Are you having difficulty knowing what to bring to college? This is often a stressful time for incoming freshmen, but here’s a list of things you might think you need for your dorm room, but you probably won’t use very often, if at all. It is super important to remember that dorm rooms are typically very small and you will probably not have a lot of storage space.
Here are 10 things most freshmen don’t need to brig to college.
Here are 10 things better left at home
More than two bath towels
One thing I remember from my freshman year was that I really didn’t need more than two towels. The rest just sat in my closet while I would typically just rotate between the same two towels when one was being washed.
Bulky luggage
I would definitely recommend only bringing collapsible luggage that can be stored under your bed easily, because it will take up way less space than hardside luggage.
Unnecessary kitchen appliances
As a freshman, you will likely be eating the majority of your meals at a dining hall, so you won’t need to bring kitchen appliances such as a toaster. Some students like to bring a coffee maker, but I would not recommend this unless you are truly an avid coffee drinker. I have a severe caffeine addiction, and I was totally fine without a coffee maker and just drank coffee at the dining halls.
However, you probably want to bring a microwave and a mini fridge. The fridge comes in handy for leftover meals and snacks and the microwave is great for popcorn and reheating leftovers.
Too much clothing and too many shoes
You definitely do not need to bring your full closet of clothes from home. I would suggest only bringing about half of your clothes, but make sure you have a good mix of casual and classy clothes. The same thing goes for shoes; due to limited space it is a good idea to only bring shoes you wear often and not every pair of shoes that you own.
Printer
Printers typically take up a lot of space, and you don’t really need one, since there are printers in most buildings on campus, which will likely be a short walk away. I would usually print my papers on my way to or from class.
Iron/Ironing Board
An ironing board takes up quite a bit of space, even a compact one, and it is unlikely that you will need to use it more than twice a semester. Instead, I would recommend a steamer, or even better, you can probably just borrow an iron or steamer from someone else in the dorm.
Throw pillows
These are probably one of the most unnecessary things I brought to college. You will probably only use them to take a cute dorm picture and never use them.
Candles
Candles are prohibited in almost every college dorm, which is something that I was definitely unaware of.
Items of Value
Do not bring your diamond earrings or anything you would regret if lost. It’s easy to lose or misplace things, so definitely leave things of value or items you especially treasure back at home.
Television
While some people may think it is a good idea to have a television to relax and watch movies with friends, I would disagree. Having a television can be an annoyance to your roommate if you want to watch television and your roommate is trying to study. Plus, most shows are now on Netflix or other streaming services, which can be watched from your laptop or iPad. Even better, you can use headphones to watch without bothering your roommate.
Enjoy your college experience and make the most of your time — it goes very quickly.
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