Are you moving to college soon? If so, you’ll want to read this.
These are the top things I wish I brought to college! Don’t make my mistakes and be sure to remember to add these helpful items to your college packing list.
Some of these are items I eventually bought halfway through the semester, while others are things I never got — but wished I had!
These are the unexpected things to bring to college that you may not find on your typical college packing list, but trust me, you will be so glad to have them.
1. Mattress Topper
A mattress topper is one of the most important things I wish I had brought to college freshman year. This is a complete lifesaver and one of the biggest college must-haves!
The mattress on your bed in your college dorm is unlikely to be comfortable, and a mattress topper makes it so much better.
Be sure you are getting a Twin XL mattress topper like the one above because that’s the size of most college dorm beds.
2. Mini Steamer
A mini steamer is another thing I really wish I had brought to college freshman year. Instead, I brought an iron and a small ironing board, which was totally overkill!
In fact, I mention an iron and ironing board in my post about what NOT to bring to college because they are so unnecessary.
An ironing board takes up so much space, while a mini steamer is compact. My roommate ended up getting one of these and it was a game-changer!
3. Extra Long Charging Cords
Extra long charging cords are something you will be SO glad to have at college. If you are living in a dorm, your bed will probably be at a lofted height.
This can make it hard to charge your phone, laptop, tablet, and other electronics while in bed. Not to mention, you may just not have many electrical outlets in general in your room.
These 10-foot charging cords are so helpful and will make your life so much easier!
4. Bedside Shelf
Another thing I wish I brought to college is a bedside shelf. This is really convenient for lofted beds because your bed will most likely be too high to use a regular nightstand.
This little bedside shelf attaches to your bed frame and can be used to store your phone, water bottle, glasses, medication, and anything else you want to keep close.
5. Bedrest Pillow
I so wish I had brought a bedrest pillow to college with me! These make it so much more comfortable to sit on your bed and do work, read, or study.
Any time I tried to sit in bed and be productive, I ended up leaning against the hard wall (which is not comfortable) or wanting to lay down (which is the opposite of productive…)
A bedrest pillow is the perfect solution and a must-have for college.
6. Shoe Organizer
A shoe organizer is something I really wish I had brought to college with me. This is something that is super affordable but will make a world of difference.
You likely won’t have much space for clothing and shoe storage in your college dorm room — I just had one small wardrobe at the foot of my bed.
A hanging shoe organizer frees up so much space and provides a designated area for your shoes to keep things organized.
7. Noise Canceling Headphones
Another thing I wish I would have brought to college with me is a pair of noise canceling headphones.
These are really helpful to have in your dorm room, especially if you’re trying to focus on studying or getting work done.
They’re even better for when you’re in a busy area like the library or the student center and want to drown out the noise around you.
8. Reusable Food Storage
Reusable food storage containers are another thing I wish I had brought to college.
As a freshman, you will probably be on a dining plan but you won’t want to eat every single meal at the dining hall.
Reusable food storage containers are perfect for making yourself a to-go meal at the dining hall or taking leftovers back to your dorm with you.
9. Towel Wrap
A towel wrap is a necessity for living in a college dorm with shared hall bathrooms. These towels have velcro at the top so you can easily secure your towel around your body.
Then you can walk down the hall to and from the showers hands-free without having to worry about holding up your towel, especially if you are also carrying a shower caddy or a change of clothing.
This is such a genius idea and something I wish I’d had when living in a dorm!
10. Portable Fan
Even though most dorms have air conditioning, a portable fan is still helpful to have. If your dorm is anything like mine, you won’t have individual temperature control for the air conditioning.
And in an older building, the air conditioning may not be as powerful as you would hope.
This means it can get hot and stuffy inside, especially right when you arrive at school in August or September when it’s still warm outside, and again in the late spring. A portable fan is super helpful to have for keeping things cool.
Things I Wish I Brought to College
This post showed you the things I wish I brought to college.
Don’t make the same mistakes as me in forgetting these items, because they will make your life at college so much easier! You can find all of these items on Amazon and it’s worth ordering them before college move-in day so you start off the new semester prepared.
And if you’re wondering about the things I regret bringing to college, be sure to check out this post about what NOT to bring to college.
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