by Jael Ravalyn

Created on: July 19, 2010

A College or University endeavor, like any of life’s battlefields, is better handled when solidly prepared for, well, at least in terms of supplies.  When living away from home, in dorms. it usually involves a roommate or two and dorm monitors.  Wherever it happens, unmatched friendships will form, defining experiences will flood, and betrayal is inevitable.  Through all and any of it, having a towel when you need it and sheets to call your own can make all the difference.

Cue the drum roll, please, the top ten necessities for the dorm-bound college freshman are:

1) Towels/Robe—be mindful of where you hang these as pranksters will like to hide them & have more than one so that laundry day doesn’t have to come too soon

2) Sheets/Pillows—again more than one set of sheets so laundry day doesn’t come too soon  & an extra pillow or two for ergonomic support or just to cuddle (replace a pillow with a stuffed animal if you got the confidence)

3) Flip-flops—for the public showers and toilet rooms as you can imagine the floors are less than pristine

4) Shower tote—with a handle to make carrying shampoo, conditioner, soap, razor, etc. with a towel…assuming, of course, you have but two hands for the trek from your room to the showers

5) Toiletries—antibacterial gel, lip balm, wet wipes in addition to all the other basics (deodorant or cosmetics)

6) Clothes/shoes—obviously and remember to check the season schedule and pack/shop accordingly because 4 seasons vary in their expression

7) Lamp/desk kit—you won’t want to be borrowing all your pencils or computer/printer stuff; the lamp will help if you don’t fall asleep as early as the roomie and need a light

8) Lock box & First Aid kit—seriously put your watch, jewelry, money, and laundry quarters in a lock box!  A little paranoia can save you some money no matter how much you trust your roommate, Dorm Monitor, or friends. The first aid kit is because asking for band-aids is more humiliating than needing to ask around for a pencil

9) Night mask/ear plugs—for when you want to turn in early and don’t like light or noise when you sleep

10) Cleaning supplies/quarters—the janitor does not clean the dorm room so bring your own windex for the mirrors and such and the washing machine and dryers ain’t free (maybe check if you'll need a prepaid card to swipe for use or if quarters is still a standard where you are headed)

Welcome to the intermediary phase between teenage life and adulthood.  Learn well from class (and the dorm)!

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