<p>Everyone has or will get the standard list of stuff to bring to Rice (or college in general). This thread is for stuff that current or past students have found to be extremely useful in college.</p>
<p>Some things I have found are</p>
<ol>
<li><p>A second laptop power supply. Even with a long battery life, you will end up spending time in the library, with a group or in the commons. You can keep moving the one you have, or leave one at your desk and keep on in your bag.</p></li>
<li><p>A second monitor maybe? Using two (laptop and external) in extended desktop mode boosts productivity by almost 50% (ill post the study when I find it)</p></li>
<li><p>Large but COMFORTABLE laundry basket. something that can be carried up and down stairs. dont get something that weighs a hundred pounds. You will need a big one though. Some come with shoulder straps. People seem to like those</p></li>
<li><p>Real extension cords. Not the power strips. Some buildings (old Hanszen, old baker) etc have like 3 power outlets. Sometimes you need to run a line along the wall. 1 10 footer normally is a good idea</p></li>
<li><p>A dustpan/small vacuum/ broom - helpful. They clean the common rooms once a week, but this is for spot cleaning</p></li>
<li><p>Drawer liners - I have no idea what people have used the chest of drawers for. I just lined them after cleaning them</p></li>
<li><p>Cups, plates, bowls, flatware. - will come in handy. Dont get like 8 pieces of each, but a couple is useful</p></li>
<li><p>MATLAB - if you are an engineer. The student edition is $99. get it</p></li>
<li><p>A bicycle/skateboard - convenient to get around campus</p></li>
</ol>
<p>This isnt a must-have, just a highly recommended (by me) list. Please add to it</p>
<p>What’s your opinion on an extra piece of furniture (couch, or chair) in the room?</p>
<p>depends on the building. What building are you going to be in? </p>
<p>I brought my own desk chair. I have a tendency to rock back and forward and after falling backwards, i went and bought a office chair</p>
<p>A couple of years ago, my son had extra soft lounge chair in his room and a small couch. I think he bought the chair for $10 off another student at the end (beginning?) of the year. He covered it with a fuzzy blanket since it was truly revolting looking. We also worked together and built a queen-sized loft bed for his room; I think there was about 1 cm. of clearance max on either side of the bed and about 2 foot ceiling clearance over the “well” it was in. He bought the mattress off another student, too. Both he and roommate lofted their beds to allow for the couch and chair.</p>
<p>There is an IKEA in houston about 15 minutes away, which carries inexpensive office chairs, and furniture - if you want new stuff.</p>
<p>I’m not an Owl, but I still have a few thoughts as a Rice Mom:</p>
<ol>
<li>a small LED flashlight for bedtime reading</li>
<li>noise-canceling headphones </li>
<li>favorite books</li>
<li>sandals</li>
<li>little gifts you exchanged with old friends before you set out<br></li>
<li>photos of family, pets, friends
16) something homey on your bed: quilt, familiar comforter, pillows, etc.
17) favorite movie dvds
18) backpack, messenger bag, etc.
19) enthusiasm for making new friends and connecting with profs and clubs</li>
</ol>
<p>to add to anxiousmom - </p>
<p>I got the largest single (probably on campus) last year at Wiess. I put in two desks, a queen bed a small futon, a center table and a mini fridge.</p>
<p>so it does depend on your room. Extra furniture is nice to have</p>
<p>a small tool kit. Screwdriver, pliers, small hammer, level and a cutter.</p>
<p>Another mom chiming in here – </p>
<p>I know everyone has wireless, but it’s not a bad idea to bring a long ethernet cable just in case. My son had a couple of episodes where his wireless Macbook just wouldn’t find the network and he’d have been lost without the ethernet cable that allowed him to finish his work online. I say bring a long cable because the ethernet connection might be across the room from where you want to sit with your computer.</p>
<p>shouldve included moms/dads in the initial list of people to contribute. You all know more than most current students/alumns in this regard. definitely have met a couple of rice students who did not know how to use laundry detergent…</p>
<p>Adding to patsmom - A ethernet cord is a great idea. Here is a link to monoprice a cable store. do NOT, and i mean NOT NOT NOT buy it in the store. A 25 foot cable will cost you 20-30 bucks.</p>
<p>The SAME cable is $2.48 here
[For</a> only $1.86 each when QTY 50+ purchased - 25FT Cat5e 350MHz UTP RJ45 Ethernet Network Cable - Black | Cat5e Straight Cables - 25ft](<a href=“http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10208&cs_id=1020810&p_id=2151&seq=1&format=2]For”>http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10208&cs_id=1020810&p_id=2151&seq=1&format=2)</p>
<p>and 26.99 here
[Dynex™</a>; - 25’ Cat-5e Network Cable - DX-C114198](<a href=“http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dynex%26%23153%3B+-+25’+Cat-5e+Network+Cable/9737478.p?id=1218164359137&skuId=9737478]Dynex™”>http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dynex%26%23153%3B+-+25’+Cat-5e+Network+Cable/9737478.p?id=1218164359137&skuId=9737478)</p>
<p>actually the one from monoprice is better 350 Mhz vs 100 Mhz</p>
<p>You COULD get a wireless router of your own. This is not supported by rice IT but then again I did it and would recommend it. You register the router as a “gaming device” and it works. </p>
<p>Rice IT is basically useless. I did more computer repairs than the SCC’s combined for a couple of years</p>
<p>Antarius, a lot of the things that you’ve declared “basically useless” — IT, academic advising, PAAs, etc. — are things that other students, myself included, have found very useful in their time at Rice. Perhaps you should not be so quick to immediately dismiss other hardworking students and/or Rice employees because you personally have not found their services to go above and beyond what you can provide yourself. Not every Rice student is as capable in so many myriad skills as you are. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Its not me who i am benching the IT department against necessarily. We could probably hire a call center in India or China that costs much less and get a better quality of service and or knowledge.</p>
<p>It took IT 3 years to even acknowledge that 64 bit systems do in fact exist and they should probably plan for them.</p>
<p>There just are some institutions at rice that perform subpar to the rest of the university. You mentioned some. Id throw in Athletics (except for Baseball) and Willy’s pub (probably the only alcohol serving institution ever to lose heaps of money) in that pile as well.</p>
<p>In any case, this isnt the thread to debate the finer points of rice’s departments. All I was saying is that IT does not support a router, but I would encourage one as it makes life easier. ESPECIALLY in some Hanszen rooms where there is 1 ethernet port for 2 people</p>
<p>Okay, I know this isn’t the place, but seriously, Willy’s Pub? For one, they only ever lost heaps of money because 70 percent of their clientele is underage, and they haven’t lost heaps of money since the university started only charging them rent for the refrigerator and the area behind the bar. How can you criticize an institution that provides jobs to undergraduates and serves the second-cheapest beer in Houston*, allowing students to drink during the week without leaving campus?</p>
<p>*The cheapest beer in Houston is also on-campus, at Valhalla.</p>
<p>look at their management strategy. Open at 11 AM? The place is almost always deserted at that time. </p>
<p>Regarding jobs to undergraduates - they sometimes have 3 people doing one persons job. Thats just how it is. Rice has a habit of creating jobs that shouldnt be or paying too much. My job for example was hopelessly overpaid for the amount of work necessary.</p>
<p>Valhalla on the other hand is a fine institution. Nothing but praise from me. Another thing about them is they serve real beer. Willy’s has the same junk you can buy at Kroger. and draught “bud light” is still junk.</p>
<p>Valhalla gets kegs of St. Arnolds Divine, Spaten Optimator and Guinness. Basically, Valhalla occupies a niche (cheap GOOD beer) while Willy’s does not. I got to a bar to get something I cannot drink out of my fridge as well as the ambiance.</p>
<p>Back to the original point here</p>
<p>Bring a small coffee maker. If you are semi-picky about coffee, the servery coffee sucks. The bean itself is mediocre, but it often sits for long periods of time rendering it like coal tar or something.</p>
<p>I brought a coffee machine, a french press and an espresso machine. So highly recommended here!!</p>
<p>Just to be clear in a standard Wiess double, is there two desks and two chairs, or just one desk and one chair?</p>
<p>IN a Wiess double there are two of everything</p>
<p>beds (twin XL)
desks (4 foot by 2 foot)
chairs (2 position chair)
3 drawers chest (2.5 ft by 2 ft)
wardrobe (3 ft by 2 ft approx)</p>
<p>Here is a picture of my room early freshmen year. Before I really got a bunch of stuff. The thing in the middle is my chest of drawers</p>
<p><a href=“http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/7072/mysideoftheroom.jpg[/url]”>http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/7072/mysideoftheroom.jpg</a></p>
<p>think this was taken the day after move in. Fairly standard setup</p>
<p>Alright sweet, thanks for the info. Also did u bring that shelf thing next to your bed or did it come with the room?</p>
<p>i brought that. The only thing not pictured is the giant wardrobe thats like 8 feet tall</p>
<p>
Looks Ikea’ish… 
I’m a big fan of all wood shelves from Ikea…</p>
![http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/7072/mysideoftheroom.jpg[/url]](http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/7072/mysideoftheroom.jpg%5B/url%5D){kind=link}
