Ten Things Must Haves For Your Freshman Year - Mary Borchers
1. Water bottle - you see water bottles everywhere in classrooms, with students lugging around their Hydro Flasks and Camelbaks everywhere they go. When you have long, busy days in college, staying hydrated is important, and a water bottle makes that easy.
2. At least one professional outfit - although I knew eventually in my college career I would be going on interviews and attending professional events, I didn’t realize how early into my freshman year I would begin my professional development. Even in your first semester of freshman year, you’ll have interviews for clubs or on-campus jobs, opportunities for networking, and other special events where you’ll want to look your best in a business professional outfit. Save yourself some stress (unlike me, who frantically called my parents to ask them to mail a pair of dress shoes from home) and pack a professional outfit.
3. Disinfecting wipes - these will be your best friend when cold and flu season comes around. Keeping your dorm room clean and healthy will help you to feel better mentally and physically.
4. Fan - I lived in Birnkrant my freshman year, which is a dorm which does not have air conditioning. Fortunately, fans are allowed, and the white box fan I perched at the foot of my bed was an absolute essential for me during the months of August and September
5. Sleep mask - when you’re living in a dorm, it’s common for you and your roommate to have different sleep schedules. Keep things easy on yourself, and bring a sleep mask so you can fall asleep even if your roommate needs a desk lamp on to study.
6. HDMI cord - having an HDMI cord will make you the hero of your floormates or friend group when you all decide to have a movie night in one of the common rooms. It’s super easy to hook your laptop up to the TV in the common room, and from there, Netflix, HBO GO, and Showtime all await!
7. Lots of photos - decorate your dorm room walls with photos from home. It’s a fun decor choice, and if you ever feel homesick, your photos can be very comforting.
8. Extension cord - an extension cord or two will make setting up your dorm room so much easier. Underneath my bed now, there’s a maze of cords, but all told, they make it easy to use my phone, laptop, fan, and hair styling tools with ease.
9. Plastic dishes and silverware - it’s a great feeling when you receive a care package from home. That is, until you realize you don’t have any way to eat the instant ramen or mac and cheese that you just received. Keep a set of plastic silverware and dishes for just this purpose - it’s easy and convenient!
10. Fun games - Cards Against Humanity or Bananagrams are a great way to pass time with friends, or, during the first few weeks of classes, to meet your floormates. Start up a game in one of the study lounges or common spaces and have fun!
