subject: Items Not To Forget For College [print this page] Staying in dorms at college is the first time that many people live away from home. Though the majority can get by without too much difficulty in the often basic circumstances, there are a few things that can make living there a little easier.
- Cleaning Supplies. Student dorms often get very dirty very quickly, especially if there is a lot of socializing taking place. Disinfectant, paper towels, and a general cleaning solution are useful to keep on hand.
- Power Strip / Surge Protector. On average, a dorm room has between 4 and 6 electrical sockets. With all the electrical items that students end up using, there are often more items requiring electrical power than sockets available. It's also common to find them to be located together or in less than convenient places, so having an extension cable or two provides more flexibility to set-up the room as desired.
- First Aid Kit / Bandages. While the mentality of college students is that they are indestructible, occasionally minor accidents can occur that need a little medical care. A basic first aid kit, that includes bandages, cold medication and paracetamol is a neccesity for every student.
- Private Printer / Scanner. Most campuses offer computing areas for students to work at and to print papers, either as a part of thier tuition fees or for a nominal fee per page. Unfortunately, these areas can often be very busy and can be restricted to daytime hours of availablity. Being able to print without waiting around or restrictions with a personal printer makes life less stressful.
- Additional Bedding. The piece of furniture that takes up the most space in a college dorm room is the bed. Since it is the largest thing, it tends to be made use of for things other than sleeping, with it also becoming a sofa, a shelf, or a drying rack, amongst other things. This can quickly lead to dirty sheets that need washing. Having several sets of linens, including a comforter or quilt, sheets, and pillow case, makes sleeping more enjoyable.
- Tools. Things get broke within dorm rooms and, when they do, often the maintenance men are too slow to come or claim that it isn't their responsibility. Having standard tools, such as a hammer and screwdriver, makes such repairs less frustrating.
- Tapes / Adhesives. Most colleges do not permit residents to put holes in walls so to hang pictures or posters. Having tape or adhesive strips makes it easier to hang up posters and pictures without damaging the wall or the decorations themselves.
