Back to School: Get This, Not That (for your dorm)

As August begins new college freshmen are anxiously looking forward to being out of their parents house and into the dorms.

While it is rather exciting and refreshing to start a new year of school for everyone, let’s focus on the fresh faces with no experience under their belts.

Last year I was most excited to move away from home and have a fresh start! Pardon the pun. I prepared for months by pinteresting and following the every move of fellow friends who were going through the same experience.

To help you out, whether this is your first rodeo or fourth, I have crafted a list of get this, not that items. I feel like there was a television show or some book that was “Buy this, not that.” If you know what it is, please leave a comment!

Get scrubbers, not washcloths!

Scrubbers: I was given a Supracor Bath Mitt for graduation and have not looked back. After receiving it as a gift, I went out and purchased the SpaCells Facial Sponge as well. These are both great because they are naturally antifungal, antibacterial and allergen free (loofahs are not). They also fit nicely and dry quickly in your shower caddy.

Photo from supracor.com

Washcloths: I bought about six washcloths and took them all home by Thanksgiving break. First, they were inconvenient to bring into the communal bathroom (if it dropped on the floor accidently then I was done using it). Second, dorm rooms are a lot like hotel rooms in the way that wet items do not dry quickly.

Get a memory foam mattress topper, not a foam mattress topper!

Memory foam mattress topper: When I told my mom that I wanted to buy a mattress topper she basically rolled her eyes like it was not a necessity. WRONG! Buy a mattress topper! My roommate had a memory foam mattress topper from Bed Bath and Beyond, and let’s just say that her bed was so much more comfortable than mine! Because you sleep on it every night and your academic performance depends on your sleep, please invest in a nicer mattress topper. I wish I would have gotten a better one, especially since I will be sleeping on a twin XL bed again in my sorority.

Foam mattress topper: Because my mom wasn’t very enthusiastic about it, I picked up a generic foam bed topper at Target. While it did provided me with a quarter of an inch of protection from my old mattress springs, it didn’t do a great job. As the school year progressed, the topper gradually widened on my bed in the area I slid off. Not cool! This is one of the pieces I wish I would have invested in.

Get a large Keurig, not a Mini Keurig!

Keurig K45 Elite Brewing System (large): For graduation I received a mini Keurig brewing system. Knowing my favorite thermos cups did not fit under the mini system, I traded up for the larger Keurig system. Looking back at the past year, this was probably one of the best dorm related decisions I made. Granted, I am someone who drinks at least one hot beverage a day. I love coffee, but I also love tea. The best part of having a large brewing system was that I didn't need to fill the water reservoir before each beverage (especially since my dorm was a community bathroom and the water was all the way down the hall). The reservoir easily held four regular sized beverages.

Keurig Brewing System photos from keurig.com

Keurig K10 Mini Plus Brewing System (mini): If you don't plan on drinking hot beverages frequently, the mini brewing system is for you. It would also be great if you have a sink located in your dorm room! I consider this brewing system for those who enjoy drinking a hot beverage out of a mug, leisurely. Personally, I am more of a on the go person, so the larger system that my travel cups fit under worked great for me. This would also be a good brewing system to start with if you don't know how much you will be enjoying hot beverages because this system is less expensive compared to the larger system.

A few other tips:

-Get two sets of sheets. These from Bed Bath and Beyond are cute!

-Bring a body pillow if your bed is up against the wall (you want something between you and the cold cinder block wall). This one from Bed Bath and Beyond allows you to put a pillow case on it, great for matching your bedding!

-An extra long phone charger will most likely come in handy

-3M Command strips are wonderful to help you personalize your space

I think the main thing to remember when purchasing items for your dorm is to really consider what you plan to use. I would personally go for the better quality or more expensive items if I knew I would be using it a lot and in the future. If you plan to use something for just the year and never again after that, I would suggest getting the generic brand.

Good luck!

XOXO,

Jena