Packing for college can be difficult. It’s tempting to pack everything and the kitchen sink. After all, it’s your first time away from home, and you have no idea what you’ll really need. You’ve got the basics down, like quarters for laundry and vending machines. You know you’ll probably need some clothes. But you just feel like you’re….forgetting something on your college checklist. What could it be? Here are five dorm essentials you should pack for college that most people forget.
1. A surge protector.
Dorm rooms aren’t known for their abundance of electrical outlets. Bringing a surge protector not only protects your electronics from power surges during storms (especially if you’re like me and went to college in tornado alley), it gives you valuable space for extra chargers. You never know when your laptop, cell phone, and tablet will all need charging at once. Trust me, it happens.
2. A stapler.
What? A stapler? Yes, the library has staplers. Yes, the study room in your dorm might even have staplers. However, I can guarantee you, as finals ramp up and everyone in the school is having to turn in an 8 page paper, you’re going to have a hard time finding a stapler that’s not in use. If you find a stapler without a line, it doesn’t have staples. Having your own stapler will keep you from having to visit every library and study room on campus in the minutes before your 8 am class.
3. Reloadable prepaid debit card.
You can use your regular debit card for most things, from lunch off-campus to any clothing items you run out of because you procrastinate laundry. But if you plan on making any online purchases at college, a prepaid card is a great thing to have. Most college wi-fi isn’t secured, which puts you at risk of credit card fraud. After all, the only thing worse than paying $400 for a textbook is having your identity stolen while doing it.
4. A key chain.
You’re going to get lanyards and key chains at orientation, but so is everyone else. To make sure you don’t lose your dorm keys, you want a noticeable key chain or lanyard that doesn’t look just like everyone else’s. I chose a lanyard in neon colors so I would notice if I had set it on the desk and was about to walk out without my keys! College keys can be expensive to replace, so if you’re forgetful, you’ll want to add this to your packing list.
5. Dorm room decor.
Dorm rooms can be dreary. In fact, some of them resemble a broom closet more than a living area, and most of them are painted some shade of beige or gray. Since you’ll be living in your dorm for almost a full year, you’re going to want to make it your own with some fun dorm room ideas. Pick out a fun comforter (maybe in school colors?) and bring some decorations for your desk. To really make a statement, you can go to Photos.Com and buy art to decorate with! Photos.Com features art from some of the best photographers in the world, and can be printed on several different materials, like canvas, aluminum, paper and more to really make your room your own. Find art that speaks to you, or just pick something you think looks pretty!
There are a lot of things on everyone’s college dorm checklist when they head off to college. What do you wish you had added to yours?
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My bedroom needs new photos.
All my rooms! I love putting up lots of family photos, including our pets, of course 🙂
Our living room needs pictures of the family.
My living room needs new photos!
My bedroom and office need some love. Anything relaxing and pretty to look at.
I have a long entry hallway that’s practically naked. It desperately needs something.
my bedroom needs something to cheer it up
It would be nice to have an updated photo in our livingroom.
Definitely the bedroom! It seems to get the leftovers and not very many at that!
My dining room needs some great pictures to liven it up. That is the room we always gather to talk and laugh and entertain guests.
My livingroom could use some new pictures and photos.
My living room for sure. It is dull! Thanks so much for the opportunity! What a fantastic prize!
My basement/family room has a bunch of empty walls.
My bedroom needs new photos.
Our family room needs updated with some photos!
Definitely the bedroom. It looks so unpersonalized, and I work from the bedroom so I need something to make it more homey.
i need new photos in my living room.
My bedroom needs some photos.
My living room needs photos!
My living room for sure needs new pictures it is so boring and bland!
we haven’t decorated our house since we have been constantly moving every year until recently. really all the rooms could use photos
The living room needs some new photos.
My bedroom needs some new photos. Its really bland and needs some stuff on the walls.
My entrance hallway needs some pictures!! It is so bare
Our entry way coming in the home needs something on the walls. I would love to add one of their photos!
My daughter’s bedroom needs nice photos!
My bedroom needs more pics!
Our living room and hallway
I went to a dorm before and it is a little bit hard to be away from your family. Thanks for this tips, I will let my little sissy know about it.
I would love to add some prints to my home office! My email is traciemichelle0515@gmail.com
we need them in the living room and we need something to hang in the powder-room also
The noticeable keychain is a golden item to put on this list! So many people have no idea how easy it is to get items mixed up.
My bedroom could use some photos. All my pictures are in the family room and my bedroom walls are bare.
My living room really needs new ones.
A key chain! I would not have thought of that! i totally wish I had experience dorm room life in college!
My bedroom needs more pictures to liven it up.
My bedroom
Our dining room needs pictures! We have some we want to have printed from a vacation we took!
I am making a note of all the items you mentioned above. My older one has three more years until college and trust me I am not looking forward to it.
What a great list!!!!! My daughter has many years before she’s in college but I will
Keep this list in mind!
I had a Vera Bradley key chain wallet when I was in school. I put my ID in it along with my debit card and hooked the key on the chain! Great reminders!
I would never have thought about a surge protector! What a brilliant item to send with my girl to college!
My dining room needs some new photos.
Such a great list. I’ll be bookmarking for a soon to be collegiate. I remember having a small tool kit that was invaluable and Ive given that to college goers several times.
Our great room needs something to punch up the walls.
Those are some great ideas. I’d never think to bring a stapler, but it makes sense.
Our living room could use some new photos.
Our room needs a new photos. Glad you share this with us.
My living room could use more photos
Our den could use more photos
A surge protector is a great idea. I will have to get one for my Daughter to take to school this year.
My living room could use some new photos.
I hadn’t considered the idea of everyone having identical lanyards. There are things you need to stand out, like your bicycle or your keys.
Pre paid cards are a must these days! I didn’t live in the dorms when I went off to college because my mother lived right down the road so I just lived at home.
Pre-paid cards are a must. Gas and emergencies always come up!
My whole house needs new photos! We have nothing on the walls.
I didn’t think about a surge protector. That’s a great idea for a college student. I bet the plugins are limited in a dorm, too.
Good advice for those moving on to college.
It is such a big turning-point for them.
I am sure this list will come in handy.
My living room
Our living room – the walls are bare!
What a great list of forgotten college dorm items, I never went to a college in real life – only online so no dorm list stuff for this chicka.
My bedroom and Living area need New Phots from Photos.com
For most of my travels, I would also bring my own UPS for my important equipment especially in places where I’m expecting some thunder. That, and the reloadable card has saved me a lot of times. I’m thinking if this post can also be worth sharing for people like me!
I remember when I was in college, so many thing to pack. I never forget of packing a keychain for my keys, of course!
I remember my freshman college says it was only 10yrs ago (as i sob quietly to myself). OMG pre-paid debit card is a lifesaver I learned all about overdraft free my freshman year the hard way…very hard for an already struggling college kid.
My family room needs new photos!
I love to decorate and my home pretty much reflects that but I’d love to add some more personal touches to my bedroom. And maybe my kitchen.
Thank you for the list. My daughter is off to college next year and we are in full list making mode trying to be as prepared as possible before she leaves.
These are really good ideas. You definitely can’t forget to decorate and make your dorm room a second home!
My family room needs some pictures.
These sound like some great reminders, I decided not to go to uni myself, I did do it from home for a while but then my health deteriorated and so I never got to experience dorm life! x
Our living room definitely needs some new photos!
My kids rooms need pictures. They would love this!
What great ideas… but I can tell you, I am happy my Grandkids are out the the dorms. One just graduated college and the other has an apartment.
I have a wall in my living room that I have been working on adding family pictures to. A re loadable debit card would come in handy then I can get some more picture frames.
An extension cord is also a must. I remember needing one because the outlet was to far away. It gave me much trouble until I got to get one.
These are great tips and reminders. I don’t have a college kid YET, but I’m almost there. Will be saving this.
Bringing art to college is so important so you can make your room uniquely yours! I love all the art Photos.com has to choose from. I could use some new art in my office!
The surge protector and key chain are definitely things I would forget! Great list and ideas for college
Our living room could use some new photos!
Thank goodness I only have one more child in college! My son tends to misplace things (especially keys) so I got him a large key chain and I invested in trackers for him to know where his stuff is. I think the surge protector is a good idea too.
My living room needs some updated family photos, Thanks for the chance
A reloadable debit card is a great way to help make sure the kids have the funds they need when they need them at college. It’s also an excellent way to force them to budget. 😉
These are all great ideas. I will be sure to grab my step son a surge protector.
These are great reminders. Who ever thinks that a key chain would be important to college life?