Can anyone reccommend things that we need to get for the Dorm rooms of incoming freshman?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Maryland - College Park
1

<p>Looking for ideas on what is needed</p>

<p>And is there anything to definitely NOT get.</p>

2

<p>Rug, fridge, beanbag chair, cable (10 feet), smoking jacket and martini glasses. The smoking jacket and martini glasses are for you and should be utilized when you receive the first bill.</p>

3

<p>Invest in a decent pair of comfy walking/athletic shoes. You’ll be using them alot.</p>

<p>Also waterproof boots.</p>

4

<p>Don’t start buying until talking to room-mate to coordinate; big things can be shared, so decide who buys what (fridge, rug, etc).</p>

<p>If you want to make the concrete caves (freshman dorm rooms) less industrial, get tension rods to put up curtains in the windows over the blinds (only way to “install” curtains with the concrete since you can’t drill). Makes it look warmer and also helps to darken the room because the blinds can def let light in first thing in the morning. </p>

<p>Bed risers so you can store more under the bed. </p>

<p>Other suggestions will depend on dorm - if no a/c, then a good fan for the room.</p>

<p>A slender, stick-style vacuum (for the rug already suggested).</p>

<p>Ironing board, iron - bring some dress clothes for career fair, formals, etc.</p>

<p>Desk light. </p>

5

<p>Sheet size is regular twin, not twin XL. I’ve heard some students really like the quick dry towels, so I picked up several. Microwave.
A rain jacket… The dorms are not particularly close to classes.
Do most people really get rugs? I didn’t, back in the Stone Age.
There are threads on what to take. My older son is a minimalist (didn’t even use his comforter all year first year), but this son will likely want more.</p>

6

<p>My daughter used this list from Bed Bath and Beyond as a reference. Certainly not everything on here is essential, but it gives you an idea of what to bring.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/registry/campuschecklist/”>http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/registry/campuschecklist/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>A few have already mentioned really important things. Here are a few things my daughter could not do without: obviously sheets (twin), mattress cover, thick egg crate type mattress pad, lifts for her bed to allow storage space under bed, storage bins in various sizes, desk lamp, clip on fan, window fan, shower shoes, shower tote, laundry basket and detergent, tension rod for her closet to add another bar for hanging clothes, hangers. She’s a coffee drinker so she has a Keurig there. I don’t think they allow traditional coffee makers, but Keurigs are allowed. She does have a carpet there. It makes the room much nicer. If you get one, get a cheap one. They throw them in the dumpster when they move out. Rain boots are also a must.
I’m sure I have left out many necessities, but this is the stuff off the top of my head.</p>

7

<p>Thank you all very much. I’m sure that a lot of new freshman parents are interested in your recommendations.</p>

8

<p>Oh thank you terpmom - that was indeed the most essential - a bed topper!!! We got the memory foam kind. </p>

9

<p>Lol… We did too. Not quite sure why I said egg crate kind. It’s already been a long day…</p>

10

<p>Already? ha ha.</p>

11

<p>Here is a more complete list of what my daughter brought with her freshman year. Much of it is “necessary” and some of it was just stuff she wanted.</p>

<p>Needed items for her:</p>

<p>*Sheets- twin 2 sets (x-long not needed)
*Comforter
*Memory foam mattress pad- supplied mattresses are ridiculously thin
*Pillows
*Towels- 2 sets
*Bed lifts- get ones with electrical outlets on them as not nearly enough outlets in the room
*Laundry basket/hamper- she used a mesh pop up one
*Detergent
*Waste basket
*Various sized storage bins for under the bed and elsewhere
*Fans- window and desk/clip on.She was in an unairconditioned dorm.
*Hangers
*Closet rod-doubled her clothes hanging space
*Shower flip flops
*Portable shower caddy
*Toiletries
*Desk lamp
*Desk organizer items
*Surge protector
*Mini folding ironing board and iron</p>

<p>Things she brought that were “wants” not needs:</p>

<p>*Mini fridge
*TV
*Keurig
*Large area rug/carpet
*Over the bed shelf unit- allowed for extra storage space and a place to display stuff that she couldn’t hang on the walls. She also used it for a clip on light and fan.</p>

<p>She brought a full length door mirror, but each room already had one. Also, she had a tension rod and curtains but the rod never did stay in place. They made do with the supplied blinds. Some of the big items should be discussed with the roommate so there are not duplicates. The rooms are sooo tiny that there is no room for anything extra. There was a land line phone jack in her room. She brought a cheapo phone. She thought it was a ridiculous thing to bring, but I liked the idea of being able to reach her in case she lost or broke her cell phone…which she did twice.</p>

<p>It’s hard to believe that the first year is over now. It goes by so quickly. Now she will start her internship and enjoy the summer. I know that she will miss being in College Park so very much and be counting down the days until she goes back.</p>

<p>Good luck to all you new Terps and Terp parents!!</p>

12

<p>Something that is not necessary, but is nice to have is a bike…</p>

<p>A lot of how much you would find it helpful depends on your dorm and its proximity to the cluster of buildings for your major. For example, if you’re an engineering student living in the Cambridge Quad, not so necessary, but living in Easton you might like it. If you are a business major in the Cambridge Quad, you will be glad to have a bike but living in Easton, nice but not as necessary.</p>

<p>If you do decide to bring one, you will need to register it with the department of transportation - it’s free but it’s mandatory. They do monitor closely and will “impound” unregistered bikes. “DOTS holds several registration events each year. At the beginning of each semester there is a “Free U-lock with new registration” promotion.” <a href=“http://www.transportation.umd.edu/biking_registration.html”>http://www.transportation.umd.edu/biking_registration.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>If you are OOS, you don’t need to transport your own, you can either buy or rent one inexpensively <a href=“http://www.transportation.umd.edu/biking_allabout.html”>http://www.transportation.umd.edu/biking_allabout.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;