Back to School, The Essentials

It literally hurts me to type the words "Back to School." It's a sad fact of life, however, that summer does not last forever. Not that I don't love school, but still...My packing, though it will be slightly painful as I will have to organize my belongings and remove a good portion of my wardrobe from the floor, will not be all too complicated as it will be the third time it will be done.

For new college students life is not quite so easy. I remember the excitement of buying all new things. I also remember my mom's big list we brought everywhere. Slightly more organized than I was, my mom had a list of all things suggested by countless sources for life at school. Two years later and now aware of the specific things I need/like to have in my room I figured I could be the organized one and help anyone looking to start making such a list.

In this post I'll list the essentials and most obvious of these items. All the items will be linked to an online website, but can (most likely) be found at the actual stores as well.

Sleep

- Comforters -

Some students choose to bring quilts or comforters from home to put onto their beds. Many go with the option to buy new ones when they go to school. Companies like WalMart, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Target all have fun, colorful choices. Make sure you check with your school. Most beds are Twin XL, meaning they're slightly longer than your average twin bed.

Reversible Comforter, WalMart, $16 - $24

Reversible Comforter, Bed Bath & Beyond, $39.99

- Sheets -

Sheets can be expensive, but if you try stores like TJ Maxx, you can often find them for a lot cheaper.

Recycled Jersey Sheets Set, Target, $15.99

- Extras -
There's nothing like a couple of fun pillows or a comfy blanket to spruce up your bed and make it not only more comfortable, but to make your room a little homier. I personally have a body pillow I lean on when I'm doing work. Or on Facebook. Also, I'd suggest you buy at least a mattress pad for your bed. They're not uncomfortable, but if you're used to a nice soft bed at home a little cushioning wouldn't hurt.

Body Pillow, Walmart, $10

Toss Pillow, Walmart, $6

Eat
- Dinnerware -
Even though you eat in Alliot for each meal sometimes people like to eat cereal in their rooms in the morning or have a snack at night. You're probably going to want at least one or two plates, bowls, cups, and sets of silverware in your room. I suggest Corelle for plates and bowls. They look glass and clean easily, but aren't breakable like glass. The picture below is a set, however I know that at least the ones from Walmart are sold separately in stores. (We don't have Target in VT, so I'm not sure.)

Corelle 16-piece set, Target, $30
(sold separately at Walmart for sure)

- Appliances -

You should work out with your roommate whether or not you're going to have a refrigerator or a microwave and decide who is bringing what. Fridges come in all sorts of sizes and sometimes fun colors, so you should check to see what size is allowed in your dorm. At SMC you can also rent fridges, which is also something you could look into.

Black & Decker Compact Fridge,
Walmart, $58

Shower

- Towels -

I would suggest having two or three towels and two or three wash cloths so that if there's a sliiiiight delay between trips to the laundry room, you can throw it in your laundry bin and grab a fresh one.

Amy Butler Towels,
Bed Bath & Beyond, $13 ea.

Zebra 3 pc. Towel Set,
Walmart, $24.88

- Caddy -

You're not going to want to carry your shampoo, conditioner, razor, etc. to and from the bathroom everyday. Grab a shower caddy to bring in and out with you for less of a hassle.

Flexi Shower Tote,
Bed Bath & Beyond, $10

Shower Caddy, Walmart, $3

- Flip Flops -

So many people come in and out of the showers everyday it's easy for things to spread. While the bathrooms are cleaned very regularly, it's a good idea to wear flip flops in the shower just to be sure.

Printed Flip Flops, Old Navy, $3.50

Lights

- Floor Lamp -

You, like many others, might not enjoy the glow of the overhead lights in your dorm room. It's also nice to have a light switch right next to your bed. I'd suggest buying a floor lamp to plug in wherever you can turn it off right before bed.

Combo Lamp, Walmart, $27

High Five Floor Lamp, Walmart, $30

- Desk Lamp -

If you work at your desk you may also want to find a good desk lamp.

Desk Lamp and Organizer, Bed Bath & Beyond, $15

So, this is quite obviously not all you should look to bring to school, but it's definitely a good start. Everyone is different and prefers to have different things, but as far as the essentials go this is pretty much it. Good luck in your shopping and check back in for more tips on what to bring!