<p>I looked up the Wellesley website to find out what I'll need for my dorm, and apparently, I'll have to buy bedsheets for a twin bed. What exactly is a 'twin bed'? I'm not familiar with this term, so if anyone could explain it to me, I'd be grateful! Thanks...:). Hope to see some of you in August!</p>
<p>A twin is also known as a single bed. The mattress size is 39"x75". Some colleges put XL twin beds in every room and that mattress size is 39"x80".</p>
<p>Wellesley has extra-long twin beds. Extra-long twin is a sheet (and mattress) size that is rather annoying to find (though slightly easier during September back to school season). Most people who sleep in single beds have twin beds, not extra-long twin beds, which means pretty much everyone has to get new sheets to go to Wellesley.</p>
<p>If you were to purchase a sheet set, that is a flat sheet, (a pillowcase) and a fitted sheet in both twin size and xl twin size, the flat sheets would be identical. The fitted sheets are not. Everything that goes under you and around the mattress needs to be xl twin size, while anything that goes on top of you can be twin size (some college geared stores will label comforters as xl twin, but they are in fact identical to twin comforters). I have gotten away with putting a "twin" fitted sheet over my bed once, but that sheet was an irregular, so I don't actually know how doable it is. I believe it is possible. Get a matress pad as well.</p>
<p>Target generally has extra-long twin sets near the beginning of the school year. They are a pain to track down, but they are possible to find. They'll be marked XLT or XL-Twin.</p>
<p>In a pinch, the stretchy jersey sheet sets will do. Go for regular twin. If you really can't find anything (including from department stores online), buy queen sets. They'll be waaaay too wide, but the fitted sheet will fit the mattress from head to foot.</p>
<p>Oh, and "twin" refers to a single-person-sized bed. It is possible to fit more than one person, but not if any of them have privacy issues.</p>
<p>i found extra long twin sheets at target yesterday actually so i guess they have started selling them. some of them were about $12.</p>