1. Nail Clipper. It may be silly, but it’s something that you may not think of until you snag your nail. Biting your nails just won’t do.
2. Shower Caddy. If you are in a dorm with community bathrooms, it is much easier to lug around all of your beauty products/soaps.
3. Robe/towel. Walking to and from the bathroom may be awkward if your towel isn’t sufficient enough to cover you after a shower.
4. Flip Flops. Get the cheapest ones that you will only wear in the shower. Shower shoes are nice to have in a community bathroom.
5. Sewing kit. It doesn’t have to be heavy duty, but a needle, thread and some safety pins are almost necessary. I have used them so many times to fix a button, a hole in my pants, or fasten Halloween costumes. If you don’t know how to fix a button or hole, I suggest you learn.
6. Quarters. There are a few different ways to do laundry around campus. At dorms or laundry mats. The dorm machines can take money that is pre-loaded onto your BuckID. Quarters can also be used in vending machines. So between classes when you need a snack, or caffeinated beverage, you can get one!
7. Bed risers. Dorm beds vary. You can end up with a lower bed than your roommate’s—differently if you decide to bunk your beds. If you don’t bunk your beds, bed risers lift the bed high enough to store stuff under there. Space is limited in dorms, and this way you can store anything from your winter clothes to cases of bottled water under your bed.
8. Storage container. This pertains more if you plan to put things under your bed. They sell plastic containers on wheels and other types of boxes that are pretty slim. I had three.
9. Desk lamp. A lot of the dorms on south campus have a single light switch for the whole room. Sometimes it is too dim to do your homework.
10. First-aid kit. A few bandages, some Neosporin and rubbing alcohol. That’s all you need.
11. Medicine. When you are living on your own and are too sick to get yourself out of bed and don’t have a car, it’s nice to have medicine. Pack your own cold medicine, headache relief and cough medicine. Believe me, even if you never get sick, it’s different in college. You live in close quarters with everyone— you even have classes with more students.
12. Toilet paper. This only pertains to students who have dorm rooms with their own bathrooms attached. I had a double suite my sophomore year and we had our own bathroom. Now, you can get toilet paper at the front desk for free, if you like one-ply. I do not. Oh, and buy a toilet bowl cleaner while you are at it.
13. Cookie sheet. All dorms have a kitchen. You can bake cookies or frozen foods every once in a while. I ended up going out and buying one along with a flipper thingy. Other utensils are available at the front desk.
14. Traveling mug. If you are a coffee or tea drinker, you can bring your drink to class or to the library. I discovered this my junior year…if only I had discovered it earlier.
15. Boots. Winter in Ohio is not a picnic. It’s nice to have boots before it starts to snow, and it’s not always easy to predict when that will happen around here. You may have to walk 20 minutes to class every day. Don’t make if harder on yourself. There are plenty of stylish ones out there.
16. Umbrella. At the beginning of the year when it first rains, you will notice who didn’t think to buy one. They are the students who are drenched and miserable. Buy a small expandable one and keep it in your bag.
17. Computer lock. Computers have been stolen right out of dorm rooms, even when people are there. Students and non-students do it, and it’s happened even when people are there and sleeping. Avoid it by purchasing a lock. There are special locks that clip right into your computer and you know the code. However, just be smart and always lock your room when you aren’t there. Even if you are down the hall doing laundry.
18. Card holder keychain. I’ve seen these more around campus at the shops that sell books. It is a small wallet holder that you can slide in your BuckID and money for easy access. I strongly suggest not to put your dorms keys on it though. If you lose one you lose all. I had mine stolen and lost my credit card, BuckID, and my dorm keys. I paid over $100 dollars in fees to replace the keys…you get two; one for your room and one for your mailbox. Not to mention the hassle of canceling credit cards, buying a new BuckID and endangering you and your roommate. You need two things to get into a dorm—a BuckID and keys. Anyone can get in and steal your stuff with that.

This last item is more of something to remember as you go about your life at college. Be smart about your stuff. Don’t think that you are impermeable to this happening. It is important to be responsible about it.

Other than that, I hope this helps. I had to make so many trips my first few weeks at school because of the little things I didn’t think of.

Relax this final week and don’t stress out about all of the stuff you need. Even if you forget, there are plenty of places around campus to buy these things. Getting excited? I am just writing this list. Haha