Living in a dorm room is a new experience for most college students. If you haven't before, you will have to learn how to share a space with someone else, and that space is not always the biggest or most luxurious. However, living in a dorm can be freeing and an awesome opportunity to completely make a space your own. Here are some tips from a seasoned college student on what you might want to prioritize bringing with you to the dorm.

The first thing I suggest you bring is lighting. It can be a small lamp, fairy lights, or whatever you have that works for you. Having lighting options in your room besides the overhead light is incredibly helpful, especially when you or your roommate needs to stay up late to write an essay or study for a big test. It also makes it a lot easier to get along with your roommate when both of you are getting the sleep you need (and aren’t keeping each other up).

I also strongly recommend bringing a fan with you to campus. The dorm AC can fluctuate based on the month or where your room is located within the building. It’s always good to have a fan in your room when the AC system is overwhelmed or to help yourself cool off after walking back from class in the August heat. Sometimes, your fan can also double as a noise machine if that is something that helps you sleep.

Doing laundry in the dorms is not always the most fun, so I recommend a few different things to make it as easy as possible. First, I suggest you have a laundry bag with a shoulder strap instead of a basket. The biggest reason for this is that there are often one or two doors between your room and the laundry room, which can be difficult to open if your hands are full of laundry. I also recommend buying some dryer balls, as opposed to dryer sheets: not only are you saving waste, but you will save money in the long run by not having to continuously purchase dryer sheets.

The last few things I’ll recommend are more for quality of life, but can ultimately be skipped if needed. The first thing is having some kind of organization system, like a group of stacking bins or tubs. Even if you store them under your bed, your items will stay organized, clear up space in your room, and make packing easier during move-out. I also recommend a power strip (with a surge protector) of some kind. This is especially essential if you have a lot of electronics, but it will make string lights, chargers, and other electronics much more accessible. Lastly, I recommend a mattress pad for your bed. You can go without this one if need be, but it makes the dorm beds so much more comfortable, especially if you like a mattress that feels like you can sink into it.

Overall, my main advice is to bring things with you that will keep you comfortable and make the space feel like your own. You will likely live in a dorm for nine months, so making an effort to make your space yours will make your time on campus and in your dorm much more enjoyable. That means bringing your card games, hobby supplies, and anything you want that will make your year at Centenary an amazing one. Good luck (especially to anyone climbing the Cline stairs with a fridge), and happy dorm living!

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