What you actually NEED to take to College

At NC State University, students are required to live on campus their first year. I know whenever I was preparing to move I was overwhelmed with the amount of items I needed to purchase and the endless lists on Pinterest that may or may not have been created by someone who has actually lived on a college campus. Now that I have completed my first semester, I have a better idea of the thins I actually need. Some of these items may not be necessary in your Residence Hall or you may need items not listed, so make sure to check out what is included in the room and the measurements of everything, as NC State has listed for one of their dorms here: Carroll Hall

Living on Campus:

• Sheets/bedding/mattress topper/pillows

You bedding includes a mattress on adjustable posts. This east that you must bring you own comforter, pillows, blankets, sheets, and any other items you may need to sleep with. I recommend bringing two sets of sheets so you can wash one and have another pair ready to replace it so you do not have to rush to do your laundry. I also recommend bringing a mattress topper to make the bed more comfortable!

• Hangers

Based on the Residence Halls I have seen on NC State’s Campus, every room has some form of hanging space for your clothes. I live in Carrol Hall and personally have WAY more hanging space than I ever imagined, so I did not bring enough hangers.

• Shower caddy & necessities

If you are living in a traditional suite or hall style residence building at NCSU, then you will be sharing a shower with 8+ other people. This means that you cannot simply leave all of your soap and shampoo in the shower. Instead, you must bring a shower caddy to tote everything back and forth with. It is also extremely important that you wear shower shoes to protect your feet from infections since you are sharing the shower with so many other people. Going along with this category, it is also important to remember to bring your own wash cloths, towels, and I recommend a robe to wear in the hall while going to and from the bathroom!

• Laundry necessities

Similarly to the shower, you will have to leave your room to do laundry. In my case, I have to go all the way downstairs, Because of this, having a laundry hamper you can easily carry is important. You also have to provide your own washing supplies, and I recommend using detergent pods because they are easier to handle than normal detergent.

• Decorations (not a necessity, but makes your living space feel even more like home)

I am absolutely in love with my dorm room and part of the reason is the way my roommate and I decided to decorate it. We got some cute curtains, wall decor, pillows, and a rug to make the room feel more homey!

• Command Hooks

You are not allowed to make holes  in the walls, and will not be able to if you have cinder block walls like I do, so stick on hooks are a must if you are planning on hanging anything at all.

• Luggage

Every Pinterest college packing list I read said do not bring luggage because moving to college is a MOVE not a VACATION. However, it is extremely difficult to take a month’s worth of clothing home from Christmas break without any bags.

College in General:

• Comfortable shoes

Before college, I could have cared less about how comfortable a pair of shoes were as long as they were cute. I would strut all around town, high school, and even the mall in the most uncomfortable shoes without any problem at all. My feet would blister at first, but eventually build up calluses to protect themselves. This always works fine- until I started walked miles a day on campus. The calluses were instantly ripped down into raw, bleeding skin, and I was forced to change my mindset. Now, how comfortable a pair of shoes are is important to me because it is extremely important when you spend all day walking on campus.

• Weather coat

I was just going to say raincoat, but then I thought of how cold and windy it gets outside. Similarly to the shoes, I have never been one to like coats. I would freeze outside just to avoid dealing with the coat once I got inside. Once again, my perspective has completely changed. Now I bundle up in a huge coat that can protect me from all weather as well as hats, scarves, and gloves to keep warm on the chilly winter walks to class.

• Laptop

Almost all my classes have online exams and those that did not at least had online assignments. A good laptop is essential to being successful in college these days and they are also a great investment because they can be used for so many different things. For example, my roommate and I decided not to get a television for our dorm so we both watch shows on out laptops instead!

• Backpack

I am sure you get it by now, college requires a lot of walking. It goes without saying that you will need a book bag to tote your books from class to class.

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