<p>I know its a bit early, but I rather know ahead of time than panic on last few days before I leave =O!</p>
<p>What should incoming freshmen bring if we're going to be living on campus? Also list things that are unnecessary to bring if you can come up with any!</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>from the sounds of it, maybe a tissue box would be sufficient here.</p>
<p>The housing group will provide some guidance about move-in day for those incoming to the dorms, with a long list of things to consider or bring. However, there are nearby malls, stores very close, pharmacies - if you forget toothpaste, you can buy it here, for example. </p>
<p>Start here [Living</a> at Cal 2011-2012, UC Berkeley Housing](<a href=“http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/livingatcal/]Living”>http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/livingatcal/)</p>
<p>There are tons of lists online of typical things freshmen should bring for their first year, so definitely google that. One thing I’d suggest, though: try not to overpack and bring too much. Especially if you get assigned a triple. It was so much easier to move around in my room the last few days of the year, just because most of my stuff was packed away… But definitely coordinate with your roommate(s) with things like fridge, microwave, printer, etc. to save space.</p>
<p>I think the biggest thing NOT to bring is a desktop computer. One of my roommates brought one, it took up a ton of space, and it did the same things her laptop did. She rarely used it.</p>
<p>Go to Bed, Bath, and Beyond and get one of those couch chair things. You can put it on your bed and it is the most comfortable thing ever. Although, I used to use that instead of my desk because I never used a desk before but then towards the end I stopped using it and kept having to move it everywhere. </p>
<p>Bring a shower caddy, or actually buy it from the cal student store because it fits in some bathroom lockers depending on where u live.</p>
<p>-toothbrush holder
-buy asuc sheets cus they fit on the twin beds
-buy poster on amazon to make ur room look nice
-bring a lamp if you don’t like fleuorescent lights
-big warm jackets
-change for ice cream/boba
-heater
-fan…it gets REALLY hot in the first few weeks and then it cools down</p>
<p>oh also, what not to bring? I brought basically my whole wardrobe…because I don’t trust leaving them at home since people go into my stuff and DONATE it! But yeah, if you don’t have that problem, I’d go ahead and not bring TOO many clothes. Or bring stuff you know you wear a lot. I brought all 20 of my jackets and wore like the same 5 every day. lol</p>
<p>^I wouldn’t recommend a heater. Every room has a heater built into the wall, I’m pretty sure. Some of them don’t work that great, but if you find you’ve been cursed with a broken heater then you can always buy one after you’ve figured that out. Personally, my roommate and I didn’t turn on the heater even once. There were a few days in November/December that were chilly in the room, but we just wrapped up in extra blankets. A fan is a definite must though. This year had so many hot days, I ended up with a fan on my desk and a fan for my bed. Most people in my hall ended up with fans. </p>
<p>Also, there are lots of options other than the ASUC bed sheets. I’ve heard they’re overpriced and the quality isn’t fabulous. Just get Twin XL sheets from a place like Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Crate and Barrel, or something like that.</p>
<p>And I thought of another thing… A lot of people bring water purifiers but I find Berkeley tap water tastes fine, and there are water fountains in most halls… Except maybe Unit 3? I know for sure Unit 1 has water fountains. And make sure you have an umbrella or two!</p>
<p>Awesome advices/tips so far :D! Keep em coming! </p>
<p>We bring our own blanket & pillow right?</p>
<p>Yes, you have to bring your own pillows and blankets. Like ringopuppers mentioned, the beds are Twin XL, which is the size you want to be looking for when you get your sheets. Don’t get them from the ASUC since those are more expensive.
I’d recommend bringing a desk lamp since the lighting in the rooms in Unit 1 is terrible.
Bring a pair of shower slippers since you don’t want to be walking around barefooted in the bathrooms.<br>
Bring hangers as well, the dorms provide metal ones but they aren’t very good.
Just don’t bring too much stuff, the rooms are small enough as they are. Lots of people end up throwing tons of stuff out when they move out since they have too much stuff to bring back.</p>
<p>I guess I never really knew about the built-in heater : P but I got mine from costco for 60 bucks and it came with a remote. which meant I never had to get out of bed to turn it on/off lmao. So when I woke up freezing in the morning, I just grabbed the remote : ]</p>
<p>also, I brought waterbottles but I’m sure berkeley’s water tastes fine, especially after taking bio 1b. I might consider drinking tap soon. </p>
<p>Also, bring a little pot for boiling water and making noodles on days where you don’t feel like going out to get food in the middle of the night while ur studying. or maybe that’s just me! : ]</p>
<p>So many things to remember XD! I’ll probably have to start organizing a list if I want to be safe :P! Anyways, are there like any Walmart/Costco/other stores nearby campus (bus/walkable)?</p>
<p>Thanks again for all the tips :D! </p>
<p>PS- What happened in bio 1b that changed your mind about tap water =O? I’m still insecure about it, maybe you can enlighten me :D!</p>
<p>Oh haha basically 80% of the water… wow i can’t believe i remember this! …comes from the north and 80% of people leave in the south. the latter isn’t part of the point lol but since the water comes from the north, it’s like more fresh or cleaner or something since it is the original source? I used to hear family say it all the time…You can drink tap water here! It tastes better. And I was like uhm how would it taste better in SF but not from LA? Lol but they were right.</p>
<p>Ahhh I see. Gotcha :p! So bringing those water purifier will not hurt though right? I think I’ll be more satisfied knowing that that water was filtered my way even though its already clean XD! </p>
<p>And wait, there is a kitchen? Didn’t realized that until I reread your other post about boiling water :P!</p>
<p>hotplates are prohibited, since they can trigger fire alarms as well as actually ignite things, but if you bring one keep a cloth covering it. When an RA or other official enters your room or looks through an open door, they only act on what is patently visible - an unmistakeable outline of a hot plate, covered by cloth, is ignored. Also, if you bring it, be very sure you don’t set off the alarm. Nothing like facing hundreds of fellow students standing outside at 2AM because your hotplate set off the alarms and caused them to be woken or disturbed while studying, and to stand out in the cold or rain in an evacuation.</p>
<p>O_O! Would an electric kettle work better than a hotplate? Or is that just as dangerous? I have seen people using it and I think it’ll be useful for boiling water for cup noodles, etc…!</p>
<p>Thanks for the tip, I don’t think I’ll risk that :p! Plus I doubt I’ll cook much, unless cup noodles count as cooking!</p>
<p>I think electric kettles would be safer if only because it turns itself off when the water boils, but as long as you’re careful both should be fine.</p>
<p>Whatever you do, just don’t be That Person who causes an entire building to be evacuated.</p>
<p>^^ Urgh I would kill myself if I did that <_>!!! How sensitive are the smoke detectors? I don’t want to be happily eating my cup noodles then hear the alarm going off!</p>
<p>^ Normal usage is fine…I boiled water all the time (for tea) and nothing ever went off. They’ll only go off if you literally forget that you have something cooking for a long time and then it overheats or smth like that.</p>
<p>Oh good, you’re an electric kettle user too :D! I feel much safer using it then ^_^!</p>