Juniata High School

Extra Set of Sheets - You never know when someone may stop by your dorm and want to stay the night, so it’s a good idea to have extra sheets on hand to put on a couch, futon, or air mattress. You also won’t feel like doing laundry late at night (or very early in the morning) if you’re up studying and accidentally spill food on your sheets, so it’s always good to have a spare pair on hand. 

Noise Cancelling Headphones - Despite what we’ve been told since we were kids, the library is a very noisy place, and often your roommates are even noisier. Having some noise cancelling headphones will make studying, and sometimes even sleeping, much easier.

Cleaning Wipes - These will be your go-to for cleaning. It’s so easy and quick to pull out a wipe to clean and sanitize anything in college. Laptops, desks, and even tables get covered in dust and dirt so easily, and having an easy way to clean will ensure that you actually do so, which will help keep you healthy as well.

Desk Lamp - Dorm rooms have HORRIBLE lighting. You will need a desk lamp to save your eyes from all of the late night study sessions that will be happening. The lamp can also brighten up your room if you are just hanging out so you avoid sitting in darkness.

Umbrella - For some reason, college freshmen seem to forget that it rains when packing for college. Although it would be nice to have perfect weather every day, that’s not the reality, and most likely you will have to walk to your classes on campus. An umbrella (and a rain jacket) will make these walks less miserable and will protect your textbooks/assignments from rain.

Water Filter - Water is water, but campus water will taste funky compared to your water at home. Rather than wasting money and plastic on bottled water, use a filtration system. Brita is a great alternative for easy water filtration.

Band-Aids/First Aid Kits - This one is self-explanatory. At home if you got a cut or scrape, you probably had some kind of medicine cabinet that you (or your mom) went to for band-aids and wound care. At college, you likely won’t need a whole cabinet, but a first aid kit is great for things that really don’t require professional medical attention.

Power Strips - College dorms definitely have some outlets, but there will never be enough places for you to plug everything in, especially if your roommate has to plug in their stuff as well. Avoid frustration and fights by bringing power strips with surge protectors. You’ll never have to search for a place to plug in again.

Business Professional Clothes - Many people forget to pack a professional looking outfit or two. Although you probably won't be wearing them very often, it is very likely that at some point in the semester you will have some kind of interview or presentation that requires professional attire. 

Bed Risers - Bed risers lift your bed up to allow for more storage space. In tiny dorm rooms, utilization of space is crucial. Unless you are super tall, you probably won’t hit your head off of the ceiling even with bed risers, so take advantage of the space under your bed rather than wasting it.