So many of the most important items for college are always left behind! Never forget any of them with this easy guide to all the unexpected things to bring to college!
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Heading to college myself, it is beyond stressful to think about everything from roommates to classes to moving, let alone everything I need to be packing. With everything on my mind, I am bound to forget something.
In an attempt to prevent myself (and you of course!) from forgetting anything for college, I’ve made a list of the most unexpected things to bring to college that you cannot live without! These items are all from current college students and are exactly what you need to have to survive your freshman year.
For a complete dorm room packing list, put in your info below!
This post is all about unexpected things to bring it college!
bedly
I recently found this product and cannot believe how anyone in the dorms lived without it!
Bedly straps are specifically tailored for college dorm beds in order to prevent the mattress pad from constantly slipping around. This is a must have product for college students!
The Bedly strap wraps around your mattress topper and stops your mattress topper, sheets, and you from sliding out of your bed. The clips at the end of the straps allow you to attach them to your sheets so that the sheets don’t move at night.
This product is such an easy solution to such an annoying problem with dorm room beds. Plus, it is super afforable!
lanyard/wristlet
A lanyard or wristlet is so helpful in college when you have to carry around a key card or a physical key. These can also hold a credit card or some cash, so you are never without when you need.
fan
Especially for schools in hot areas, a quality fan is SOOOO important to your survival in a dorm room. Something small like the WooZoo fan is perfect to put on your night table or desk to keep yourself cool in your dorm room.
Rain essentials
Depending on the location of your school, you are definitely not going to want to forget rain essentials!
Get yourself a cute pair of rain boots and an umbrella if rain is common wherever you are going. Even if you don’t use them that often, it’s better to have than to not.
Cold/hot weather essentials
Likewise, if your college is somewhere hot or cold, bring the appropriate weather essentials.
For the cold, don’t forget to pack a heavy jacket, gloves, hats, scarves, hand warmers, and more. For the warmth, remember sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses.
file folder
A file folder makes organizing all your important documents so much easier in college. Sort everything from your birth certificate to financial aid documents with a simple file folder.
Whenever you need an important paper, you’ll know exactly where to find them. You can also buy a folder with a lock or a small safe to keep the file folder in if you are more comfortable with your documents locked away.
robe/towel wrap
A towel wrap or robe is so important to have if you have shared bathrooms in your dorm. Especially for coed halls, you’ll want something to walk back and forth from your room and the bathroom.
For a towel wrap specifically, it’ll take up a little less space in your room, which is essential for such a small space.
mini tool kit
Although you may not need to use it that often, a mini tool kit like this is super helpful for move in and move out day. Something like this one comes with all the essentials you are going to need in a dorm room and will last you all throughout college.
extension cords
It’s not a secret that dorms rooms don’t have too many outlets. And the few that are in the room are never in the right places.
Bring at least two extension cords for your room to organize all of your cords. One is for all of your night table wires (clock, charger, lamp, fan, etc) and the other is for all of your desk wires (chargers, light, printer, etc).
clear bag
Depending on your colleges rules, you might have to use clear bags when you go into the stadium or other big event. Have one ready to go with something small like the product above.
This will fit all of your purse essentials and make sure you don’t have to leave anything behind for whatever event you are going to!
water pitcher
If you have a fridge in your room, get a small Brita water pitcher. This will automatically filter your water, leaving you with a full pitcher of clean drinking water every time you fill it.
This is perfect to leave in your fridge for late night or early morning drinks when you don’t want to leave your room.
costumes
Costumes can come in handy at college for so many events. Obviously Halloween you are going to need some costumes, but also for certain Greek life events or other themed parties.
Having a few on hand can be so helpful when it comes to last minute plans. You won’t have to worry about going out to buy anything or waiting for something to be ordered.
Mini vacuum
A mini vacuum is another essential that is commonly forgotten. Throughout the year, you are going to want to clean up your room and vacuum once in a while. A little Dustbuster like this is perfect to stick in the back of your closet or under your bed and pull out when you need it.
Plus, you most likely will only have to buy it once and you’ll have it for a few years in the dorms.
mini steamer
A mini steamer is super helpful to have on hand to iron out some wrinkles without actually dealing with an iron.
Especially in such a small space where your clothes are bound to get wrinkled some times, having a mini steamer will save your life.
Plus, something like the steamer above is super small. Just like your mini vacuum, you can stick it somewhere under the bed or in the closet where it won’t get in your way, but will always be there when you need it.
mini keurig
For the coffee drinkers out there, a mini Keurig is the perfect little addition to such a small space. It’ll be perfect to give you that early morning coffee if you need it, without taking up too much room in your dorm.
stain remover
Stain remover pens are so helpful to keep in your bag or purse for emergencies. You never know when you or a friend are going to need to use it.
reusable water bottle
A reusable water bottle is so so helpful to have when going about your day in college. If you can, try getting an insulated one like the one above so your drink can stay hot or cold throughout the entire day.
portable charger
This one isn’t too unexpected of an item to bring to college, but is super important so I figured I’d put it on the list anyway. Make sure not to forget to bring a portable charger to college.
Especially when you have long days when you aren’t back to your room at all until the afternoon or night, having a portable charger is so helpful to use when you’re out and about.
command strips and hooks
Especially for move in day, make sure you bring a wide variety of command strips and hooks.
These can come in handy for so many things in a dorm room. You can use them to hang decorations on the wall, hang up certain headboards, hang the curtains over the window, and more. The possibilities are literally endless when it comes to command strips.
As a side note, it’s also important to leave a few extra strips and hooks at school and not take home all of the extras. That way, in case you need to hang something else throughout the year or if something falls down, you don’t need to go out and buy a whole new pack.
step stool
For move in day especially, a little step stool is super helpful to decorate a dorm room. Throughout the year, it can also come in handy when you have to get things down from the top shelf of the closet.
Something like this one is also great for a dorm room because it folds up really small and doesn’t take up a lot of space when you don’t need to use it.
For even more products, check out my master dorm room essentials list (with product links) or get my dorm room packing list below!
This post is all about unexpected things to bring to college!
Other posts you may like:
- Dorm Room Essentials – ULTIMATE List For Freshman
- 8 Dorm Bedding Essentials You Need For college
- 11 College Dorm Decorating Ideas You Will Obsess Over
