What will I need?

<p>What will I need for college this fall? Laptop, of course, and what else? People talk about "things for your dorm." What is there exactly? All I have at home is a computer, tv, stereo, and dresser. I'm driving to school, so I can take all of that with me, with the exception of the dresser.</p>

<p>I bookmarked a great thread on this a while ago: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=26875%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=26875&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I too would be interested in some other tips. Maybe currently yalies could give advice on anything they brought to yale?</p>

<p>Geesh, I'm only a sophomore, and I already can't remember what I really needed on Old Campus :D. Well, for starters, you'll most likely be in a suite with other people, so arrange ahead what each suite member will bring. For example, I brought a floor lamp and a rug for the common room while other suitemates purchased a futon, a TV with stand, a fridge, etc. (I was in a suite of 7 in Bingham. Go 'Houn! <em>ends plug for res. college</em>)</p>

<p>As far as things that I felt were really necessary, you'll be dragging your clothing to one of the two laundry facilities on Old Campus, so bring a sturdy hamper. The new laundry machines on campus actually have a feature where they'll add detergent for you for an extra 30 cents. This is kind of steep, actually, so bring a big bottle of detergent with you since you probably won't want to trek all the way to Walgreen's if you care about cost (Durfee's is really expensive!). </p>

<p>New Haven can be (read: WILL be) cold, but your dorm room will hopefully be nice and toasty. I found a small fan that sat on my desk convenient. I also got some really cheap plastic shelving from Staples that required self-assembly. This was extremely useful for storing textbooks and the 390438 books you'll buy if you take one of the 12x English courses. (By the way, I really enjoyed ENGL129.) Also, bring a lamp of some sort because your room will only have overhead lighting, which may be too dim to read by sometimes.</p>

<p>I can't really think of anything else at the moment, but here are just some general pointers. First, WalMart will be packed when you get on campus - absolutely packed. While I was still able to find things that I needed, it wasn't really pleasant to be there, so keep that in mind. Second, a nice IKEA just opened in New Haven, so go and get a closet organizer or something. They have some pretty cheap furniture (like a $9 floor lamp, I believe), so if your parents are in town with you, make them take you :). IKEA, I assume, will also be absolutely packed. It's normally packed even when students aren't just getting onto campus. Third, do not pack too much. I cannot stress how much difficulty you'll have moving your belongings to your residential college at the end of the freshman year if you bring too much stuff. Move-out day was literally the most physically challenging day that I can recall in my life. Textbooks are extremely heavy, and imagine dragging down 6 really heavy boxes from the 3rd floor and then carrying them each blocks down the street to Calhoun or Trumbull (even farther if you're in D-port, Pierson, etc.). There will be hand trucks and nice people to help you, but you can save a lot of hassle by bringing just what you need!</p>

<p>when you move out of old campus at the end of the school year (i'm assuming) you're allowed to move directly into your residential college? like i didnt thikn you were allowed to stay there over the summer tho that doesnt seem quite right because then what would one do with all their stuff and theirself to boot (if they didnt really have a home to go back to per se)</p>

<p>At the end of the year, you move your belongings into the storage facilities of your res. college, which are usually located throughout the basements. For example, most of my stuff was stored in the squash courts of Calhoun College.</p>

<p>There are sometimes exceptions for larger things such as bookshelves. And as a side note, do <em>not</em> let your suitemates leave without helping move the furniture in the common room to your res. college. It's a major pain, and you need to clean up to a reasonable amount (I mean, the floors don't have to be shining or anything) to avoid fines, so don't let people run off and start their vacations without doing their fair shares!</p>