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This is exactly what to buy for college to have a successful first year! Want even more? Check out the full freshman dorm packing list with everything that you need to be prepared for dorm life.
Everyone going to college for the first time is bound to have a ton of feelings going on. Nervousness, anxiety, and excitement are only a few of the emotions you experience when coming into a university as a freshman.
It can be pretty scary moving out of your home town, or even state, and getting dropped off in a totally unfamiliar place with a ton of strangers. All of those feelings are normal, and having the right things for your first year can make some of that nervousness go away.
Going to college doesn’t have to be all stress and worrying about what you need to buy before moving into your dorm or apartment. In this guide, I’m telling you exactly what you need to buy for your freshman year so that you get there prepared and ready to have an amazing first year.
P.S. If you want the whole list of things you need for your first year, which includes what is in this guide, then check out this free college dorm checklist!
This post is all about what to buy for college.
1. Mini Fridge
There are so many reasons why you would want to buy a mini fridge for your college dorm room. The most important reason is that you’ll definitely want cold drinks and snacks for this late night study sessions!
2. Bed Risers
These are so handy when you just want a little more height to your bed. Plus, these come with an outlet, so you’ll never run out of charge.
Bed risers are also great for protecting your bed frame legs, especially if you’ll be storing a lot of things under your bed or around the legs.
3. Shower Shoes
Trust me, you are going to want to get a pair of shower shoes (or two, lol).
Dorm bathrooms, especially shared floor bathrooms, are kind of like high school locker rooms. Pretty gross in most situations. 😂
So you’ll want something to protect your feet from stagnant water for sure!
4. Shower Caddy
Just like shower shoes, you are definitely going to want something to hold all of your bathroom supplies.
Make sure to buy a shower caddy or basket that is water proof or corrosion proof so that it will last you for many years.
5. Closet Organizer
This is one of the best things for what to buy for college. Dorm closets can be super small, so being smart with the way you organize your clothes and shoes can make all the difference!
Vertical hanging organizers are awesome for storing folded clothes, shoes, scarves, and hoodies just to name a few.
6. Water Bottle
A lot of college campuses are spread out over a large area of land or integrated into big cities, so you will absolutely need a water bottle for this long days of classes.
If you take away one thing about what to buy for college, then take away the fact that you NEED a good quality water bottle!
7. Coffee Maker
For all my coffee lovers out there! This little instant coffee maker is a life saver when you’re in college, especially a dorm room!
Make coffee for those early morning classes, late night study sessions, or during the day for a pick-me-up. Regardless, you will definitely want a coffee maker!
8. Microwave
Dining halls have weird hours sometimes, and as a freshman, you may not have a car on campus, so you’ll want a microwave to heat up your food, water, and other things.
9. Mattress Protector
If you are bringing your own mattress to college, or even just using the one already in the dorm room, then you are going to want to buy a mattress protector.
This will help protect your mattress from spills and stains, and will keep your bed looking and smelling fresh!
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10. Mattress Topper
Are you a light sleeper? Then you need a mattress topper when going to college.
Trust me, this will be a game changer, especially if you’ll be sleeping on an older dorm mattress.
Invest in a good quality thick mattress topper, because it will last you all year and will give you a good night’s rest every night!
11. Twin XL Bedding
Most dorm mattresses are twin XL sized, not twin. So when shopping for bedding for your dorm room, make sure to buy twin XL bedding so that your sheets fit well over your mattress.
12. Bedside Holder
This is probably one of the best things you can buy for college. It might not be the most important, but it sure is handy, especially if you have a bunk or lofted bed.
You don’t have to worry about reaching for your laptop, phone, or book when you put one of these on your bed!
13. Power Strip
You will 100% need a power strip when living in a dorm room, especially if you will be living with roommates who also need outlets.
Power strips are one of the most important things you can buy for your first year of college because they will be a complete lifesaver for all of your college career!
14. Desk Organizer
If you will be working at your desk a lot, then you definitely need a desk organizer, not only to organize your school supplies, but also to organize your thoughts.
A desk organizer will make your work space look so much more clean and put together, and who doesn’t love that when you’re stressing about those college classes? 😂
15. Reading Light
Reading lights are the most forgotten hack for college. If you’re in a dorm room, they can really come in handy when your roommates are on different sleeping schedules than you.
Plus, they can also function as a little flashlight or a soft lamp, which can be a lifesaver when you don’t want those harsh fluorescent lights on in your dorm room.
16. Reusable Dinnerware
If you think you’ll be cooking food in your dorm room, then you definitely need to invest in some reusable dinnerware, because those paper plates and plastic utensils can add up quickly in your small dorm trashcan, and getting them might be a hassle if you won’t have a car.
17. Lint Roller
Trust me on this one. Lint rollers are literally the best invention ever (next to coffee, lol).
Lint rollers are very affordable and extremely handy when you just want all that lint off of your dark clothing.
You can also use them to get lint and fuzz off of your bedding and pillows.
18. Laundry Hamper
This one is kind of a no-brainer. You’ll want some sort of hamper or basket to carry your laundry to and from the laundry room.
Having a laundry bag with a long strap is really nice because you can carry it like a backpack down to your laundry room, which makes it super easy when you have 100 lbs of laundry. 😂
19. Stain Remover Stick
Just like those lint rollers, stain sticks are literally a lifesaver in college.
You don’t have a whole lot of room for a ton of laundry supplies, so these little tubes of gold will save your clothing when you’re in a rush to out of clean clothes.
This post was all about what to buy for college.
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