If you were lucky enough to have your own spacious room and plenty of space to roam at your parents’ house in high school, prepare yourself for a rude awakening when you move into your first college dorm. Not only will you be sharing a small space with one or more unknown roommates, but you will need to condense your belongings down to the bare essentials to make the best use of the little room you’ll have.
Many dorms at mainstream public colleges feature beds for two people, which you can place apart from each other on opposite sides of the dorm or manipulate to make into a bunk bed. You’ll have a less claustrophobic sleeping space if you decide to keep things separate; however, you will have more space all around if you bunk up, so consider your options carefully with your future roommate.
First of all, realize that you will very likely be sharing a small amount of closet space with your roommate. This means it is often a good idea to bring only seasonal clothing for whatever semester you’re at school. For instance, in August you can bring mostly short-sleeved shirts, shorts and maybe one light hoodie during warmer weather. Over Thanksgiving break, you can return home to exchange your summer clothing for winter clothing, making sure to bring no more than one heavy jacket, which takes up a lot of closet space.
Another essential to have on hand in your college dorm is a clip-on light or small bedside lamp. This way, if you prefer to stay up late and study or read, you won’t disturb your roommate with too much light. An alarm clock is an absolute must, even if you normally rely on your cell phone. It’s far better to set both just in case your cell goes dead from all the calling you’ll do to your friends and family back home and to the new friends you’ll meet in class.
You and your roommate may or may not have your own bathroom and shower in your dorm. Either way, it’s a good idea to have a shower caddy or zip bag to carry your shower supplies and toiletries in. If you end up having to walk down the hall to the communal showers, it can get cumbersome carrying everything in your arms.
Finally, contact your roommate ahead of time if possible to see if they plan on bringing certain items, like a mini-fridge, TV or microwave. Given the limited space, you won’t want to have two of the same space-claiming items.