CHLOE KOWALYK
News Editor
Getting ready to move into your college dorm room for the first time is an exciting, yet nerve-racking experience.
But what should you pack?
This guide is sure to help you pack all the essentials (and fun stuff too) needed for dorm life.
Before we dive into what to bring to college, it is important to note that move-in dates for freshmen start on Aug. 19.
You can check all the move-in dates and times on Fredonia’s website, under “Student Life” or by searching for move-in dates and times.
To fully tackle what you should bring with you on move-in day, let’s separate the lists into categories.
Below are lists for items you should bring for academics, basic necessities, fun additions and things to leave at home.
Academics:
To ensure you’re successful in all of your classes, make sure you’re well prepared!
Be sure to stock your desk with the basics, such as pens, pencils, erasers and a calculator, but in addition, here’s a complete list of educational essentials.
- Laptop
- Flash drives
- Headphones
- Backpack
- Desk Lamp
- Stapler
- Tape
- Hole puncher
- Index cards
- Required textbooks
- Notebooks
- Planner
Basic Necessities:
Dorm life is a lot different than living at home, so you’ll need a few things you may not have thought about.
These are a few items you may want to bring to have the best experience while away at college.
- Command strips and hooks
- Shower caddy
- Shower shoes/flip flops
- Towels
- Toothbrush, toothpaste AND a holder for your toothbrush!
- Hair dryer
- Fan
- Set of sheets (twin sized bed sheets fit just fine!)
- Blankets
- Pillows and Pillowcases
- A mattress pad (dorm beds alone are NOT comfy!)
- Laundry detergent
- Laundry basket
- Dryer sheets
- Vacuum/broom
- Batteries
- Hangers
- Umbrella
- Storage containers/organizers
- First-aid kit
- Warm winter clothes: hat, gloves, scarf, winter jacket
Fun Additions:
Now that we got the important stuff out of the way, we can focus on the fun parts!
Decorating your dorm room and making it your own is one of the best parts about living in a dorm.
Here’s some fun, yet optional ideas to make your room more homey.
- Mini refrigerator
- Small microwave
- Coffee maker
- Rug
- White board
- TV
- Posters
- Fairy/battery-operated lights
- Pictures
- Bluetooth speaker (trust me on this one!)
- Waterproof picnic blanket
- Gaming consoles
- Snacks
- Playing cards, games, movies
Things to leave at home:
- Plug-in lights
- Candles
- Drugs and alcohol
- Exposed heating elements (like toasters)
- Multi-arm lamps
- Extension cords
- LED lights (they’ll probably pull the paint off the walls if you’re not careful!)
- Anything that is nailed into the wall, or doesn’t use command strips
With that, your dorm room should be amazing!
Be sure to check out the specifications for a mini fridge and microwave on the “Residence Life” section on the school website!
Stay safe, and have fun at move-in this semester!