What You Actually Need For College

Did anyone else go off to college and suddenly at Christmas time and on your birthday all you dream about is receiving a new kitchen appliance or a snazzy set of tupperware? Maybe I’m just weird, but I got a new cutting board, a cool avocado tool, and a few glass containers last Christmas and it was awwwesome! Maybe you’re still in high school and this newfound love for kitchen things hasn’t hit you yet, but this post is still for you. Graduation is coming up in a few short weeks, and I know as a high school senior I had no clue as to what I actually needed for college. Ads and commercials will tell you that you need a gazillion plastic organizers and the rest of the “dorm essentials” but puuuuleassse don’t fall into that marketing trap. And for all of you out there that aren’t graduating high school, maybe you’re looking to purchase a graduation gift for someone in your life. This post is for you too. I spent my first year of college living in the dorms, so I feel like I can now advise you on what you really need, and what you should leave on the Target shelf.

First things first, let’s talk about the kitchen items you’ll want to have on hand. This list is short because you’ll most likely be eating in a dining center. However, there are a few things you’ll want to have.

Two Water Bottles, blender bottle, coffee/tea mug: You need to be drinking a lot of water. I found that it was perfect to have two water bottles on hand because I never got around to washing them very often. The dining center I went to had an iced coffee bar and a coffee/tea bar. If this is offered to you, you’ll want to take full advantage of it and be ready to take the goods on the go. You’re probably paying at least $10-13 each time you go to the dining center so please take full advantage. Just don’t get caught filling up your personal item at the station. I recommend using one of the provided cups, taking the item back to a table, and then sneakily filling up your personal bottle or mug.

Tupperware & lunch bag: I found that the dining center was not always open at convenient times for me. Sometimes I couldn’t make it back during the lunch hour or I was busy in the evening and missed supper. After you’re spending so much money on a dining plan already, it would be kind of dumb to run out for fast food all of the time. My solution to this was to have a set of tupperware on hand. I would fill up my empty backpack with tupperware, and similarly to the bottle/mug situation, I’d head on down to the dining center and see what treasures I could smuggle out. I’d fill up a few plates and take them back to a table where I could dump it into my empty containers. I also had a Packit lunch container in my room (seriously best lunch bag ever) so I could take a meal to go when I was in a pinch.

Mini-fridge WITH FREEZER: Call me high maintenance, but I loved having one of these in my room. Not only could I store all of my “leftovers” from the dining center, but I could also keep a few frozen pizzas and pints of Ben and Jerry’s on hand for when times got tough. This is definitely not a necessity for everyone, but I would consider it a life saver.

Moving on, sometimes we forget that the real reason we’re at college is for the school part. So I figured I’d better share a few things that you shouldn’t show up to class without.

A spacious backpack: I see people walking around campus with cute little backpacks that wouldn’t even hold the amount of snacks I keep on me at all times. I’m here to tell ya to throw fashion out the window. You need a backpack that can handle the blood, sweat, and tears that it takes to get your education as well as one that won’t be ruined in a rainstorm or when the person next to you in your 8am spills their Starbucks everywhere. Make sure that it won’t show stains and that it won’t tear easily. You’ll need room for gym clothes, snacks, binders, notebooks and a laptop - which brings me to my next point.

Laptop: When I was heading off to ISU, I had no idea what kind of laptop to get. All they tell is you is that you need one, but no one is around to help you choose one based on what you need it for. Overall, my recommendation is to purchase a laptop that is lightweight and on the smaller side. It’s the one thing that you’re always going to have on you so it can’t be too heavy. If you’re worried about it being too small, always remember that there are many places on campus that offer large desktops for those projects that require a larger screen.

Multiple Phone Chargers:  This might seem like an obvious one, but having several phone chargers has saved my butt a time or two. I recommend having three on hand - one in your backpack AT ALL TIMES, one at home, and one in your car.

I’ve seen many blog posts similar to this one that list out individual items of clothing that you need to bring to college. I’m not on that level of bossy today, so I’m going to just share what I consider the essentials. Nothing about these items is very cute or fun, but you gotta have them.

Rain Gear: I’ve gotten more use out of my raincoat and boots than I ever thought I would at college, but I’m so glad I have them. It’s also handy to have two umbrellas - one that ALWAYS stays in your backpack and another that can float between your car and room….you’ll thank me later.

GOOD walking shoes: Maybe I’m weird, but I hate taking the bus around campus. There’s just something about being packed in close with other people and their germs that makes me cringe. When I first got to college I just didn’t know how to use the bus, but once I finally learned how to take it places I realized how horrible it was. My solution: wear good walking shoes every day and you’ll get to class with a better attitude and get some bonus exercise.

Winter jacket & gear: Here in Iowa, winter seems to last for the entire spring semester. This past semester the university actually cancelled classes because it was so cold. I’m that loser that wears a winter jacket even when it’s not that bad and I’m always bundled up with all of the accompanying winter gear. I think having a super quality winter coat is an essential item that needs to be on your college list, but I know people who can get by in a sweatshirt the whole winter too. I just don’t understand those people.

Last but not least, there are just a few random things that helped my freshman year of college go by even smoother. These are all things to consider as you check off your last minute details!

Tool Kit: I received this mini-tool kit as a graduation gift and it’s seriously the best thing ever! It’s come in handy so many times - who knew?!

Stun Gun & Flashlight: My dad wants to make sure I’m able to defend myself at all times. Since I can’t get my permit to carry until this June, he got me a cute little keychain stun gun that also doubles as a flashlight. Thankfully, I’ve never had to use it, but the sense of having it available all the time is comforting. Except don’t be like me and almost accidentally tase yourself while waiting in line for a sandwich at the dining center….yes, that really happened.

Too many throw pillows: I’m a firm believer that you can never have too many throw pillows. I fully support any measures taken to make your drab dorm room feel more like home. Whether that be by stocking up on cozy blankets or decorating your room with the same wall hangings you have at home (hey, don’t judge), it’ll make your adjustment to college much easier.

Cold Medicine: During my freshman orientation they kept telling us that we would all get sick within the first couple of weeks due to all of the new surroundings we were experiencing. I didn’t really believe them until three weeks in when I was hit with it. At this point I was stressed with the assignments piling up and first round of tests, and the last thing I wanted to deal with was feeling like crap. If you don’t take anything else from this rambling post, please leave with this: have a fully stocked pharmacy in your dorm room. Get the cold meds, pain meds, tea, vitamin C, cough drops - EVERYTHING you might need. It’s a matter of when it hits you not if it hits you!

Have more questions about what you need to bring to college? Ask me anything! Are you a college student yourself? Let me know in the comments below what’s on your must-have list!