<p>I know it's a bit early to start thinking about what to bring at the Dorms but since this is my first time ever dorming, are there any "must-have" things to bring at Rochester. I know a desk and a closet is provided. And are there any limitations on microwaves/a mini-fridge?</p>
<p>Gee, a chance to jump in before WOWM posts tons of useful info!!</p>
<p>Kids can bring their own fridges and microwaves. You figure out who brings what, if costs are shared, etc. with your roommate over the summer. </p>
<p>You need to buy a desk lamp. Those aren’t provided.</p>
<p>Extra long twin sheets. Used to be hard to find but now are in every chain store.</p>
<p>You can raise your bed up to store things under it. You should look on the UR site for info about how that can look because you have options - and it has been talked about in this forum - so you can have some plastic thingies for shoes, etc. </p>
<p>BTW, about every chain store not including Costco is just south of UR so whatever you lack is easily found.</p>
<p>LOL! Only because I had surgery earlier today and am still woozy and nauseous.</p>
<p>Must haves:</p>
<p>Bedding–extra long twin sheets, pillows, blankets/comforter. Towels. (Bathrobe unless you’re Ok walking down the hall in your towel)</p>
<p>Plastic bucket/carrier for personal bathing supplies. </p>
<p>Shower sandals</p>
<p>Desk lamp. Office supplies (stapler, scissors, etc) </p>
<p>Backpack or messenger bag</p>
<p>Over the door hanging hooks (You need someplace to hang your towel to dry)</p>
<p>Coffee mug, spoon, bowl</p>
<p>Alarm clock</p>
<p>Collapsible laundry tote/laundry bag</p>
<p>Clothes hangers</p>
<p>Nice to have, but not essential:</p>
<p>Mattress topper (D has 1 inch thick memory foam and is envied by all. Beds are hard!)</p>
<p>Hot water kettle. Coffee drip cone (Coffeemakers are not allowed)</p>
<p>Printer w/cables</p>
<p>fridge/microwave (You can rent a combo unit on campus and there are kitchens on every hall)</p>
<p>Rug (makes room quieter)</p>
<p>Personal mirror (there aren’t any in rooms)</p>
<p>Bookends</p>
<p>Reference books you may have from previous classes (D brought her calc texts)</p>
<p>TV w/ cables (All rooms have cable TV hookups and basic service is free)</p>
<p>Personal music player & speakers–but be considerate and bring headphones too</p>
<p>comfy chair (one pair of girls in a Gilbert double had a futon, a chair and two storage chests!)–note this only works if you have a quad double. Will not work if you’re in a triple or in some of the smaller Sue B rooms</p>
<p>Fan-- most dorms don’t have AC and rooms can be hot in the fall, esp if you live on an upper floor</p>
<p>Don’t Bother</p>
<p>Bed lifters (all dorm beds are loftable. The custodial staff will do it for you. Or you can bring an adjustable crescent wrench and do it yourself.)</p>
<p>Not Sure</p>
<p>Underbed storage boxes. Although D was in a triple, she had plenty of storage space in her wardrobe (it has drawers in the bottom), dresser (3 large drawers) and desk.</p>
<p>~<em>~</em>~<em>~</em>~*</p>
<p>Some of this stuff will need to be discussed/negotiated with your roommate. No room needs 2 fridges or printers or TVs.</p>
<p>Some things are not worth shipping in your luggage, esp if you are flying into Rochester and not driving in with the 'rents. However, Fed Ex ground is reasonably economical if you want to mail stuff to yourself ahead of time. It’s also cost effective to order stuff online and have it shipped directly to campus. But be warned the line at the campus post office on move in day is incredibly long!</p>
<p>There is a Target, WalMart and Bed, Bath & Beyond at or near Marketplace Mall–approx 7 miles from campus (15 minute drive) and the campus shuttle makes runs to it on weekends.</p>
<p>It’s also worth noting that there is no storage space in the dorm basement for stuff like suitcases. Everything you bring must be kept in your room.</p>
<p>wow. WOWM… that was an amazing list. very helpful. and lergnom too. thanks !</p>
<p>
No Costco, but right next to the major mall (where there’s a Wegman’s, a grocery store to which you will become very attached!) is a BJ’s.</p>
<p>One thing NOT to bring is cartons of snack foods and cases of soda/bottled water, etc. One of D’s freshman roommates did exactly that. I swear her parents cleaned out a Costco! There was no room for the cases and cases of stuff sitting around. (She never did use it all up.) The dining hall is either in your building (if you live in Sue B) or at worst 200 yards away if you live in a quad dorm. You will not starve. And eating in your room is isolating and discourages you from meeting new people.</p>
<p>BTW, dorm fridges should be small, most are typically under 3 cu ft. (And you would not believe how many Target, WalMart, Home Depot and Lowes have in stock during move in week. Esp since RIT students move in at the same time as UR students.)</p>
<p>Likewise, dorm microwaves must be small–typically .9 cu ft. And dorm microwaves may not have a broiler or heating element. Fire hazard and it will get confiscated.</p>
<p>wow this is a really useful thread, thanks for advice!</p>
<p>There are basically two sizes of dorm fridges, the little square ones that barely hold a thing and the taller rectangles. I see the latter selling for about $170 at Target, but the Chinese brand Haier can be found for less, about $120. The little cubes aren’t that much cheaper and I recommend the bigger ones. Don’t expect much freezer capacity - or capability. I’ve found the rental microfridge thing to be kind of loud and rattling. </p>
<p>Microwaves can be had for $30 if you look around. </p>
<p>You’ll also want to coordinate with your roomie about such things as which DVD’s you’ll each bring. </p>
<p>As for a printer, you have to consider inkjet vs. cheap laser. If you’re only going to print text and maybe tables, then a laser is much, much cheaper to run. And the prices are similar.</p>
<p>You can also do all your printing on the university’s system. You can send documents from your computer to the university’s printers in the library–where it will be waiting for you to pick up 24/7. Cost is $.05/page (b&w; color is higher). You must use your Flex account to pay when ordering a print job.</p>
<p>Depending on how much printing you do, this may be less expensive than maintaining a printer.</p>
<p>There is also a kind of upward facing, multiple bulb lamp (often sold at BedBathBeyond) that is illegal in the state of New York. There might even be a link to a photo of this type of lamp on ther Res. life webpage.</p>
<p>[Important</a> Rules : Residential Life](<a href=“http://www.rochester.edu/reslife/important-rules.html]Important”>http://www.rochester.edu/reslife/important-rules.html)</p>
<p>Link to the website</p>
<p>The torchiere style lamps are illegal in probably every school by now, considering the number of fires. (That’s the upward bowl facing lamp.) This started with halogens because they burn intensely hot and even with a grill over the top a fabric put over - for mood lighting - could catch fire.</p>
<p>While you can do all your printing at the library, my d found that to be inconvenient. She didn’t like to write her papers at the library, so she’d write late at night, and in the winter, it’s not that much fun to hike to the library at 3 in the morning. She preferred to have her own printer.</p>
<p>LOL! The difference between a math and English major. D writes maybe 3 papers a semester IF she’s taking any social science/humanities classes. </p>
<p>And she said she could write the paper on her computer and send it from the comfort of her dorm room to the library printers–then pick it on the way to her research lab where she works 4 days/week. (She has to pass behind the library to get to her lab.)</p>
<p>What is the recommended rug size for a dorm room? I’m excited to start picking this stuff out!</p>
<p>It depends which dorm you’re assigned to, and whether you’re in a double or a triple. </p>
<p>Quad dorm rooms are bigger than Sue B rooms. </p>
<p>D was in Gilbert (quad dorm)–and her rug was 4’ by 6’. (At least I’m pretty sure it was 4 by 6–it’s been a couple of years since I bought it.) YMMV.</p>
<p>wait i’m not sure I understood right, but is there a microwave/fridge in each kitchen hall? I mean if that’s the case, I don’t understand why you’d need one in your room.</p>
<p>It’s a matter of convenience.</p>
<p>Also, the kitchen, particularly the refrigerator, isn’t necessarily cleaned very often.</p>
<p>I did the tour with my daughter today and our tour guide said that printing is .10/page.</p>