What should I bring to my college dorm?

[DoperChic]

Hi all. I'm a college freshmen and am finally getting to move into a dorm room next month (I am currently commuting the 45 minutes to and from school every day - yuk!). The college supplies every student with a desk, bed, closet, and dresser. What I need to know is: what else should I take with me? I am terrible at packing even for a weekend trip and always forget something. Any ideas?

Thanx,
Star Light

Ps. I'm not allowed any appliances that produce heat (hot plate, toaster, etc), so all that stuff is out. But I can do a hair dryer, curling iron, etc.

[Jekeira]

Confer with your roommates, and split the cost of a mini refrigerator and a small microwave. There will definitely be days when you want to eat your own groceries in your room instead of going to the cafeteria. Also, take your bike (and a good bike lock).

Does the college give you a bookshelf? You will accumulate fabulous amounts of books, and considering the amount of money you'll have to spend on them, and the amount of time you'll spend reading them, you should store them proudly on shelves, not in boxes under the bed.

That's all I can think of now. I loved campus life when I was at school. What are you studying, Star Light?

[screech-owl]

Couple of questions -

Are you living alone or with a/some roommates? (No sense having 6 lamps and 4 telephones)
Are you in a suite with a bathroom, or will you have to traipse down the hall?
Does the floor have cooking facilities (my dorms had one kitchette [small sink, small refrigerator, small stove and oven] for use by residents, since we could not (legally) have hot plates and coffee makers in the rooms)?

[DoperChic]

Jekeira, the bookshelt idea is great. I love to read and it would be good storage for other stuff too. My current major is English Ed, but I may change it to psychology or even something involving acting. I'm not sure yet, so I'm just sticking with the teaching bit for now.

The dorm rooms are really tiny, and we have to double up. There's barely enough room for hte furniture I listed earlier. There are two beds (one for me and one for my roomie). They can be stacked if we so chose.

We don't have a kitchette, screech-owl and even microwaves aren't allowed, although a small refrigerator is. I love to eat, and do so 24/7, so a fridge will help, but the no microwave thing sucks.

The bathrooms, showers, etc. are down the hall

[rockstar]

Be sure to have stuff to decorate your room. I recommend pink flamingos and a poster for Brazil but that's just my opinion.

[DoperChic]

Good news! I just found out from my friend that I can have a microwave, but only if it is attached to a small refrigerator. Now if only I could find a place that sells one...

::And with that, Star Light begins her search... ::

[andygirl]

Post it notes.

At least one of your favorite books.

Spare medicine. Tylenol, immodium, sinus stuff... whatever you might need.

A bathrobe and flip flops for the shower.

At least one "fun" set of clothing- themed or what have you.

An umbrella, gloves, and a hat.

Push pins.

A laundry basket.

A whiteboard.

A desk lamp and a fan.

[screech-owl]

Starting with the shower -
* pair of flip-flops for walking to and from the shower (and if it's anything like my dorm, standing in the shower - ugh, nasty).
* bucket for carrying bathing essentials- shampoo, contitioner, toothbrush (with a cap), toothpaste, soap (in a box), any other toiletries you need or prefer
* small scrubby - washcloths can get grotty quickly, those puffy netty thingies on a rope are easy to rinse out and dry quickly
* a bathrobe
* a couple of towels
* a large bathsheet is good for when the a-holes in the dorm sneak in and swipe all your clothes while you are showering [our showers had a towel bar inside the shower - I learned to keep the bathsheet there in case of emergencies].

Things I took for granted at home:
* Fingernail clippers/scissors
* Emory boards
* Toenail clippers
* Tweezers (for the occasional grey hair)
* Acne medicine
* Small sewing kit (needles, pins, safety pins [assorted sizes] and thread - black, white, brown, blue and red - you can take take care of nearly any emergency with these items)
* Box to store the above items (clear plastic shoe boxes are great - you can see what's there or missing in an instant!)
* Small first aid kit (believe me, this came in handy a few times!)
* Laundry detergent
* Dryer sheets (these are great if you have to polish your shoes!)
* Laundry basket (for laundry)


HOARD EVERY QUARTER YOU CAN FIND AND DO NOT LET ANYONE FIND YOUR STASH!!! Having quarters in a dorm is the equivalent of being the local superhero, adored by the bleary-eyed masses who find out the soda machine does not take a five-dollar bill, a crumply one-dollar bill, four dimes and six pennies, or MasterCard. The feeling of power is just overwhelming, and you will be very popular, very quickly. Just make sure you keep some for your own emergencies. (Note: charging a fee or interest is not a good idea if you want to remain friendly with the people on the floor - people get really mad quickly and will ind ways of revenge - ask my ex-college roomate).

I'll think of more while browsing other threads.

[mblackwell]

Good news! I just found out from my friend that I can have a microwave, but only if it is attached to a small refrigerator.

This sounds like a job for... DUCT TAPE!

[Brood McEto]

beer

[DoperChic]

Originally posted by mblackwell

This sounds like a job for... DUCT TAPE!

Sounds like my father. Anything that couldn't be screwed together, nailed together, or glued together, got duct taped together.

A big thanx goes out to mblackwell and screech-owl. There are so many things I take for granted that I never would have thought to bring. Keep the ideas coming.

Thanx,
Star Light

[Le Sang]

The one thing that makes my room seem like home is my rug. Just that touch of niceness the college can't provide, you know?

It is often also a good idea to bring curtains (the standard ones in every dorm I've seen are useless) and a lamp of your own.

[screech-owl]

Books -
* Dictionary
* Thesaurus
* Writing manual (one your professors prefer, i.e. Chicago Manual of Style (or whatever it's titled)
* Guinness Book of World Records (for when you are bored or have a bet going)
* Bible (whether you are spiritual or not, it's great for quotations and references for literature classes)
* Unabridged Shakespeare plays & sonnets (great reading and reference)
* Rhyming dictionary (optional) - helpful

[Yes, these may be available on-line, but power outages occur at the most inconvenient times - I also kept a manual typewriter at school (stashed under the bed) - saved my grade big time when we had a major outage and the paper was due the next day. The professor let everyone turn in the paper late, but was quite impressed with my effort to get the assignment done and turned in on-time (gloat, gloat, pat on the back).]


Desk-
* Small lamp
* Clock radio
* Pencil sharperner (better two, in case one is lost or 'borrowed')
* Stash o' writing untensils (pens, pencils (regular and colored), markers)
* Blank book (keep a journal, write bad sappy poetry, you won't regret it later)
* Ruler
* Scotch tape
* Glue
* Paper clips
* Stapler (full sized, not one of those little ones the size of your palm that stress out over more that two pieces of paper)
* Extra staples
* Typing paper (ream of copy paper is good)

{Get the idea? Browse the aisles of an office supply store.)

[thinksnow]

milk crates are the pinacle of storage containment, get some of those

a pitcher for Cool-Aid and a big'ole stiring rod/spoon

Lysol spray (you never know)

condoms (you never know )

an Ansel Adams print (I think it's required for dorms)

[DoperChic]

Originally posted by thinksnow
condoms (you never know )

Condoms...tee hee

::Star Light's face turns a rather striking shade of crimson::

[kellibelli]

Lava Lamp.

Glow in the dark wall decorations.

A vaporizer/humidifier.

Cold medication, gravol, Pepto Bismol, Tylenol, Midol, Earache drops, sleep aids, band aids. Cough Drops!

A case of ramen noodles.

Panty liners.


DO NOT BRING: anything you dont want others to see, read, smell, hear, drop, break, use, eat, etc.

[Zenster]

Here a couple that are so simple it's disgusting. None the less, when you run into the need for them you'll thank your stars.[list=1]
[*]Outlet strips, two at least
^{(MUST HAVE ITS OWN 15A CIRCUIT BREAKER ON THE STRIP)}
[*]Three prong AC linecord adaptors
^{(AT LEAST ONE OR TWO)}
[*]A pocket tool for fixing things
^{(GERBER IS BETTER THAN LEATHERMAN)}
[*]A good reading light with high output
^{(HALOGEN OR INCANDESCENT BUT NOT FLUORESCENT)}
[*]A good quality flashlight
^{A MAGLITE (2C or 2D) IS THE BEST}


and finally some frivolous ones...
[*]A small but complex shaped plant for a pet
^{(GOOD EYE RESTING POINT AFTER STUDYING)}
[*]A small vase for a cut flower or two
^{(ANOTHER GOOD EYE RESTING POINT)}
[*]A set of tupperware for your munchies storage
^{(ALSO KEEPS OUT MOST OF THE SMALLER VERMIN)}

[delphica]

Adding to what has been said before:

A deck of cards

Something you can wear to bed and also outside if need be (runs to the deli, fire drills, whatever) such as sweats and t-shirts.

A flashlight, even a pen-size one.

More underwear then you think you will need (however much you think you need, you can use more)

Go through your mom's phone book and copy out any numbers you think you might need. I remember being frustrated several times in college because I needed a number and I couldn't get hold of my mom.

A packet of plastic knives, forks, spoons -- you will be happy when the Chinese food arrives without any utensils, someone gets birthday cake but forgets forks, etc. When you have extra plasticware from food deliveries, keep it in your stash.

DON'T bring valuable jewelry or any items that can't be replaced.

Good luck and have fun!

[MovieMogul]

One thing I'm surprised people haven't mentioned is a place setting and utensil set. Nothing fancy, but a plate and bowl will be useful, as well as the fork/knife/spoon thing (however, if you plan on doing any entertaining, a second set is nice). Also a couple of pieces of tupperware (for leftovers, etc.)

Other things people haven't mentioned: 3-ring hole punch, flashlight, battery-operated alarm clock, calculator, postage stamps and letter-size envelopes, and an extra pillow (dorm ones can be pretty worthless)

Some bigger ticket items listed (curtains, fan, humidifier) as well as some others (answering machine, portable iron) can probably wait until you arrive since it'll save you space while moving, and they're costs you can split with roommates (or determine if you need at all--someone else might be bringing them already).

Last of all, you definitely need to bring an open mind. Given that you're on the SDMB, I doubt this'd be an issue, but as someone who oversaw a dorm of 1000 students, I know the #1 roommate conflict issue I'd see was people coming in with too unrealistic and too rigid expectations of their roommates. Do you know them already? 99% of the time, you don't, so people who've never had to share a room before (say, with a sibling) often come in totally unprepared about what to expect.

Sit down and write a list of things you do/don't like. Are you a night person or morning? Do you listen to music while studying? Are there certain types of music you absolutely hate? How loud do you listen to music? Are you planning on having sleepover guests? How would you feel if your roommate did (especially if s/he did a lot)? What is your concept of "sharing"? "Privacy"? "Personal space"? How do you relax? Do you drink and do you mind if others do? Are you a talkative person, social and outgoing? How do you deal with someone who is/isn't?

Being a roommate involves compromising on some of the above, and needing to assert your right to some of the above as well. How are your confrontation skills? Are you passive-agressive? Do you like to avoid conflict? How flexible are you? I've seen a lot of first-year students go in expecting to bond with their roommates; it doesn't always happen. But very different types can get along fine if you actually initiate a conversation about this kind of stuff early on (it doesn't have to be all serious, but it's a good way of helping break the ice). You'll find that your self-assessment skills will go through the wringer at college, but if you take it for what it is--a process that lasts until graduation--you can make the most of it.

I should add one last thing. Dorm Rules. I've broken them and I've enforced them. One thing I always emphasized to the students I worked around (and lived with) is that with additional freedom comes additional responsibility. Treating them like adults meant holding them accountable like adults. It won't take more than 10 minutes, so be sure to read what all the dos/don'ts are in your dorm. Some might seem stupid, some might seem obvious, but if there are any that don't make sense or you disagree with, don't hesitate in looking up your RA/RD and asking them for the lowdown. You still may not agree, but I often found that certain scenarios never occurred to people before (scenarios that are much better avoided) and they'd come away having a better sense of why some of the rules are there. Also, it's good to know your hall staff because they've been on campus a while, so they'll have answers to questions and access to resources that could help early on. Plus, if any situation comes up (you get "busted", you have a problem with your roomie, you need someone to talk to, etc.), you already have a bit of a rapport with that person.

I am certainly not the first person to say that college students very rarely allow school to get in the way of their education while enrolled. Have a ball and good luck with everything.

[tygre]

Instead of the bucket to haul your toiletries in, get one of the handled crates, so water doesn't sit in it and get funky.

Stereo - take a boombox, and leave your nice stereo at home.

HEADPHONES. So you can listen to musice while roomie studies, or vice-versa.

If your room doesn't come with it, a cordless phone and answering machine. The cordless is nice when you have a private call, so you can go down the hall without struggling with the cord.

Get a roll (at least) of quarters for the washer and dryer, and take detergent, fabric softener sheets, and a pretreating stain stick.

Thick socks or slippers. Dorm floors are COLD. Also, warm gloves and a hat and umbrella for bad weather on campus.

More than one set of sheets for your bed. Many dorms have "twin-long" sized beds, and regular twin sheets may not fit, so make sure what size bed your dorm has. Two sets of sheets means the bed doesn't have to sit naked while you're doing laundry.

Extra pillows, for sitting on the floor.

Kleenex and paper towels. Also some plates and silverware to have for birthday treats, etc.

--tygre

[DoperChic]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Other than the basics, I had no idea what to bring before tonight. Thanks to everyone who responded to my post, especially ArchiveGuy, I now have a list of over 50 things I can't live without in my dorm room. I'll keep checking in to see if any new ideas get posted.

Thanx again,
Star Light

[Philbuck]

Originally posted by Star Light Star Bright
Ps. I'm not allowed any appliances that produce heat (hot plate, toaster, etc), so all that stuff is out

Speaking as someone who has lived under the same restrictions for the last three years, you need:

1) A toaster, and
2) A hot plate

Okay, so sniff around a bit and talk to people first, but such rules aren't always enforced (heck, my roommate and I each have a toaster.) Certainly none of my RAs have ever cared (and most had such things themselves).

Of course, you could just do what one of my brother's suitemates did and hide the toaster behind a plant...

And have fun, dammit!

[DoperChic]

Originally posted by Philbuck

Okay, so sniff around a bit and talk to people first, but such rules aren't always enforced (heck, my roommate and I each have a toaster.) Certainly none of my RAs have ever cared (and most had such things themselves).

Of course, you could just do what one of my brother's suitemates did and hide the toaster behind a plant...

And have fun, dammit! [/b]

Thanx Philbuck. I had no idea that most RA's are that laid back. The only experience I have with college dorm rooms is from watching TV. Somehow, they don't seem to quite compare to my situation.

Hiding a toaster and hot plate is a good plan. I could always stuff it in a dresser drawer when finished.

[thinksnow]

thinksnow
condoms (you never know )

Condoms...tee hee
::Star Light's face turns a rather striking shade of crimson::

hehe! Blushing, that's cute!

Another all important item: a bean-bag.
Sure, they take up a ton of space (relatively), but they are absolutely worth it. Everybody loves them and you'll often have to try extreme measure to keep your seat if you get up for a moment.

They're also good with the above mentioned items!

[DoperChic]

Originally posted by thinksnow
[
condoms (you never know )

Another all important item: a bean-bag.
Sure, they take up a ton of space (relatively), but they are absolutely worth it. Everybody loves them and you'll often have to try extreme measure to keep your seat if you get up for a moment.

They're also good with the above mentioned items!

Haven't tried that one yet. Sounds like fun.

[nineiron]

Instead of quarters....

The dishonest way of manipulating washers and dryers (or so I've heard) is to either a.) get one of those hair picks used by folks with curly hair or b.) use a regular clothes hanger. The prongs of each can be put into the coin slots to trigger the mechanism. This is very illegal, so only do it when no one else is around. Or so I've heard.

As for the hotplate issue, all colleges have regulations against them, but I've yet to hear of one that enforces this rule. How could they? Just be careful.

[DoperChic]

I've found a way around the quarters issue at home (I live in an apartment complex). I put in the quarters, then slide them in just enough that the machine registers the quarters as being there, then yank them back out. End result...free wash. Yay!

I'm really hesitant to do this at school, however, for fear of getting caught. Either I'll be doing a lot of wash at home or just go late enough that no one will be around to catch me.

[phouka]

Forget the hot plate. Get yourself a hot pot. It's like a teapot with a plug. You can make anything from hot chocolate to ramen soup to macaroni and cheese. Very handy.

Take all the books you can carry. They are your friends.

Don't forget ear plugs.

Maybe a long distance card, just in case?

Take a whole bunch of pictures of your family and friends and post them above your desk. It'll cut down on any homesickness.

A nice little floor rug will cut down on the chilly feet.

[Green Bean]

Tool Kit This will be necessary, and since nobody thinks to bring one, you will be popular. You need nothing fancy: hammer, pliers, phillips scredriver, flathead screwdriver, utility knife. Throw in a roll of duct-tape, a big magic-marker, and one of those little packages of assorted nails and cup-hooks, and you will be all set.

[Erika]

I agree wholeheartedly with what most people have said. ::looks around dorm room:: I'd add
1. stuffed animal (they're always there. and if you choose the right size, they double as weapons!)
2. K-mart quality plastic dishes
3. a few legos, or a slinky, or nerf dart gun, or play-doh, or something else that falls into the little kid toy category
4. a couple of things that make you feel at home - ie, the odd string thingy you've had hanging over your desk forever, or the flannel pants that always make you feel better.
5. an emphatic second to the blank book, for the same reasons.
6. markers. glue. other random stuff that you forget that you ocasionally want to use. or that people on your hall will want to use, and therefore come visit you.

now, random college stuff thoughts:
1. you don't want to be the one with the most stuff. if there's stuff you think you can do without, try it. if you need it, it's only 45 minutes away, or you can have it mailed to you, or whatever. And if you take something, and discover you never use it/trip over it constantly, take/send it home.
2. mentally walk through a day/week/whatever period of time is apropriate. make sure you can do your basic daily routines. make sure you'll be able to do them. if you juggle to relax and bring nothing juggle-able with you, you will not be happy.

[Sledman]

College dorm supplies...

Dryer sheets
masking tape
The cardboard tube from a paper towel roll.

If you don't know what that is for you don't need it.

[beakerxf]

When you get headphones, try to get the big bulky ones with super long cords. They block out a lot of noise, even when you aren't listening to tunes. The extra long cord allows you to wander around the room.

Bring the minimum amount of clothes. I found that it's much easier to keep the room tidy if you don't have more clothes than dresser space. Plus, students tend to shop when they get bored. You might need rooom to expand.

Remember, that you will somehow have twice as much stuff at the end of the semster. So don't cram your room full in the beginning.

You might consider a mini tape recorder. You probably won't need it for most of your classes, but you never know when you'll get a teacher that tests more from the lectures than the text.

Don't bring too many hangers because they take up too much room in your luggage. They're cheap enough to buy when you get there.

[DoctorJ]

I can't emphasize enough the imporance of milk crates. They're shelves, they're chairs, they're tables, and when you move, you can pack your stuff in them.

You can buy them at your local Corporate Behemoth Mart, but you'll never match the quality found in those that are used to distribute actual milk. I would never advocate stealing, but I would suggest stealing some of those if possible.

Speaking of stealing, the pinnacle of dorm room decor is the Orange Road Cone.

Does the dorm have hardwood or tile floors? If so, I'd start looking around for a big-ass piece of carpet. Odds are, someone you know has one rolled up in their garage/attic that they'd love to get rid of. Not only can it change the character of the room, it can make hitting the floor first thing in the morning less traumatic.

Don't skimp on a bathrobe--get a good one. Also, don't forget to have a few hats, to cover up the bed hair when you inevitably oversleep and wake up six minutes before your 9:00.

Dr. J

[StGermain]

I'd recommend a small TV/VCR combo. That way when Buffy, or your soap, (or whatever your favorite show is) is on, you can still go to class and catch it later. It'll cut down on the need for skipping class.

StG

[Mundo]

I'll add my two cents.

1. Make sure you bring something warm that can be put on quickly. My sister currently has the problem of fire drills at 3 a.m. at least twice a week and it's very cold.

2. Do you have any idea which way your room faces? If it'll get sun shine in the morning I highly recommend getting an emergency/space blanket. They're really cheap and do a good job of blocking out the sun. You can also use aluminum foil if you wish.

3. I also recommend getting a hot pot instead of a hot plate. That way you don't have to worry about what you are going to cook your food in such as pots, pans, melted plastic, etc.... I also recommend a toaster oven over a regular toaster. That way you can make small pizzas and such along with normal toast.

[DoperChic]

A lot of people have been telling me to bring toasters, hot pots, etc., which my dorm doesn't allow. I probably will bring them anyway and just hide them when I'm finished using them.

Has anyone ever gotten caught doing this? I'm curious to know what happened.

[Munch]

In regards to the hot pot/toaster/microwave dilemma. I was an RA my senior year. My dorm's top 2 floors burned down some 15 years ago, which makes the rector (Catholic school) a bit nervous about these contraband. However, I had two freshmen who had a microwave. Of course I didn't *know* they had a microwave, but I would occassionally come in with an unpopped thing of microwave popcorn leave, and 3 minutes later, they would return to my room with popped popcorn. It was magic...

Other things you need:
a good pillow
another good pillow
good sheets (and a set of flannel ones if you live in a cold climate)
posters
humongo sized tupperware (winter clothes, etc.)
bins (stackable, drawers, milk crates, they all work) - your closet space WILL be limited. You need to maximize it.
Flip flops that you like (spend that extra $3)
duct tape, duct tape, duct tape
mugs (plastic)
a FULL pharmacy
did I mention a good pillow?
camera
nice clothes (we had a lot of dances)
white t-shirts (for when you and your friends need to create uniforms for that Cups tournament)
a durable liver


Good luck!

[RalfCoder]

1) an open mind. If you're a traditional freshman, 18 years old+/- a year, first time out away from home, you'll see a lot of stuff you maybe haven't seen before. Enjoy it, learn from it, realize that there's more than one way to peel an orange.

2) I 2nd the hot-pot. My roommate had one, and we used it a lot. I learned about ramen noodles this way.

3) I 2nd the dorm-sized fridge also. Because we could keep food in the room, I learned about poaching an egg in with my ramen noodles. Yumm! (Hint: you can put a pitcher of cold water in the fridge for that time that your roommate is in the shower, too. Dumping cold water over the curtain is a sure-fire way to break the ice with a new roomie. Trust me on this...)

4) Leave the super-hi-tech sound system at home. Bring a portable boombox, especially one that can use batteries. You score bonus points if it charges the batteries when it's plugged into the wall. You can have a portable party if needed. Besides, you'll need that shelf space for books and the plant to hide the hotpot.

5) Posters to decorate with are nice, but you should be able to find them in most any college town. We have a company that comes through here a couple times a year, selling posters of all kinds - movies, bands, people, places, anything you can print.

6) You didn't say where you live, but good rugged boots for trekking through snow to winter classes is good. I favor waffle-stomper-type hiking boots, but anything is better than your basic tennies in winter. Well, maybe not the flipflops you have for the showers...

7) Clothes that you can coordinate, and mix and match. It's easier than hauling something for every possible situation.

8) Misc stuff - duc-tape, a roll of toilet paper in case the school doesn't supply it, a roll of paper towels, a box of assorted plastic silverware, a couple of cups.

9) When I was in school, the dry-erase marker boards to post on the outside of your dorm room door were popular. You can leave a note to your roomie to get lost for an hour if you're trying out the beanbag and condoms, for example.

[Sofa King]

Going in as a freshman, I had:

* A loft, matress, and bedding;

* A portable refrigerator;

* A laundry basket and four weeks worth of clothing;

* A stereo;

* A television;

* Dishes, glasses, and hotplate;

* A BB gun, squirt gun, beer bong, 24" tokemaster, pocket blowtorch, and a six-pack of Heineken;

* A significant proportion of the world's knowledge carefully filed away in a sharp mind.


Four and a half years later, I left with:

* A sleeping bag;

* A duffel bag and backpack, with ten day's worth of ripped, unwashed clothing;

* A 1/2 gallon plastic cup;

* A wooden bowl, a box of matches, and a keg of Milwaukee's Best, with a tap;

* Something that vaguely resembled an education, on a piece of paper.

[vix]

I don't think anyone has mentioned:

• A camera and a load of film
• Framed pictures of your friends/family
• Board games/cards
• Your favorite CDs and blank tapes for making mixes

[aside]Hey Connor, did you go to PC?[/aside]

[wolfman]

an Ansel Adams print (I think it's required for dorms)

Most dorms will accept an M C Escher print as a substitute.

3. A pocket tool for fixing things
(GERBER IS BETTER THAN LEATHERMAN)

What Blaspemy is this? Are you saying the the Baby food tool even comes close? Or on the other hand If you are saying don't bring the Leatherman because it is so much better that someone will steal it, then I agree.

Which brings me to my biggest suggestion. Something that locks is good. A big locking truck is best(the kind you can put a real padlock on), but if you don't have room, get something to put your important stuff in, that itself cannot easily be taken. And don't bring anything that is irreplacable. Things will get stolen from your dorm room, expect it and prepare.

[screech-owl]

My college used to allow hot pots, hot plates, immersion heaters, coffee pots, etc. if they were used in the kitchenettes. Most people used them in the dormrooms, being to lazy to carry them to and from the kitchen, not to mention carrying a hot toaster oven was rather unsafe (and if you left it in the kitchen, it would get 'adopted'). No real problems until one year when a student had a hotpot (full and hot) on the shelf above her, while she was sitting on the bed. She reached up for a book and knocked the pot on top of her, resulting in 2nd degree burns to her head and face. From that point, all electrical cooking appliances were banned and, if found, confiscated. It was a little sticky as far as legalities, but it was in the housing agreement contract, so the ban stood.

[I am not here to get into a discussion of search/seizure/personal freedoms; just telling you what happened at my college, since you asked about restricted items.]

You are allowed a microwave [we would have killed for a microwave - they were way too expensive back then!]; that should really be suficient for mini-meals or reheating leftovers from the food service and pizza delivery.

_{Okay, maybe the hotpot, but for goodnesssakes be careful!!}

Yeah, I second the Escher print. I had 'Metamorphosis' (something like 16 feet long and 12 inches wide of changing images).

[Torberg]

Well, you asked for those who had been busted for having hot plates/etc that were disallowed by campus housing policy.

When I went to school, halogen lamps were disallowed (after a campus apartment manager set his/her campus apartment on fire from one). Well, a few of the guys with whom I lived (and I) didn't care. We had a few halogen lamps in the apartment. As a result, we were the first of the campus apartments to fail the health and safety inspection. Our compromise? We re-wired the lamps to accept incandescent bulbs, so they let us keep the lamps. (Which was probably a lot less safe than having the halogen bulbs in the first place. But aside from that, we didn't get in trouble. In fact, I think we really cheesed off the apartment manager because we proudly hung our "You have failed the inspection" letters on our living room wall...and the head of Residence Life was one of our fraternity chapter advisors )

If they catch you, you'll probably get a warning and you'll figure out better ways to hide it. Just keep it hidden well because you can't be sure when they'll come by to inspect and you won't be in. Can't hide it when you're not there, so have it done ahead of time. Just make sure it's *not hot* before you stash it under the bed. Don't need you to provide a case study for why they're not allowed.



Tor

[HannibalV]

I don't know if I've seent his mentioned yet or not, but...

Bring a good, loud alarm clock/clock radio. And place it somewhere that you actually have to get up out of bed to deal with. That way, when it goes off, you have no choice but to achieve verticality to deal with it. I did this, and it wasn't because I wasn't awake that I didn't make the cut for my second year.

[Gunslinger]

milk crates are the pinacle of storage containment, get some of those

Y'all do know it's a Federal crime to have a real milk crate, don't you? At least that's what it says on the side of the one in my bedroom... Get some Yaffa blocks instead.

[Sofa King]

CVS generously donates free, good-sized crates that hold lots of stuff and can also make impromptu bookshelves. Unlike milk crates, they have covers, are semi-waterproof, and can hold small items that might fall through the grating of crates.

Just drive around back of the store and you'll see them sitting there, all stacked up next to the trash. CVS has never asked me to pay for these crates, although I usually acquire them late at night, well after closing time, when there are no police in the parking lot.

Come to think of it, they might not really be free, but they sure are useful.

[DoctorJ]

Hey, if stealing milk crates is a crime, then let me be guilty.

Another tip, courtesy of my dear departed grandfather--the first week or two that you're there, keep five or ten dollars sitting around relatively conspicuously. This is a fairly cheap way of determining whether or not you can trust your roommate.

Dr. J

[DoperChic]

Originally posted by HannibalV

Bring a good, loud alarm clock/clock radio. And place it somewhere that you actually have to get up out of bed to deal with. That way, when it goes off, you have no choice but to achieve verticality to deal with it.

Thanx for the tip. The alarm clock has been enemy number one since I started high school. There's just something about getting up at the crack of dawn that doesn't seem to agree with me. Every night before bed, I would dutifully set my alarm clock for 5:30 (I had to leave to catch the school bus by 6:30...yuk!) Then every morning, I would hit the snooze button so it would go off 10 minutes later, then 10 more minutes, then 10 more...you get the picture. Needless to say, I was late to school a lot.

I've managed to avoid having to see the sun rise next semester by scheduling my classes for later in the day. On Mon, Wed, and Fri, my classes start at 10, and on Tues and Thurs, they don't start until 11...yippee!!

[Dogzilla]

[quote]Originally posted by Star Light Star Bright

I had no idea that most RA's are that laid back. The only experience I have with college dorm rooms is from watching TV. Somehow, they don't seem to quite compare to my situation.

Hiding a toaster and hot plate is a good plan. I could always stuff it in a dresser drawer when finished.

RA's are that laid back: I had a puppy for a few weeks. The RA helped feed her.

Just be careful when breaking the rules: my roomie and I once blew the breakers for the entire floor by trying to do all at the same time:
* run the fridge
* cook with the hotpot, hot plate and a toaster oven at once
* warm up the curling iron
* listen to the radio

This was before that school put computers in all the dorm rooms.

Also, keep in mind your roomie(s) may be bringing all of the above too. Best rule of thumb: take the absolutely necessary stuff and pack the rest, ready to be shipped to you later. Then call home when you need it and ask the parental units to drop the "luxuries" box in the mail for ya.

Don't forget the condoms!

[Dogzilla]

When your beer goggles,
Get cloudy and thick...
Think with your head,
And not with your dick!