The Essentials
- wallet, purse, hand bag
- ID, license
- cash, change, credit cards, debit cards
- ATM Card
- watch
- glasses, contacts
Basic Kitchen Stuff (even if you won’t have a kitchen in your dorm room)
- forks, knives, spoons (plastic and metal)
- microwaveable bowl
- plastic cups
- thermo cup/mug
- paper plates
- food containers
- can opener, bottle opener, corkscrew
- chip clips, clothes pins, twisters
- Ziploc® bags, various sizes
- straws
- cloth for dishwashing
- napkins
- wet wipes
Additional Kitchen Stuff (if you’ll have a kitchen)
- dish detergent
- hand soap
- sponge
- paper towels
- kitchen towel
- dish cloth
Food
- non-perishable food: noodle cups, canned foods, soup
- candy, cough drops, gum, mints
- snacks, popcorn, cereal, etc.
- bottled drinks, soda, bottled water
- coffee
- tea bags, powder drink mixes
- vitamins
- general medication (headache, cough, pain reliever, eye drop)
- your prescription medication
Room Needs/Storage
- alarm clock/clock radio
- tissues
- desk chair seat cushion/pad
- desk chair (comfier one?)
- boxes
- storage bins, stacking baskets
- bags: garbage, plastic, paper
- small wastebasket
- bedside lamp, clip-on lamp, desk lamp, decorator lamps, extra light bulbs
- over-the-door hooks, adhesive hooks
- bulletin board and push pins
- dry erase board
- shoe rack
- closet organizer
- closet add-in shelf
- various organizers: CDs, papers, cosmetics
- tools, screwdriver, hammer
- RackRaisers®, bed raisers ??
- air freshener
- dust wipes
- disinfecting wipes
- all-purpose cleaner
- Lysol®
- photos of family, friends, pets
- posters
- decorations
Computer Stuff
- laptop, battery, AC adapter
- laptop case
- mouse, mouse pad
- blank CD-Rs,
- CD cases
- CDs: your favorite software, emergency startup cd, backup of most important files (keep a copy at home)
- ethernet cord
- headphones
- USB key, portable flash storage drive
- laptop lock
- printer (all-in-one), extra ink cartridge, blank printer paper
Electronics
- surge protectors
- extension cords
- 3-2 prong adapters
- cell phone, cell phone charger, accessories
- camera/digital camera, memory card/stick, upload cable, photo software CDs, camera accessories
- calculator
- battery charger, rechargeable batteries, extra batteries
- favorite movies ???
- iPod®, earbuds, accessories
- audio recording device
Linens/Laundry Supplies
- sheets (extra long twin…)
- pillowcase
- pillows, small pillow, headrest pillow
- mattress pad ??
- blankets
- comforter and duvet cover
- egg crate ???
- clothes hangers
- pop-up hamper
- laundry detergent (liquid or convenient tablets)
- small container to carry just some detergent to the laundry room
- fabric softener
- laundry marking pen
- laundry stain remover
- sewing kit
- lint brush
Bath and Toiletries
- towels: body, hair, hand, face, extras
- shower tote/caddy
- shower shoes, flip-flops
- shampoo, conditioner
- body wash, or soap and soap container
- body sponge, back brush
- toothpaste, toothbrush (and extras), a toothbrush case
- mouth wash
- bathroom cup
- dental floss
- comb, brush
- hair gel, mousse
- razors, shaving cream
- deodorant
- facewash, acne cream
- lotion, facial moisturizer
- perfume
- tweezers
- nail clipper, nail file
- Q-tips®
- cotton swabs/balls
- small mirror
- extra eyeglasses, case, cloth
- contact lens container
- scissors
- sponge
- bathrobe
- chapstick
- Band-Aid® bandages
- suction hooks
- pads, tampons
- nail polish, nail polish remover
- hairdryer
- hair straightener
- curling iron
- hairspray
- makeup, cosmetics
Clothes
- pants/jeans
- skirts
- shirts/blouses
- sweaters
- underwear
- bras
- socks
- sweats
- pajamas
- robe
- sneakers, comfortable walking shoes
- slippers, flip-flops, sandals
- jackets: light, heavy, rain
- winter coat
- gloves
- scarf
- hat, cap
- boots
- dress shoes
- dress clothes
- 1-2 set formal/business attire
- 1-2 set semi-formal attire
- dresses
- ties
- belts
- umbrella
- poncho
- jewelry
- bathing suit
- sports equipment: kneepads…
- gym clothes
- hairbands, hairpins
- sunglasses
Office/Desk Supplies For Your Dorm Room
- bookbag
- assignment book, planner
- calendar
- notebooks: new, old, composition
- folders
- binders, dividers
- lined paper
- pens, pencils, pencil holder, sharpener, eraser
- colored pencils, markers, crayons
- highlighter pens (multiple colors)
- Scotch® tape
- heavy duty tape, masking tape, mounting tape, duct tape
- tacky adhesive
- scissors
- stapler, staples, staple remover
- paper clips
- rubber bands
- glue
- ruler
- Wite-out®
- pins
- hole puncher, 3-hole puncher
- index cards
- Post-it® notes
- stamps and envelopes, standard size and paper size
- labels of various sizes
- adhesive hooks, tack
- protractor
- compass
- graph paper
- string
- book light
- small memo books
- typing paper holder/clip
- hanging files or folders, folder storage bin
- chain
- combination lock
Papers, Books, and Documents
- textbooks for your classes
- old notes from previous classes that may be useful
- course catalog
- dictionary, thesaurus
- reference books
- maps of the campus, of the city, and of public transportation
- guides/instructions for laptop, digital camera, cell phone, graphing calculator, etc
- one or two of your favorite books
- high school yearbook,
- checks, bank stuff
- phone card
- social security card
- insurance card/papers/forms
- renter’s insurance
- car insurance, registration
- Visa information
- citizenship info
- passport
- financial aid forms (leave a copy at home if your parents will need them for reference when they’re renewing it in the spring)
- any documents your school told you to bring
Misc Things
- luggage/duffel bag (for going home during short breaks)
- house key
- quarters
- key chain
- favorite memoirs
- stuffed animals
- patches, thermal patches for aches
- beach towel, goggles, swimming gear
- sunscreen
- bug spray
- Neosporin®, Imodium®, Pepto-Bismol®,
- deck of cards
- items for your hobbies (such as musical instruments or sports stuff)
Sports Equipment
- frisbee
- car
- bike, rollerblades
- helmet
- bike lock, cover, pump
- any necessary items for specific classes
Shared Dorm Room Items
- microwave
- fridge
- small brush and dustpan
- area rug
- snack tray
- fold-out chair
- full-length mirror
- electric kettle
