1. Extension cords! The outlets are never where you need them to be, especially if you are a LAN party man like I am. See also: Octopus outlets
2. A fan! It helps drown out the background noise and occasional party or dying/drunk person. Plus if you’re out east it can get hot. Conversely, electric blankets are also godsend during winter. See also: Humidifier
3. Socks… many socks. Throw out all your socks, go to your nearest discount clothing place and buy 30 pairs of the same sock. Boom, no more mismatched morning sleepy sock frenzy.
4. Tools and tape! You don’t realize how much you use a screwdriver and duct tape until you don’t have any. If it moves and it shouldn’t: duct tape. If it doesn’t move and it should: WD-40. Remember, if the women don’t find you handsome, they’ll at least find you handy. See also: Soldering iron, hammer, nails, screws, super glue, **needle nose pliers**, wire cutters, **pocket knife**
5. Water pitcher/tea kettle. If you haven’t gorged yourself on instant noodles, coffee or tea yet, just wait.
6. Rugs, if your dorm room has a tile or wood floor or some variant of this, it will be freezing in winter! Do yourself a favor and get a rug. See also: socks/fuzzy slippers
7. Earplugs, for when your roommate is on Facebook typing away until 3:30 in the morning. It’s usually me anyway… A good pair of headphones will also go a long way, check out the Senheisser 555s.
8. Dark curtains, not blinds, if you are a light sleeper.
9. A backup blanket, I mentioned electric blankets but sometimes that doesn’t cut it. Plus it’s always nice to have a spare blanket to lend to guests if they need it. Plus if you spill coffee on your blanket at 2:30 in the morning and have to get to sleep you’re out of luck.
10. Extra pair of glasses! Don’t wait until you get hit in the face with a football/bus! Ask your ophthalmologist for a prescription and grab a cheap backup pair online.
11. Bigger trash can. Small one might not cut it, you’ll see. Pro-tip: Don’t throw away food, it’ll start to smell and chances are you’re like me and you’ll be too lazy to change it.
12. Shoe mat – snow melting on floor = mess
13. Comfy chair. Sometimes dorm chairs are uncomfortable. Balancing seven courses is so much easier when you can work on a soft chair.
14. Napkins and plastic cutlery for quick meals and quick cleanup
15. First Aid Kit – For you know… those gigantic paper cuts. See also: Imodium, Benadryl, Day-Quil, Ny-Quil (Nye quill? BILL! BILL! BILL! BILL!)
16. A lighter, never know when it can come in handy, for you or someone else
17. Rice/Pressure Cooker, you can make almost anything in a pressure cooker
18. Art for your walls! You don’t want your dorm to look like a prison cell
19. A vacuum! Stuff happens
20. A sense of humor, have fun!
Stay tuned, in a few days I’ll post some must have recipes for university!
Cheers
