Back to School Items for College Students

It is that time of year again where college students are making their annual pilgrimage to Target to get all the back to school items! I personally loved back to school shopping to get all the new cool dorm supplies and gadgets. Below is a complete list of back to school items for college students with items I actually used!

While it has been a number of years since I have been to college, as a parent, I love the idea of being able to help my kids start the next chapter of their lives. But, as a child, the idea of living on your own for the first time can be slightly daunting to say the least.

Follow these tips and tricks for making your dorm room your home away from home.

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Tips for Dorm Room Shopping

Always have a plan when it comes to doing your dorm room shopping! You can use the checklist at the end of this post to make sure you don’t miss a thing.

More than likely you will end up making a million trips to Target on move in day along with everyone else, but having a plan will help minimize that.

Know your dorm layout

Do your research before you show up to know what your dorm room will look like. What size bed will you have? Where will your desk be? Do you have to share a bathroom? Do you have a mini kitchen or fridge?

These are all questions you should be asking yourself before you move in. Knowing what your room will look like helps you make your list for what you need. Simply put, there is no sense in buying pots and pans if you don’t have a stove.

Most importantly, know what options you have for storage. Examine the amount of drawers, closet space, and any shared spaces. This will determine what sort of bins you need to buy to keep your place organized and clutter free.

Plan with your roommate

Assuming you have a roommate, discuss with them prior to moving in which items each of you will be responsible for bringing. Perhaps one of you will buy a mini fridge and another will be responsible for bringing a futon.

I found in college, mainly the girls, liked to coordinate what color scheme they wanted their room to be. This is certainly not always the case, but be sure to communicate with your roommate.

While you are at it, it is good to establish rules for your dorm. My first roommate and I were on completely different ends of the spectrum when it came to cleanliness, which ended up being a point of tension. I recommend discussing some general rules before moving in so you can be on the same page.

Pack in storage bins

You have seen the pictures of cars packed to the brim as kids head off to college. Make the best use of your space by packing in any storage bins you buy.

Fill your shoes with toiletry items. Pack fragile items in your bath towels. Pack your clothes in your suitcases. Fill up any useable space you can to minimize your packing.

Back to School Items for College Students

Dorm room necessities

Typically dorm rooms won’t have a full kitchen. So, get yourself some basics that can help you make some easy ready-to-eat meals. Don’t forget all the basic necessities to make your dorm more livable.

Bed risers: Raising your bed a few inches will allow for more under the bed storage and increase the amount of space you have. These risers are great because they have additional plugs.

Mini fridge: This is a staple for all dorm rooms. Keep leftovers or extra drinks in it for when guests are over visiting.

Microwave: Get a simple microwave to keep on top of your mini fridge. It is an easy way to reheat leftovers, make popcorn, or cook ramen.

Plastic dinnerware set: You don’t need a lot of dishes when living in a dorm, but I recommend having a few. Plastic is the best option as it is easy to clean and less likely to break. If you want to get a slightly nicer set, then invest in a set of Corelle dishes.

Mattress topper: Most often, you will get a pretty standard twin size mattress in your dorm. Make it more comfortable by getting a memory foam mattress topper.

Bedside shelf: These are great if you have chosen to loft your bed and you do not have a nightstand. It makes for an easy place to keep your phone, alarm clock, and glasses at night.

Clip-on light: A reading light is another bedside must-have. It is great for those late nights studying when you don’t want to disturb your roommate with an overhead light.

Trash can: Keep your dorm room mess-free by getting a small trash can. Don’t forget to add trash bags to your list as well!

Command hooks: Many old dorm rooms have cinderblocks for walls, which make it difficult to hang anything up. Command hooks are easy to put up and remove at the end of the year without leaving any marks.

Power strips: You will likely have a lot of different things that need to be plugged in with few outlets in your dorm. Stock up on a couple power strips with USBs to make it easy to find a plug when needed.

Extra long charger: Dorms can have strange layouts where the only plug might be hidden behind your bed or on the other side of the room. Invest in a long 10′ charger to make it easy to charge your phone from anywhere in your dorm.

Storage solutions

Dorm rooms, particularly if shared, can be extremely small and limited on storage space. Take full advantage of the space by getting extra bins and items that can be collapsed when not needed.

Plastic storage drawers: In a dorm room, it is all about maximizing your storage. If you loft your bed, use plastic drawers to create more storage underneath it.

Storage bins: Keep your belongings organized by stocking up on cheap storage bins. These can be great to store cleaning supplies, school supplies, and snacks.

Under the bed storage: These roll-away storage bins are great for storing items you don’t need all the time. You can use these to store seasonal clothing items or basics like extra sheets and blankets.

Thin hangers: Maximize the space in your (likely tiny) closet. I had many friends who even had to share a closet in college. Make the most of your space by using thin hangers to fit more items.

Collapsible laundry basket: Unless you plan to buy new clothes all the time, you will need a basket for doing your laundry in college. A collapsible basket takes up little space and can easily be tucked away when you don’t need it.

Laundry Detergent: Part of being in college is doing your own laundry. Stock up on all the essentials with laundry detergent, softener, and dryer sheets in this ready-made college laundry kit.

Collapsible luggage: You will likely only need to use your luggage when traveling home for the holidays or perhaps taking a weekend trip somewhere. Therefore, invest in a collapsible carry-on to take up minimal space when you don’t need it.

Drying rack: Make laundry a breeze by getting a collapsible drying rack. This takes up very little space and is easy to set up when needed.

School supplies

A back to school list for college students looks a little different than it did in elementary school. You don’t need all the folders and specific types of pencils. Instead, choose school supplies that work best for your study habits.

Laptop: Nowadays, you can’t do much of anything in college without a laptop. From class projects, to writing papers, to simply having class online, you will need a laptop.

If you invest in a good laptop, it can last for years. The laptop I used in college ended up lasting me five years at my first job after graduating.

Backpack: Get a backpack for carrying around your laptop. They make some really cool ones that even have a built-in charger to charge your phone between classes.

Printer: Perhaps I am considered old school, but I like being able to physically print out my notes and papers to edit by hand. I recommend having your own printer in your room so you don’t have to run to the library in the middle of the night.

Headphones: When sharing a dorm with a roommate, it is best to have headphones so you can quietly watch videos without disturbing the other.

Wireless mouse: I love to use a wireless bluetooth mouse. It is way more comfortable to use for extended periods of time than the tracking pad on your computer.

Notebooks: With so many classes being done online, having notebooks is a personal preference. I found that I remembered my notes and assignments a lot better if I had written them out by hand.

Pens/pencils/highlighters: Again, this is a personal choice to have these if you generally prefer to do things on paper. However, it is never a bad idea to stock up on basic school supplies.

Laptop desk: While most dorms have a desk, you will often find yourself moving around and working in other spaces. I recommend getting a basic laptop desk so you can work from someplace more comfortable when needed.

These also work great when just wanting to watch Netflix in bed.

Shower supplies

It’s no surprise; shared bathroom spaces in a dorm can get dirty and gross really quick. Keep your shower supplies together and organized to make your trips to the bathroom easy.

Shower caddy: If you have a shared bathroom, be sure to get a shower caddy to keep all of your toiletries together.

Shower shoes: In college, I had to share a bathroom with seven other girls. Shared bathrooms can get pretty gross! Avoid all the nastiness by wearing shower shoes.

Toiletries: Don’t forget all of your favorite toiletries. Buy in large quantities from places like Costco to cut down on costs.

Lighted mirror: In shared bathroom spaces, it is polite to not hog the bathroom. Therefore, invest in a small lighted mirror that you can use to get ready in your room.

Robe: Buy a robe to avoid running around your dorm in just a towel. Your roommates will thank you!

Towels: Don’t forget the bare essentials! I recommend having 2-3 towels on hand just in case you don’t want to do laundry right away.

Decorations

Make your space your own by adding decorations that express your personal style. This will help make your dorm a little more like home. I can’t say my first dorm was very stylish, but it got the job done.

Bedding & pillows: The easiest way to personalize your dorm space is to get some stylish bedding. These often come in a “bed in a bag” set that includes everything you need.

String lights: Create some atmosphere in your dorm by adding string lights. These are great when trying to avoid the harsh overhead lighting.

Backrest pillow: I feel like this is just a dorm room staple that everyone seems to have. These are perfect for when you are trying to finish writing that paper late at night in bed.

Smart television: Smart TVs are fairly affordable now, so invest in one to watch all your favorite Netflix shows. This TV from Vizio is especially nice since it pairs with bluetooth headphones. So, you can easily watch television and avoid waking your roommate.

Bluetooth speaker: Party to some of your favorite tunes by getting a bluetooth speaker. Get a waterproof one that you can take with you on any fun trips to the beach or outdoors.

Folding chair or futon: You are going to want to have some place to relax besides sitting on your bed. Futons are great because they can double as a bed if you have any extra overnight guests.

Single serve coffee machine: Start your mornings off right with a cup of coffee. Keurig’s single serve coffee maker is ideal for dorm rooms when you don’t need to make a whole pot.

Alarm clock: Don’t miss any of your 8:00am classes! Get a simple alarm clock that can double as a phone charging port.

Area rug: Warm up your space by adding a small area rug. It will help make your dorm feel a little more like home.

Floor lamp: Get a floor lamp for another alternative to the overhead lighting. I love a floor lamp that has a side reading lamp attached for late night studying.

Dry erase board: This is a quintessential college dorm necessity that you cannot miss. Leave notes for your roommates letting them know where you are or to be quiet while you are studying.

Other items to consider

These items are not necessary back to school items, but they are still something you should consider bringing. Most of these items will last long beyond your college years.

Bike & helmet: There isn’t always a lot of time between classes and sometimes you have to completely cross campus to get there. Depending on how large your college is, you might want to consider bringing a bike to get around faster.

Sleep mask & ear plugs: Eye masks and ear plugs are great for midday napping. They can also be helpful if you and your roommates are on different sleep schedules. I love this sleep mask because it comes with a built-in noise machine.

Cleaning supplies: You don’t need a whole lot in a small dorm, but create a kit of your basic cleaning supplies. Most importantly, have paper towels on hand for cleaning up messes.

Pepper spray keychain: Stay safe when walking home late at night from the library. Keep this pepper spray on your keys so it is always close by if needed. Even if you don’t think you will need it, your parents will rest a little easier in regards to your safety.

Mini tool kit: My dad gave me my first toolkit when I moved to college. The tools have lasted me still until this day and are great for small projects like assembling furniture.

First aid kit: A first aid kit is always good to have on hand in case of a medical emergency.

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What is an item that you can’t live without in college? Let me know in the comments below!

Feeling stressed and overwhelmed in college? Check out my simple plan for being more productive.