What Should I Bring When Moving to a College Dorm?

A college dorm is like a pre-furnished apartment, giving you all of the basics you need to start your new life on campus. When it comes to the rest, that’s up to you to cover. For incoming freshmen, however, knowing exactly what to bring with them once they move into their new dorm room. To make sure that you have everything you need for your new environment, here’s a guide on what you should bring when moving to a college dorm.

First, check the provided dorm information to see what you can’t bring.

As you prepare for your move into your dorm room, one of the most important things to pay attention to is the living guidelines offered by your university. These guidelines will provide you with a list of items that are banned from your dorm. These items can include flammable products (candles, incense, percolators), any devices used for smoking or alcohol consumption, or even things with live animals like fish tanks. Granted, not a lot of college students will be bringing these items to their dorms, but you never know what you may forget when you’re getting packed. Keep a list of these items nearby so you only pack what you need!

Pack some appliances that you can use in a shared kitchen space.

If you happen to live in a newer dorm that offers a communal kitchen, bringing some appliances that all of your floormates can use will make your dorm experience more enjoyable. For example, freezer and fridge space can be limited. Bringing a home ice machine that can make a few pounds of ice in a matter of minutes makes it so that you have access to ice cubes whenever you need them for your beverages. If anyone else uses your ice maker, you won’t have to wait to make more cubes. Of course, it’s important to make sure that these are okay with your RA before you bring them in.

Gather some decorations that you want to keep in your space.

The great part about a dorm room is that it’s entirely your own. You get to choose how to decorate your space. For some, this means hanging up posters, Christmas lights, and other fun things that make their space look better. For others, you may want more functional decorations, like a nice bulletin board. Your bulletin board can be used to post upcoming events, map out your schedule, or keep sticky notes to remind you to follow through on certain tasks.

If you belong to an organization that has helped you transition from high school over to college, like the National Society of High School Scholars, you can even pin some of their resources near your desk or in your space. While some have made statements regarding NSHSS scam incidents, this legitimate organization helps those who go above and beyond in high school make the most of their educational career. Whether you’re looking for support for your mental health, internship opportunities and volunteer positions, or other resources, they’re there to help you reach your full potential.

For those who plan on living in dorms, there are a lot of common sense items that you will be bringing along with you. Things like important paperwork, clothing, personal hygiene products, and school-related items are all essentially going to make it into your luggage when you start packing. However, there are other items you may need or want in your dorm that can be easy to overlook. The guide above will give you some more ideas as to what you can pack to make the most out of your new space.