<p>so when i visited UCSB i didn't get the chance to check out the dorms..and something that came to mind was the bathroom and shower situation..i'm sure they are kept pretty clean, but would anyone suggest any specific essential toiletries? for example, wearing flips flops in the shower..etc. any advice would be helpful. thanks.</p>
<p>You should for sure take a shower caddy AND flip flops for the shower.</p>
<p>For those of you who live in the dorms or apartments, what do you feel are the real necessities for living on or off campus???</p>
<p>Off campus is basically anything you need to live: cookware, furniture, everything. </p>
<p>Dorms is a little easier to answer b/c there are more obvious things you do/don't need:<br>
BRING:
-shower flip flops (seriously, you will want them)!! Also shower caddy and bath robe (people rarely walk through the halls in their towels. bathrobes are the way to go).
-whiteboard: the main form of communication between you and your hallmates will be done on the whiteboards you will hang on your doors.<br>
-minifridge: you can go cheap, but you will need it to store the leftovers from your time downtown, the food you've stolen from the dining commons or the rare food you get from an actual grocery store.
-an umbrella and shoes for the rain: I know, not for your dorm room, but we get heavy rain storms. They're not always cold, so I generally got away with flip flops, but rainboots can come in nicely as well.
-Mr. Coffee: I know it's not technically allowed, but it makes a lot less noise than a microwave (also not allowed) and that hot water heats up emergency Cup Noodles, Easy Mac, tea, whatever. When you're starving for real food and the dining commons are closed, that Cup Noodle is a God send and being able to cook it in your room is priceless. If you don't have one, don't want to splurge, no worries, it's just nice.
-a TV is nice. Don't plan on being able to watch the main dorm one if you're in a bigger hall. Most people had them, but some of this bigger stuff you can figure out with your roommates.
-a FOOD BIN. You can store other stuff in here, but the dining common hours can be brutal when you get hungry and have run out of meals. I suggest some actual meals you can cook with hot water as well as some snacks that are pretty hardy (like peanut butter and crackers). DO NOT go to Costco and get a box of 500 granola bars. You will hate the granola bars after 50. Get a variety of things that will appeal to you when you're really hungry, and things that are somewhat healthy because chances are you will end up eventually eating this entire bin Having extra CupNoodles and hot chocolate packets on hand will not only save yourself, but will make great friends when someone else is starving.
-A set of silverware, microwave bowl/plate, pot, a baking tin, etc. if you like to cook. Don't bring your whole kitchen, you can actually check out baking pans from the front desk sometimes. The microwave bowl and plate, plus a set of silverware is a necessesity, the pot can come in handy, and the baking tins...well, let's just say nothing will make friends faster than cupcakes.
-I think the rest is either personal or obvious (bedding, anything you use on a daily basis)</p>
<p>DON'T BRING:
-Microwave. You can see how chill your RA is and see if you feel the need to sneak one in, but it's easy to hear a microwave whirring in a room and not worth getting caught. There's a hall one and though it's sometimes a bit sketch, it'll do the trick. Subtly convince a neighbor to get a microwave and use theirs.
-Anything that's big that isn't listed above. I don't really know what you'd think to bring, but there isn't a lot of room. Your TV will go on top of your mini fridge and that's pretty much your free space. They give you a bed (no bedding), desk, dresser, closet. Not sure what else you'd think to bring, but you can always bring it up later after seeing how much room's left.</p>
<p>Coolness. gaucho1 has definitely been a huge help with alot of replies to all of my questions. But I'm living in the Westgate apartments. Any advice for what I'll need?</p>
<p>For moving into an apartment, it really depends if you're moving in with people who already live there or not. If they already live there, chances are they have furniture, cookware, shower curtains, cleaning supplies, TV, etc. taken care of. If that's the case, just bring what you use in every day life that they don't already have. My one HUGE suggestion for apartment living, in either case, is to bring your own, very obvious dishes/glasses/etc. I'm talking bright green or decorated with the hamburgler. Dishes and cleaning are the biggest fights roommates get into, and that goes for guys too. It's going to be way better for you to say "obviously, these aren't mine" or at least be able to go through the huge pile, pull out your own and wash them instead of being accused of making the whole mess. Trust me on this. Number 1 fight ALWAYS is dishes, followed closely by other household chores. </p>
<p>If you're moving into an empty place, collaborate with your roommates on the big stuff (shared furniture, TV, table, chairs, vaccuum, etc). There's the obvious stuff (a bed, which I recommend an airbed, actually. They're really good. I had one my sophomore year, everyone made fun. But move-out day, I let the air out, flung it over my shoulder and peaced out while my friends waited for their parents with trucks. Next year, all my friends had one. They feel the same as a regular bed and so much less hassle. In general, where possible with your own furniture, think of move out day and go disposible or things that would be easy to move and shove in a car. Move-out day is always less exciting than move-in day and it suddenly really sucks to have dressers and desks and beds with frames, etc. I went with an air bed, a bean bag chair, a $20 put it together yourself shelf unit from target that I threw away in the end, and a floor length mirror $10 from Bed, Bath and Beyond). </p>
<p>Things you might not think of if moving into an empty apartment: toilet paper (first thing to bring into your place), shower curtain, cleaning supplies like a toilet scrubber, mop, vaccuum, sponges, etc., plunger (you might never need it, but if that day comes...), anything you'll need to make a meal, microwave, extra blankets (it can get freakishly cold in some of the apartments when the fog rolls in), a tall mirror if you need to see your outfit for the day and a trash can. </p>
<p>I really wouldn't worry about it too much. What usually happens is you think you have everything together, then you end up making some shopping trips with your friends for that stuff you realize you need now (dish soap, paper towels). </p>
<p>The most important thing to bring with you to an empty apartment is toilet paper. The second would be a trash can.</p>
<p>so you know that bedding package ucsb offers? the one that includes bed linens, towels, clothes hamper, etc..? is it worth buying it? are the items good quality? does anyone recommend buying this package from the school or would you recommend just getting things from target or walmart or where ever?</p>
<p>I got the package. It has it's ups and downs. I love the comforter they gave me but the sheets got all gnarly after a year...but that's usually true of any cheap sheets. The laundry hamper broke within a week, but was still usable and I still use it. The towel's really small, but it's great for putting in your hair. So maybe it doesn't sound so great when I put it like that, haha. If you get your own stuff, for the laundry hamper, I'd suggest something with an over the shoulder strap, or backpack type...much easier to carry to the laundry room when you haven't done your laundry in a month. I guess if you're planning on getting everything cheap anyway, it's easier to go with the package. For me, Walmart stuff always falls apart, so I'd trust the dorm package over that, but Target might be better quality than the dorm stuff.</p>
<p>ok thanks!</p>
<p>to e.leigh.mac, bed bath and beyond has some good quality bedding supplys and they should still be on sale. they also have hampers, lamps, bathroom supplies, etc. for decent prices too.</p>
<p>yeah i was looking through their catologue the other day..they do have some pretty nice things</p>
<p>BBB is usually cheaper too. They always have these 20% off coupons (per item) that you can ask for when up at the front desk. If they have extras, they will give them to you. My mom gets them in the mail and we save them all up. I never buy anything at full price at BBB. (:</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure it even stacks with the clearance/sale items, so you get an additional 20% off the markdown price.</p>