A to Z: What To Bring To College

Student Lounge College Life
101

<p>
[quote]
Remember, your son is going to college to get an education, not becoem a professional competitive target shooter. Does that make sense?

[/quote]

No, it does not make sense. First, LFK is a wonderful poster and doesn't deserve the attitude. Second, should a swimmer leave her suit at home because she's not there to swim, but rather to get an education? I brought my running shoes (multiple pairs because I go through them) and orthodics to school - although I was there to become an engineer, not Flo Jo. Third, it's a regional thing. Up North, guns are bad, weird, dangerous, and only rednecks use them recreationally. In other areas of the country, they are viewed quite differently. Chill. LFK's son's college extracurriculars should not be the subject of such criticism.</p>

102

<p>Gatman - on that subject, did anyone see the news a few weeks ago where a man shot and killed a woman in another apartment, through the floor, because he was trying to safely remove a gun from a party but did not know how to operate it? She's dead because she was sitting at the wrong place while watching TV, and he's up on murder charges. Hummm... maybe gun safety could be a useful thing.</p>

103

<p>On a different topic: which is better for the price, safety and convenience - a hot pot, kettle or microwave?</p>

104

<p>I vote microwave, but I thought they weren't allowed in pton.</p>

105

<p>is anything at all allowed in Pton or do they believe that we'll burn our dorms down? :p</p>

106

<p>Yup. I vote: "They beleive we'll burn the dorm down." :p Aren't hot pots allowed?</p>

<p>Aries - haven't heard that story before, but definitely gruesome :(</p>

107

<p>Microwave is definitely the most versatile, if you are permitted to have one.</p>

<p>As a parent, I was SHOCKED that not all dorms, Greek housing and college owned apartments are equipped with sprinkler systems. Maybe that's why some don't allow cooking devices? It might be something to investigate. (Of course, it might have something to do with insurance premiums, too).</p>

<p>It might also pay to find out if your housing has carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors and adequate fire extinguishers. I was surprised that students might actually be forced to live in housing less safe than their own homes.</p>

108

<p>boots, if you are going to snow country, they are nice to wear while playing in the snow.</p>

109

<p>Acne/cleansing wash and acne cream
Address book
Alarm clock: very important! J
Alcoholic drinks if you’re over 21
Allergy medicine: Claritin or Benadryl or other anti-histamine
Anti-Itch cream: for bug bites (also good if you’re going to do road-trips off campus to mountains/lakes on weekends etc)
Atlas-- any cartographers out there? A world or nation atlas is informative</p>

<p>Backpack/messenger bag
Balls: Basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, volleyballs, baseballs, tennis balls
Bandages and band-aids: for sprains and cuts
Batteries, especially AA
Bicycle, helmet, LOCK
Binders
Bins or boxes for storing papers/folders
Blanket: fleece or thermal
Bleach
Blender
Board games (Monopoly, a chess or checkers set etc)
Body lotion
Bookcase: find a slim, tall bookcase if you’re pressed for space. It’s good for organizing text and literary books; of course you can store anything on it-- from food to board games to boxes of cleaning supplies. Great storage. If it’s a shorter bookcase, you can put decorations atop it-- pictures, a vase etc.
Bottle opener
Boots: in the snow country, they are nice to wear to play in the snow.
Broom or short-handled brush with dustpan (if you don’t care for vacuums or Swiffers)
Brush: get a good scrubbing one for cleaning grout/tough stains
Bucket: get a sturdy one for use in cleaning/mopping
Bug spray (to keep your skin from those awful mosquitoes etc)
Bulletin board with pins</p>

<p>Cable/wiring organizer: for your computer wires
Calendar: to keep track of the date and days; dry-erase calendars are awesome for scrawling in important events and then erasing for the next month
Calculator or graphing calculator
Camera-- at least a disposable one
Can opener
Cds
CD cases, or soft-cover CD folders which are more space efficient and easier to carry
Cereals, cereals, cereals
Chair: a comfortable one, not a desk chair, but more of a reading/relaxing seat. Try the:
a) butterfly chair <a href="http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/pro...65&BTSMode=true%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/pro...65&BTSMode=true&lt;/a>
b) Egg chair <a href="http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/pro...65&BTSMode=true%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/pro...65&BTSMode=true&lt;/a> or
c) the classic beanbag
Chair cushion: if you don’t want to bring or buy a desk chair, buy an attractive seat cushion for the chair that the college provides
Chips
Clothes:
Clorox Disinfecting Wipes are amazing, easy to use and leave a good scent <a href="http://www.clorox.com/solutions_disinfecting_wipe.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.clorox.com/solutions_disinfecting_wipe.html&lt;/a>
Coffee
Coffee machine
Cold and cough medicine: Robitussin/Dimetap
College-rule line paper
Colored markers and colored pencils
Comb or hairbrush
Comforter
Computer-- Laptop or Desktop or Notebook.
Conditioner (hair)
Condoms/birth control pills/contraceptives etc.
Contacts
Contact lens case
Contact lens solution
Containers: small plastic or mesh containers for small accessories (paperclips/tape/white-out/jewelry/makeup)
Cooking pans and pots
Cordless Phone and/or Cell Phone: very important!
Correspondence: Various cards or letter paper, for birthdays or congratulations etc
Cough drops/lozegnes
Cotton balls: many uses, including for applying/wiping off make-up, applying antiseptics to cuts and wounds
Cotton facial pads: for applying or removing foundation and other make-up, also for applying facial lotions, toners and astringents
Curling iron (hair)
Curtains: if your dorm room doesn’t provide curtains, an attractive set of curtains can help bring color and life to your room</p>

110

<p>(I added scissors)
Pack of playing cards
Pain and fever relief-- Tylenol, Advil, ibuprofen
Paperclips
Paper towels
Pencils
Pencil case/container
Pencil Sharpener
Pens: regular blue, black and red; have at least one, nicer ball-point pen as well
Photos and picture frames
Pillows
Pine-Sol: the original scent is great, it’s good for floors
<a href="http://www.pinesol.com/original.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.pinesol.com/original.shtml&lt;/a>
Plants: IF you can take care of them. They’re lovely and it’s nice to have some green in your small dorm room
Plasti-tak <a href="http://www.teachersparadise.com/c/p...oducts_id/25260%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.teachersparadise.com/c/p...oducts_id/25260&lt;/a> or other mounting material that won’t leave stains or holes on the walls
Popcorn
Pop-Tarts
Posters, of course (<a href="http://www.allposters.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.allposters.com&lt;/a&gt;)
Post-its
Powder drink mixes: They are cheaper to buy than sodas, and all you need is a large pitcher of water and a spoon. Powdered lemonade and Kool-Aid are cheap and easy to make.
Power strips (because you’ll only have so many electrical outlets)
Printer Paper (white)</p>

<p>Q-Tips: tons of uses-- for cleaning the insides of your ears, for applying or removing make-up, etc</p>

<p>Radio/stereo
Ramen/Cup Noodles (of course)
Razor, shaving cream and aftershave for males
Religious texts: if you’re religious, bring your Bible or Koran or Torah etc.
Reusable water bottles, like Nalgene bottles
Robe
Roller-skates or ice-skates
Rolls of coins or your laundry card
Rubber bands
Rug!: to add attractiveness to the bare tile or wood floor of your room-- and keep your feet warm when you slip out of bed winter mornings</p>

<p>Safe or lockbox for valuables: jewelry, watches, etc-- actually, any box with a lid will do to store your valuables in, just as long as you don’t leave your bracelets, watches, rings etc lying around
Scissors, one small, and one large.
Screwdriver
Shampoo (if preferred, you can pour your shampoo or conditioner in small plastic bottles with flip tops-- see Container Store-- to save space in your shower tote)
Sharpies or any other permanent marker (thick and thin)
Shaving lotion, gel or body wash for shaving
Shaving razor
Sheets: at least two and preferably three different sets of sheets for your bed, often college beds are extra-long twin size
Shot glasses
Shower caddy/tote: should have a hole or holes in the bottom, for drainage
<a href="http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/sea...ower+tote&go=1&%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/sea...ower+tote&go=1&&lt;/a>
Shower shoes (flip-flops)
Small pair of nose hair scissors (gross, I know, but for any overgrown hairs from your nose)
Snapple/other tea brands
Soap or body wash
Soap container: it’d be best to have a container for it, so the other items in your tote won’t get soppy and sticky. Bed Bath and Beyond has some handy plastic soap cases with latches
Sofa or armchair: if you can fit at least a small one into your room, go for it!
Soup: Campbells’ makes microwavable soups <a href="http://www.campbellsoup.com/soup_at_hand.asp?cpovisq=%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.campbellsoup.com/soup_at_hand.asp?cpovisq=&lt;/a>
Spiral notebooks
Sponge: get one for cleaning dishes, another for cleaning your dorm/bathroom
Spray bottles, clear: for various uses-- holding cleaning fluid for example <a href="http://www.containerstore.com/brows...976&itemIndex=1%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.containerstore.com/brows...976&itemIndex=1&lt;/a>
Stamps
Stapler and staples
Steamer or Footlocker: these are more expensive, but they’re usually attractive and add character to the room. You can store extra blankets or out of season clothes in them. If you have room, they look good at the base of a bed. You could also sit on it or store books or knickknacks atop it.
<a href="http://www.containerstore.com/brows...335&itemIndex=2%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.containerstore.com/brows...335&itemIndex=2&lt;/a>
Stomach Relief: Ah, Pepto Bismol.
Straightening iron (hair)
Sunglasses
Suntan lotion
Swiffer Dry: extremely easy to use, quick and easy to clean (just dispose of the cloth after use; hard to pick up more than lint and hair, however
Swiffer Duster: excellent and easy to hold and maintain <a href="http://www.homemadesimple.com/swiff...ters_hand.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.homemadesimple.com/swiff...ters_hand.shtml&lt;/a>
<a href="http://www.homemadesimple.com/swiff...ducts/dry.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.homemadesimple.com/swiff...ducts/dry.shtml&lt;/a>
Swiffer Wet: use like a mop, very easy to use and leaves a great fresh scent
<a href="http://www.homemadesimple.com/swiff...ducts/wet.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.homemadesimple.com/swiff...ducts/wet.shtml&lt;/a>
Swim goggles</p>

111

<p>Is remember that your roommate will also have to have some space in the room. My advice is to buy what you need downthere. Only bring clothes and a few personal items. Everything else you will be able to purchase there and it will save a lot of hassle.</p>

112

<p>Don't dorms have "house vaccuums" to borrow? It would be silly for every kid to bring a vaccuum cleaner. But, if you have to, would you bring a hand vac (like a Dust Buster) or a push static sweeper (like in restaurants) or a dustpan/broom? And the really important question, does anybody really sweep anyway?</p>

113

<p>I think most dorms do have vaccums to borrow, but a Dustbuster should be ok too, and it doesn't really take up that much space.</p>

114

<p>Where can you get a toothbrush container/case? There isn't anything on Bed Bath and Beyond's website.</p>

115

<p>Hi! The toothbrush/soap containers are not on BBB's website, but they're definitely at the stores. Actually, a lot of other items in BBB stores aren't listed on the website at all. </p>

<p>I found the containers in the area my BBB store designated the college section (near the front). They can also be found near the cashier areas of the stores.</p>

116

<p>Thanks kate :)</p>

117

<p>Called Radius.</p>

<p>Toothbrush case: <a href="http://www.radiustoothbrush.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=120%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.radiustoothbrush.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=120&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Soap case: <a href="http://www.radiustoothbrush.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=119%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.radiustoothbrush.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=119&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Razor case: <a href="http://www.radiustoothbrush.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=118%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.radiustoothbrush.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=118&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>:)</p>

118

<p>The toothbrush cases are cute. :p</p>

<p>If anyone is planning to get a footlocker, or if you had one in college, and can give any advice about whether it's worth buying or not, please post your opinion: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=88148%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=88148&lt;/a> Thanks :D</p>

119

<p>Your list was fantastic.. I've been working on mine for a few days, but was getting stuck, so I Googled "what to bring to college" and found it. Quite a few things I hadn't thought of or seen on other lists.</p>

<p>Here's my list.. I know some of these things have already been said, but honestly, I'm too lazy to search for and weed out the repeats. Keep in mind, this is my personal list, so it doesn't list the things I already have, but it's organized into categories, so it's a little easier to read and hopefully it'll be helpful to someone.</p>

<p>BEDDING
--two sheets sets
--pillows
--pillowcases
--mattress pad
--blanket</p>

<p>LAUNDRY
--laundry bag/basket
--detergent
--clorox 2
--liquid fabric softener
--bounce sheets
--lint roller
--drying rack..?
--iron/ironing board..?</p>

<p>CLEANING
--air freshener
--small (portable) vacuum..?
--small broom/dustpan..?
--swiffer sheets
--paper towels</p>

<p>RANDOM ROOM STUFF
--trash can
--power strip
--cd/radio/alarm..? (battery back-up)
--cups, plates, forks, etc...? (plastic?)
--lap desk..?
--small safe..?
--small plant/flower..?</p>

<p>BATHROOM
--loofah
--towels
--new toothbrush
--toothbrush bristle cover
--bath robe
--shower shoes
--mouthwash
--cotton squares
--shampoo
--conditioner</p>

<p>FIRST AID, ETC.
--tissues
--bandaids
--rolaids
--cold medicine
--cough drops
--vitamin c drops
--thermometer
--disinfecting spray and/or wipes
--disposable heat pads (for cramps)</p>

<p>SCHOOL SUPPLIES
--laptop bag
--messenger bag/backpack
--three ring binders
--college-ruled paper
--printer paper
--highlighters
--blank cds, dvds, floppies</p>

<p>MISCELLANEOUS
--flashlight..?
--rain coat/hat/boots..?</p>

120

<p>Kate - this list ROCKS! I owe ya one</p>

<p>If you're ever in Montreal or Boston, let me know and I'll make you cookies</p>