There are a few items that every dorm room should have. Not all of these are necessities, per se, but you’ll find the majority of them very useful, and you’ll probably want to add them to your list of things to bring to school in the fall.

1) TV/DVD player—this is one of those things that not every dorm needs, but most would benefit from. Dven if you don’t watch TV regularly, it’s really nice to be able to throw in a DVD and relax for a couple hours before going back to homework for the rest of the night.

2) Fan—whether you get a big box fan, a table fan, or a stand fan, you’re definitely going to want some sort of oscillating, air-moving device. If you don’t have air conditioning (an it’s fairly likely that you won’t for at least your first year), this will be a lifesaver. In fact, if you won’t have A/C, you might want to bring two fans. Trust me—it’s worth it. Even if you do have the luxury of air conditioning, a fan can be really nice to get the air moving around your dorm and get rid of that “stuffy” feeling. One of the most crucial dorm necessities.

3) Blankets—conversely, you’ll want extra layers to pile on your bed during the winter. All dorms are heated during the colder months, but you may find that it’s not quite enough. Especially if your windows aren’t very well insulated.

4) Sofa/chairs/bean bags—you’re going to need something to sit on when you’re not studying. Something comfortable that will fit a couple people (but isn’t so big that it’s a huge pain to get in and out of the room) is perfect. A futon can be really convenient if someone wants to stay over (siblings visiting from out of town, friends from across campus, etc.). Dish chairs are very comfortable and, if they’re big enough, can be slept in. The same goes for —1970’s style, timeless cool. They’re a ton of fun, and work really well for sitting on to get some reading done, watch TV, or to sleep on. It’s important to note that you should okay with getting all of these things dirty . . . they’ll get written on, spilled on, fallen on; there are a lot of things that could happen to them. Just be aware.

5) Desk lamp—just about every dorm comes equipped with a desk and chair for each person living there. A lot of them also have under-shelf lights, but these aren’t terribly effective, especially if your roommate is sleeping and the rest of the room is dark. Bring a small desk lamp to illuminate your work.

6) Flip-flops—dorm shower + bare feet = well . . . disgusting. Don’t do it. Bring flip-flops and prevent yourself from getting some exotic foot disease.

As always, if you have any questions, comments or funny stories you'd like me to share about college or the blog, email me at stu@stuvu.com