Travel light on trip to the dorm

loading...

I remember it well. It was the beginning of August, a few weeks before my freshman year of college started. My bedroom at home, which had always been a bit cluttered, became nearly impossible to navigate as I stocked up on dorm necessities. Milk crates, sheets, towels and a comforter blocked the way to my bed. To get to the desk, I needed to hurdle plastic cups, plates and my parents’ castoff silverware. It was a jungle in there.

Imagine my surprise when I arrived at college only to find that my dorm room was half the size of my room at home – and I had to share it with someone else! My roommate and I had been in contact weekly to decide who would bring what – she had the mini-fridge, I bought a microwave. She had her own TV and VCR, so I took care of the phone.

She was a light packer. I was not. I should’ve been trying to figure out what to leave home, instead of what to bring.

That’s the kind of wisdom that comes with experience, so I’ve decided to dedicate this column to all the freshmen-to-be out there. I know what you need to bring. I also know where to get it. And I know what you don’t need, too.

Those extra-long twin sheets that everyone sells? You probably don’t need them. Most of the people I know didn’t have extra-long mattresses in their dorms. Check with the residential life office before buying any sheets, comforters or mattress pads.

If you do need extra-long sheets, check out the selection of T-shirt bedding at T.J. Maxx ‘n More in Bangor. The soft jersey fabric comes in many colors, and XL twin sets by Champion and Wamsutta cost $14.95 each. You’ll want two – one for the bed and one for the laundry. If you buy a bed-in-a-bag, that will take care of one set of sheets, along with a comforter and sham. Check out the selection at Bed, Bath & Beyond in Bangor.

Also, a husband is fantastic. Not the kind you marry. The kind that goes on your bed. It’s like a pillow with armrests, and it makes reading in bed much more comfortable. And you will want a mattress pad. Trust me on this one.

I seem to be unable to travel without knickknacks, but please, do your roomie a favor and don’t bring that special dried-rose prom corsage your boyfriend bought for you. It will collect dust and probably get crushed after a night on the town. It’s also best if the two of you agree on the posters on the wall, so you should hold out until your campus poster sale (most colleges have them a week or two into the semester). Leave the candles at home, too. You won’t be able to use them.

Remember that your closet will be about a quarter of the size of your closet at home, and plan accordingly. This rule does not apply to underwear, however. The more underwear you bring, the fewer times per month you have to do laundry, which can get expensive. In addition to underwear, the bathrobe is a key item of clothing for dorm life. Buy a nice one. Ditto for flip-flops. You

don’t know what goes on in those communal showers, and chances are, you don’t want to. Be safe. Wear shower shoes.

Be sure to buy a shower basket as well, to tote your shampoo, conditioner, razor, soap and washcloth to and from the bathroom. Any waterproof basket with handles and drain holes will do, but I like the divided model at Bed, Bath & Beyond, which has a place for everything, and the sleek, undivided steel basket at T.J. Maxx ‘n More ($3.99). Ames also has bright plastic shower baskets for $1 – a great deal.

Anyone who has ever eaten cafeteria food understands the necessity of a mini-fridge and microwave. Check to see if it’s OK to bring a microwave, though, as some campuses have restrictions. The TV/VCR/DVD question is up to you to decide. I enjoyed having a TV in my room, but it can get distracting. Do bring a portable stereo, but if you bring your entire CD collection, make sure to bring it in one of those space-saving carrying cases.

You can bring school supplies, but it’s usually easier and fairly affordable to buy them at the campus bookstore. If you don’t have a computer yet, wait until you get to campus to buy one. Most schools have substantial educational discounts that they pass on to students.

The key is to bring enough without bringing too much. Undoubtedly, you’ll forget something. And there will be things you thought you needed that will end up coming home with you for fall break. I’ve tried to take the guesswork out of it with the cutout shopping list below. The rest is up to you. Good luck!

Dorm room shopping list

Bath

. Towels (at least two)

. Washcloths (at least two)

. Bathrobe

. Shower tote

. Flip-flops

. Hairbrush/comb

Bedding

. Comforter

. Twin sheets (two sets)

. Blanket

. Mattress pad

. Husband (also known as a bed rest)

. Pillow

Pantry

. Plastic cups, bowls and dishes (two of each)

. Silverware

. Sponge

. Dish soap (very small bottle)

. Favorite snacks

. Can opener/bottle opener

Appliances

. Microwave

. Mini-fridge

. Study lamp (halogen lamps generally aren’t allowed)

. Computer

. Hair dryer

. Portable stereo

. TV/VCR/DVD

. Fan

. Telephone/answering machine

. Coffee maker and filters

. Alarm clock

Supplies

. Laundry detergent/fabric softener

. Laundry basket

. Soap

. Shampoo/conditioner

. Razor and blades

. Toothbrush (bring two)

. Toothpaste

. Toiletries (cosmetics, face wash, etc.)

. Small toolbox

. Stick-on dry-erase board for door

. Stick-on hooks

. Trash can and liners

. AA batteries

. Light bulbs

. Thumbtacks and-or sticky wall adhesive

. Power strip

. Duct tape or packaging tape

Miscellaneous

. Umbrella

. Raincoat/other coats

. Hat, gloves and scarf

. Prepaid phone card

. Under-bed storage boxes or milk crates

. Sewing kit (for mending)

. Stamps and envelopes

. Iron and small ironing board

. Daily planner

. Small first-aid kit