My daughter was traveling extensively this summer and only had a half-day to pack up for college at Rhode Island School of Design. It was not enough time so she came home to get the rest of her things a few days after she moved in. It gave us time to get her a few more things to make her room cozy to help dispell the homesickness.
Her room came with trashcans and over-the-bed bulletin board. It did not have air conditioning although many of the dorms on campus do. They do not provide dorm fridge or microwave but you can rent or buy from them and it is delivered to your room.
Her room is a 5th-floor walk-up but it’s not as bad as it sounds. Her school is on a steep hill, so the fifth floor is really just one flight of stairs from the main level of her dorm compound.
Because she had a really bad dorm lottery room number, she wasn’t able to get a room with air conditioning. She’s lucky that it doesn’t really get hot in Providence except for a week or two at the start of school.
Here’s her list of dorm room essentials:
- Shower caddy
- Shower shoes – she uses flip flops
- 2 sets of towels
- bedding (she opted for duvet)
- Laundry basket – she has a backpack version
- desk lamp
- hangers
- extension cord & power strip
- command hooks
- push pins
Here are some nice-to-have dorm room items:
- Fan or AC/Heater unit (or both)
- Hair towel
- Throw pillow or two
- Rug
- House plants
- Foam mattress topper
- Throw blanket
- Extra pillows
- Portable speaker
- Small fridge
- Microwave
- Coffeemaker
- Plates, bowls, mugs, flatware (because you can borrow from your cafeteria)
- Organization drawers
- Shoe caddy
- Full-length mirror
- Ramen maker
- Bulletin Board/dry erase board
- Noise-canceling head phones
Her room is still a work in progress. I’ll take more photos once her room is done with the walls decorated. So far, she’s happy with her room and is sleeping well! I think the foam mattress pad is a good investment because that seems to help though her bed is still a little soft for her.
And the homesickness seems to be dissipating now that classes have started. A smooth start to college is all a parent ever wants for their child, and sometimes it’s the little things like a plant that can make a dorm room feel like home.
How about you? What are your tips for a smooth transition to college? Was there something special that you recommend for a dorm room? Thanks for sharing!
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It’s been a while since my kids went off to college, but the essentials have pretty much remained the same. I think you have all the bases covered!
Get a plywood board (or try to find a folding bed board–I got ’em years ago at a store that no longer exists, but maybe online) to put under the mattress, between mattress and box spring or frame. I have a real oak board under my thick, firm mattress, a legacy from my parents. And a foam mattress topper, as well, so that it’s not too hard. Z will sleep really well with that combination. Can’t believe she’s already in college! Well, not far away–90 min. by car. All best to her and to you!