Webcam (if not already on computer)

Container: Under-the-Bed Storage

Container

For most college students, their laptops are their livelihood. My laptop contains all of my work for all of my courses. It is a good idea to take extra precaution for your laptop's security. Set a password on your laptop. Also, have your laptop automatically lock your computer after 5 minutes of inactivity. Physically lock your computer to your desk using a cable lock especially at the library. Create a folder and additional sub-folders under that main folder on your laptop to keep your most important files, such as school work, bills, etc. Every so often, copy the main folder along with its sub-folders to your external hard drive for backup. Keep the folder size under 1 GB. Do not include photos, music, or videos. The frequency of backing up is determined by how much data you can afford to lose if your laptop's drive fails to work, at any point in time..

Having an office printer which includes printing, scanning, and coping functionalities is really convenient. Copies from your printer is much cheaper than spending several quarters at the library. Scanning notes is also good for record keeping.

Tools/Utility
Tissues Basic Tool Kit o Hammer o Screwdrivers o Pliers o Multi-tool o WD-40 (Rust-Preventative Lubricant) Fan (Highly Recommended 20 Cyclone Power Circulator w/ Remote Control by Lasko) Slippers Duct Tape (Gorilla Brand Duct Tape) Ear Plugs Umbrella Flashlight (MagLite, MiniMagLite, SureFire G2L, 4Sevens Preon2, Streamlight Nano) Alarm Clock (radio/CD) Rubber bands Windex Window Cleaner Bicycle Helmet Bike Tools Spare Prescription Glasses (old glasses) Small Safe/Lockbox Stick Vacuum ADC Map of Area Paper Towels Clorox Wipes Small Dust Pan and Brush Ant/Roach Killer Spray

Container: Distribution Container

I did not want to wake up my roommate with my alarm clock. Therefore, I used a CD player alarm clock. Being a light sleeper, I burned a CD with the first track as a soft gong going off, slowly increasing in volume and frequency.

If you find yourself being invaded by insects, place a maintenance work order with the housing division. Coordinate with your adjacent and opposite rooms. Have all your room sprayed simultaneously to have the bugs migrate completely away, rather than it going next door and returning.

Clothing/Laundry
Clothes Hangers Laundry detergent (Tide) Fabric Softener Sheets (Bounce) Iron Small Ironing Board Small Emergency Sewing Kit Small Change Purse with Quarters (UVA Housing gives small wallets to new students)

Container: Collapsible Hamper

For UVA, 1 washer load = $1.50 and 1 dryer load = $1.50. I split my clothes into 3 washer loads (whites, bright colors, and dark colors) and 2 dryer loads (white and colors), bringing the cost to $7.50. I wash my clothes approximately every one and a half weeks, totaling approximately 11 laundry cycles per semester. ($82.00 for laundry per semester.)

Know how many undergarment you have and how long would that last. When you plan to visit home, plan to have enough clothes to last till then and do laundry at home where it is free.

To avoid waiting for washers or dryers to become available during rush-hour periods, choose an off-hour. Typically, Wednesday nights are non-rush hour times. Avoid Friday nights, Saturdays, or Sundays. (For UVA, there is an online resource that allows you to see howmany washers and dryers are being used at a particular moment.
http://www.laundryalert.com/cgibin/uva2571/LMPage)

Food/Appliances
Can Opener Zip-loc Bags (Gallon-, Quart-, and Sandwich-Sizes) Paper Towels Coffee Mug Reusable Water Bottle Canned Soups Raman Noodles Water (35 x 500ml Bottles) (I typically drink about 1.5 liters a day.) OR a filter pitcher Soda Soymilk Cereal Granola Bars Plates (10.25 and 6.75 Corelle Plates) Bowl (18 oz Corelle Soup Bowl and 11oz Corelle Cereal Bowl) Knife Forks Spoons Chopsticks Dish towel Sponge Dishwashing Liquid Soap (Palmolive) 15.9-Cup Square Airtight Canister (Keeps cereals fresh and ants out.) Mini-Refrigerator Microwave

Container: Storage Box

Letter/Legal

The storage box is small enough to fit in the top cabinet or the top shelf in your dorm. From my dormmate's experience, any food left unsealed is free game for any insects, especially cockroaches and ants. The plates, bowl, fork, spoon, and chop sticks, if stacked carefully, should be able to fit in a one-gallon sized zip-lock bag. Corelle makes very thin, break-resistant tableware that is easily stored. Any open food should be placed in the refrigerator. And, when possible, all dinnerware should be washed immediately after use.

Misc.
Desk Lamp (check with your school's regulations for bulb type) Small Mirror (if not provided in room) Area Rug Window Thermometer Assorted Types of Removable Adhesive Hooks (Highly Recommended 3M Brand) Framed Photos (or Digital Picture Frame) Large Room Lamp (some dorm rooms have poor/dim lighting) Wall Clock Posters Deck of Cards DTV Converter Box DTV Antenna TV (my computer monitor accepts S-Video from my DTV Converter Box) Remote Control for TV and DTV Converter Box (easily forgotten) Piano Keyboard Piggy bank (for spare change) Hand sanitizer (saves a lot of time if you do not have a sink in your room)

Container: 3-Drawer Storage Unit

The 3M Removable Adhesive Hooks are amazing. I have used 3Ms special picture frame (hook-and-loop) adhesives to hang family photos to 3Ms metal and plastic hooks to hold keys, hats, cords, and other items.

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Bedding
Pillow and Pillow Case x 2 XL (Extra Long) Twin Sheets XL Twin Comforter XL Twin Blanket XL Twin Mattress Pad XL Twin Mattress Memory Foam Pad (Highly Recommended, at least 1.5 inch pad, 3 inches is best) Nightlight 42-Gallon 3-mil Contractor Trash Bag x2 (for packing stuff away at the end of the year)

Container: Storage Box. Letter/Legal

My whole dorm hall envied my room. I had a 1.5-inch memory foam pad, and it makes a huge difference. Plus, my roommate had a 3-inch thick memory foam pad, and it is very, very comfortable!

When moving out, it is close to impossible to fold up and squeeze bedding materials back into its packaging. The trash bags come in handy.

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Level 1 Personal First Aid Kit

Level 1 P-FAK (everything fits within a Ziploc bag and is kept in backpack or pocket) (2) 4x4 Gauze Pad (2) 3x4 Non-Stick Pad (1) 3x3 Gauze Pad (1) 2x2 Gauze Pad (2) Pairs Nitrile Gloves (1) Irrigation Syringe and Needle (1) Maxi Pad (good at stopping traumatic bleeding) (1) 4x4 Moleskin (for foot blisters) (3) 3/8 Band-Aid (6) 5/8 Band-Aid (6) 3/4 Band-Aid (2) 1 Band-Aid (2) Fingertip Band-Aid (2) Knuckle Band-Aid (2) Butterfly Wound Closure (1) 25g Quik Clot Pad (hemostatic agent) (1) Single Edged Razor Blade (1) 36 Re-rolled Duct Tape (Re-rolled onto a plastic card) (3) Alcohol Prep Pads (2) Moist Towelettes (2) Iodine Wipes (2) Antibiotic Ointment (4) Q-Tip Swabs (1) Sting Relief Pad/Swab (1) Mini Super-Glue Tube (4) Quarters (for pay phone) (2) Large Safety Pins (1) Compact Splinter Tweezer (2) Aspirin (12) Acetaminophen (Tylenol) (6) Ibuprofen (Advil) (4) Antacid/Antigas (Maalox/Mylanta) (4) Loratadine (AllerClear/Claritin) (4) Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) (4) Loperamide (Imodium) (4) Famotidine (Pepcid) (4) 4g Glucose Tablets (1) Ammonia Inhalent This FAK was based on USNERDOC (YouTube) Level I P-FAK.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P60_sELRkqw

Container: Quart Sized ZipLoc

Bag

During the winter, I had slipped and seriously cut my palm. It was really nice to have a first aid kit in my bag with assorted gauze pads, alcohol wipes, and band-aids.

Having Benadryl on hand is helpful if you or a friend has serious allergies.

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Level 2 Home First Aid Kit

Level 2 FAK (medical kit with medical capabilities for a medium size groups) I put together my own First
CPR Mask Aid Kit. I felt taht the preNitrile Gloves made ones were indequate, Aspirin containing only Band-Aids. Glucose Tabs Benadryl Pepcid Headlamp Magnifying Glass Tweezers Q-Tips Assorted Band-Aid Pack (Costco Pack) Butterfly Wound Closures Duct Tape Moleskin 4x4, 3x4, 2x2 Gauze Pads Roller Gauze Maxi Pads Liquid Bandage (NewSkin) Non-Stick Pads Quik Clot Pad Super Glue SAM Splint 3 Ace Wrap Triangular Bandage Self-Adhearent Roller Dressing Moist Hand Wipes Hand Sanitizer Waterproof Notepad (Rite-In-The-Rain) Waterproof Pen (Fisher Space Pen) Garbage Bags Ziploc Bags Tylenol Ibuprofen Asprin Claritin Hydrocortisone Cream Imodium Alcohol Pad Sting Relief Pad Triple Antibiotic Ointment Whistle (Fox 40 or Jet Scream) 1 Medical Tape Cold Compress, Hand Warmers Pen Light Antiseptic/Anesthetic Spray (Bactine) Trauma Shears and Bandage Scissors Glucose Tablets Hemostat Cotton Balls Stethoscope, Blood Pressure Cuff

Container: Messenger Bag or

Medical Roll Bag

This FAK was based on USNERDOC (YouTube) Level II FAK.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qED2aiHqhPc

My self-prepared first aid kit was more equipped than my RA's (resident advisor's) first aid kit. I have patched up many of my hallmates' large cuts, large scrapes, and a serious scissor wound. Since I was also the only person on the floor with tweezers, I removed many splinters, too.

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School Supplies 12-inch Ruler Notecards, 3x5 Ream of Printer Paper x 2 Printer Inks x 2 of each color College Ruled Spiral Notebooks Graphing Calculator (TI-84 Plus) College Ruled Notebook Paper Shower/Toiletry Double Edged Safety Blades Girls: Razor Makeup Stuff Hair Ties/Clips Bobby Pins Feminine Products Face Wash Moisturizer Blotting Paper

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Floss Deodorant Nail clippers Wash cloth Towels Toothbrush x 2 Toothbrush Travel Case Toothpaste Shower Sandals 1 Roll of Toilet Paper Shower Caddy Shampoo Body Soap Bar x 2 or shower gel/body wash Q-Tips Comb Brush Electric Shaver Electric Shaver Charger Mouthwash Nail File Tweezers Eyedrops Contacts Contact Solution Contact Case Eyedrops Guys: Safety Razor Shaving Cream/Mug Soap Shaving Mug Shaving Brush

Desk Organizer/Pencil Cup Scissors Black Pen x2 (Pilot G-2 0.7 or Pentel R.S.V.P. Pens) Blue Pen x2(Pilot G-2 0.7 or Pentel R.S.V.P. Pens) Red Pen x2 (Pilot G-2 0.7 or Pentel R.S.V.P. Pens) White-out Pen Wooden Pencils (Dixon Ticonderoga) x20 Mechanical Pencils (Bic Round Stic Grip Pencil 0.7) x 20 Mechanical Pencil Lead (0.7) Glue Sticks Geometry/Ruler Set Pink Highlighter Orange Highlighter Yellow Highlighter Green Highlighter Blue Highlighter Eraser (Staedtler) x 3 Small/Large Paper Clips Small/Large Binder Clips Tape Dispenser Scotch Tape Stapler Staples Sticky Notes Large Dry Erase Board Small Dry Erase Board Dry Erase Markers Black Permanent Markers (Sharpies) Pencil Sharpener Mailing Envelopes Mailing Stamps File Folders Manila Envelopes Binders x 3 Binder Dividers Sticky Bookmarks Pushpins Calendar Plastic Folders (Staples Brand) Backpack

Computing/Electronic Equipment Duct Tape (Gorilla Brand Duct Tape) Ear Plugs Umbrella Flashlight (MagLite, MiniMagLite, SureFire G2L, 4Sevens Preon2, Streamlight Nano) Alarm Clock (radio/CD) Rubber bands Windex Window Cleaner Bicycle Helmet Bike Tools Spare Prescription Glasses Small Safe/Lockbox Stick Vacuum ADC Map of Area Paper Towels Clorox Wipes Small Dust Pan and Brush Ant/Roach Killer Spray Clothing/Laundry

Granola Bars Plates (10.25 and 6.75 Corelle Plates) Bowl (18 oz Corelle Soup Bowl and 11oz Corelle Cereal Bowl) Knife Forks Spoons Chopsticks Dish towel Sponge Dishwashing Liquid Soap (Palmolive) 15.9-Cup Square Airtight Canister Microwave Misc.

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Extension Cord (check with housing fire code) Power Strips/Surge Protectors x 2 Network Cable Batteries (10 AA, 10 AAA) Laptop Spare Laptop Battery Monitor External Hard Drive Laptop Docking Station Laptop Locking Cables External Speakers Mouse Mouse Pad Printer/Copier/Scanner (HP Photosmart C5550 All-in-One) Laptop Sleeve Blank CDs USB Flash Drive Cell Phone Cell Phone Charger mp3 Player/iPod mp3 Player/iPod Charger Headphones Microphone Headset Digital Camera Digital Camera Charger Memory Card Webcam Tools/Utility Clothes Hangers Laundry detergent (Tide) Fabric Softener Sheets (Bounce) Iron Small Ironing Board Small Emergency Sewing Kit Small Change Purse with Quarters Food/Appliances Desk Lamp Small Mirror (if not provided in room) Area Rug Window Thermometer Assorted Types of Removable Adhesive Hooks (3M Brand) Framed Photos (or Digital Picture Frame) Large Room Lamp Wall Clock Posters Deck of Cards DTV Converter Box DTV Antenna TV Remote Control for TV and DTV Converter Box Piano Keyboard Piggy bank Hand sanitizer Bedding

Tissues Basic Tool Kit o Hammer o Screwdrivers o Pliers o Multi-tool o WD-40 (Rust-Preventative Lubricant) Fan (20 Cyclone Power Circulator w/ Remote Control by Lasko) Slippers

Can Opener Zip-loc Bags (Gallon-, Quart-, and SandwichSizes) Paper Towels Coffee Mug Reusable Water Bottle Canned Soups Raman Noodles Water (35 x 500ml Bottles) OR a filter pitcher Soda Soymilk Cereal

Pillow and Pillow Case x 2 XL (Extra Long) Twin Sheets XL Twin Comforter XL Twin Blanket XL Twin Mattress Pad

 XL Twin Mattress Memory Foam Pad Nightlight 42-Gallon 3-mil Contractor Trash Bag x2 Level 1 Personal First Aid Kit Hydrocortisone Cream Imodium Alcohol Pad Sting Relief Pad Triple Antibiotic Ointment Whistle (Fox 40 or Jet Scream) 1 Medical Tape Pen Light Trauma Shears and Bandage Scissors Hemostat Stethoscope, Blood Pressure Cuff Cold Compress, Hand Warmers Antiseptic/Anesthetic Spray (Bactine) Glucose Tablets Cotton Balls

(4) Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) (4) Loperamide (Imodium) (4) Famotidine (Pepcid) (4) 4g Glucose Tablets (1) Ammonia Inhalent Level 2 Home First Aid Kit

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Level 1 P-FAK (everything fits within a Ziploc bag and is kept in backpack or pocket) (2) 4x4 Gauze Pad (2) 3x4 Non-Stick Pad (1) 3x3 Gauze Pad (1) 2x2 Gauze Pad (2) Pairs Nitrile Gloves (1) Irrigation Syringe and Needle (1) Maxi Pad (good at stopping traumatic bleeding) (1) 4x4 Moleskin (for foot blisters) (3) 3/8 Band-Aid (6) 5/8 Band-Aid (6) 3/4 Band-Aid (2) 1 Band-Aid (2) Fingertip Band-Aid (2) Knuckle Band-Aid (2) Butterfly Wound Closure (1) 25g Quik Clot Pad (hemostatic agent) (1) Single Edged Razor Blade (1) 36 Re-rolled Duct Tape (Re-rolled onto a plastic card) (3) Alcohol Prep Pads (2) Moist Towelettes (2) Iodine Wipes (2) Antibiotic Ointment (4) Q-Tip Swabs (1) Sting Relief Pad/Swab (1) Mini Super-Glue Tube (4) Quarters (for pay phone) (2) Large Safety Pins (1) Compact Splinter Tweezer (2) Aspirin (12) Acetaminophen (Tylenol) (6) Ibuprofen (Advil) (4) Antacid/Antigas (Maalox/Mylanta) (4) Loratadine (AllerClear/Claritin) CPR Mask Nitrile Gloves Aspirin Glucose Tabs Benadryl Pepcid Headlamp Magnifying Glass Tweezers Q-Tips Assorted Band-Aid Pack (Costco Pack) Butterfly Wound Closures Duct Tape Moleskin 4x4, 3x4, 2x2 Gauze Pads Roller Gauze Maxi Pads Liquid Bandage (NewSkin) Non-Stick Pads Quik Clot Pad Super Glue SAM Splint 3 Ace Wrap Triangular Bandage Self-Adhearent Roller Dressing Moist Hand Wipes Hand Sanitizer Waterproof Notepad (Rite-In-The-Rain) Waterproof Pen (Fisher Space Pen) Garbage Bags Ziploc Bags Tylenol Ibuprofen Asprin Claritin