The Her Campus National Editors write about products we love and think you’ll love too. Her Campus has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase. All products are in stock and all prices are accurate as of publication.
It is wild to think that summer is just around the corner. I feel like just yesterday I was packing up all my stuff, moving into my dorm and experiencing college for the first time. While college can be a very scary thought, this is also a very exciting time in life! I know that for incoming college freshman this transition from high school to college can seen pretty nerve wracking, so I complied a list of the top ten must haves for freshman so that you can have a weight lifted off your shoulders. Let’s get started!
1. mattress pad
Believe it or not, the beds in college can be very uncomfortable when you first move into your dorm. One thing that saved me in college was having a mattress pad. Now, this does not have to be a fancy mattress pad, really any will do. Since having my mattress pad, I have noticed that my bed is so much more comfortable and I can actually get a good nights rest. Typically dorm beds are not made for comfort, so it is up to you to decide what feels best for you and your body. Mattress toppers are a definite must have, you will thank me later.
2. shower caddy
Before going to college I really never thought that a shower caddy would be such an essential part of my life. Shower caddies can apply to anyone entering college, but I think they are the most useful for people who are sharing a bathroom with multiple other people on their floor. With shower caddies you can keep all of your shower essentials stored in one area and you don’t have to worry about running back to your room for different products or just carrying everything at once. You can stay organized and on top of things, while also staying clean at the same time!
3. vacuum
The amount of times that I have spilled stuff on my floor is crazy. Having a vacuum in my dorm with me is something that has truly helped me. I feel like this is something that would seem like an “obvious” essential, but honestly a lot of people forget about it. I originally got a hand held vacuum, but to be honest it did not work as well as a regular vacuum. Thankfully my roommate had a regular vacuum and it worked so much better. Overall I ten out of ten recommend a vacuum…it will save your life.
4. planner
Life in college can can very overwhelming at times. I know, personally, that I will sometimes feel so stressed out about the amount of homework, meetings, and exams I have in just one week. Having a planner with me is something that has made my college experience so much easier. One thing that has really kept me organized in my planner is keeping each class color coded. Not only is it very helpful to know what work you have due when, but it is also such a good feeling to cross off those assignments and/or tasks once you finish them!
5. extension cords
While dorms can be great in many ways, one thing that they lack is plugs. I have found that extension cords are an absolute need. Right by my desk in my dorm I only have two plugs, but I plugged in a lot by my desk such as my laptop, phone, night light, fan and so much more that two plugs would just not do. Just like the vacuum, this is such a small thing that people forget about it, however it is going to save you in the long run.
6. fun lights
Before moving into my dorm, the room was super bland and sad looking. Something that made my room look much more happy and fun was having lights around the room. Lights are something that is cheap and it adds so much to a simple dorm room. Not only are the lights cute, but they are a very nice night light too. As weird as it may sound, having lights in my room has created such a relaxing enviornment where I really do feel motivated to get my work done.
7. Full length mirror
Having a mirror is literally an essential in not just my life, but I feel like everyone’s life. In college dorms majority of the time there are going to be zero mirrors. Having any mirror in your room will help, but especially a full length mirror. I bought my full length mirror at Target for under ten dollars and it was definitely worth the buy. Not only me, but my roommate also uses the full length mirror everyday. It is nice to see how my outfit, makeup and hair looks without having to run to the bathroom for a mirror. This is such a cheap purchase that will be so useful and make your life much easier.
8. air freshener
When you first move into your dorm I promise you that the room is not going to smell pleasant. In most cases, quite a few people have lived in that dorm before you. Keeping something as simple as an air freshener in my room has made life so much better. Something that my roommate and I like to do is to change out the different scents of our air freshener for whatever season it is. It makes me so happy to walk into my room and smell flowers rather than old dorm room smell. Not only is this such a quick buy, but you will get many compliments on how good your room smells, I promise you.
9. first aid kit
Believe it or not, while you are in college you are most likely still going to get paper cuts, bruises or overall just any case where you will need a First Aid Kit. Before moving into college I didn’t even think about buying a First Aid Kit until I was at Target and saw one sitting right in front of me. What I put inside of the kit is things such as big bandaids, small bandaids, Neosporin, gloves, safety pins and much more. Now hopefully this is not something that you will need to use often, but if you ever do need it it is a useful thing to have stored somewhere in your room.
10. lots of extra storage bins
I am not going to lie, I am the kind of person who overpacks. Whenever I go on vacation for a week I will pack like I am going to be gone for three months. Moving to college, this was something that I struggled with. I packed so much. It got to the point that when I moved into college there were some things that I had no clue where to put. Since moving in, I have realized that buying extra storage is something that was so convenient for me. At Target, I bought a three drawer storage bin (I’m sure you can tell buy now that Target is my favorite place to shop), and I used that for extra clothing space. Even though I used my extra storage for clothes, you can obviously use your extra space for whatever you feel is necessary. Don’t be afraid to buy extra storage, if you need it, do it!
Hopefully by now you got some inspiration of what to buy for your college dorm. I know that college can be a crazy time in life, but have fun with it! Spice up your room and make it your own. College goes by quick, so make the most of it!