College Dorm Essentials By Joanne

It will be tough to get to class if you don't wake up on time. A good start to your first day in college will be to begin your day on schedule at the sound of an alarm clock. It will also be helpful when the alarm on your cell phone fails you, so setting both the cell phone alarm and the clock alarm can save you from those days when you unconsciously snooze past your first alarm. A digital alarm clock is useful because the time is lit for easy viewing in the late night or early morning. Key features when buying an alarm clock include a battery backup (power failures!), size of the numbers (no glasses?), music alarm (bzz bzz bzz can get annoying), and having two built-in alarms versus one (morning alarm and afternoon nap alarm!) With a limited number of available in a dorm room, a surge protector can help provide power for the many electronics you may have - computer, printer, mp3 player, cell phone, alarm clock, desk lamp, stereo, TV, digital camera, bluetooth headset, etc. A surge protector will have enough outlets for almost everything you need. You won't have to go through the hassle of unplugging one gadget to make room for another. It'll also protect your valuable electronics if the dorm has a power surge. Fried electronics don't work well. No one seems to think about buying hangers, but it's one of the first things you'll wish you bought if you're staring into your totally empty dorm closet. Hangers will be handy for bulky articles of clothing that take up too much space in the drawers. And yes, you'll run out of drawer space fast. Dorm rooms are small, so using the space efficiently in the closet will leave more space for you everywhere else in the room. You will need to do laundry when you run out of clothes every couple of weeks. The laundry room can be quite a distance from your room and you may have a lot to carry. A laundry basket will hold all your dirty clothes, as well as the bottle of detergent you remembered to buy. A trash bag may hold everything for your first laundry trip, but it won't last. I have older friends that are still using the same 10-year old laundry basket from freshman year. And don't forget quarters for the washer and dryer! Protect your feet by wearing slippers in the bathroom. Students walk in and out of the bathroom and shower area with their shoes on, so dirt, bacteria, fungus, and other nasty stuff is likely to be layered on the bathroom floor. It would be hygienic to have clean sandals to slip into after a shower (or even wear during your shower). Regular rubber and slippers work great. Cloth straps and leather straps take a while to dry. Be sure to clean your slippers with soap and water every few weeks, too. The showers in the dorms are almost always shared, so it is not a good idea to leave your soap, shampoo, conditioner, bath sponge, face wash, razor, and other things in the shower. A shower caddy is a convenient way to hold all your shower needs every time you shower, whether you keep it in your bathroom locker or your dorm room. Get one with a handle for easy transport and one that fits all of your products. You will need the appropriate sized sheets, a pillow, and a blanket. Most dorms beds will require a twin extra long sheet, so check with your dorm to make sure of the sizing. Twin extra long is different from a regular twin size. If you're thinking about stretching your regular sheet over the extra long dorm bed, it won't work. Buying two sets of sheets will be convenient when one set is in the washer or just dirty in your laundry basket. Sheets with a higher thread count, like 250 or 300, will be softer and more durable. Flannel sheets are warm and comfortable in the winter. A mattress pad will add extra cushion to dorm bed. Remember to bring a comfortable pillow and blanket, too (a thin comforter's nice). If you're not allergic to down, I like it as a fill option for both.