| Congratulations on graduating high school - ready | | | | and mice are wiped down. Prevention is key on |
| for another 4 years of school? Of course you are | | | | campus and you can't afford to miss classes and |
| - depending on your soon to be schools semester | | | | or work for a week if you're sick. |
| length (trimester versus quarters) you should | | | | Dorm Decor |
| expect to start school usually in late summer. | | | | We always love to see the fun new decor |
| Aside from the picking your courses, meeting | | | | available in mass discount stores like Target or |
| your roommate via email and deciding to go | | | | specialty retailers like Bed, Bath & Beyond. |
| Greek or not - you need to start buying your | | | | Between fun colored organization supplies and |
| dorm decor and dorm supplies ASAP. | | | | trendy design pieces you will find no shortage of |
| Dorm Essentials | | | | value priced disposable decor for your dorm |
| Whether you have a meal plan or not you will | | | | room. |
| likely need to have healthy snacks in bulk. Don't | | | | You can also be creative and visit stores like |
| load up on calorie full, nutrition less sweets (of | | | | Lowes or craft stores like Joann's to purchase |
| course a little is fine). Your dorm may or may not | | | | raw materials you can convert into your own fun |
| allow a microwave in your room - but regardless | | | | dorm decor. Common ideas include buying bulk |
| you will have access to hot water. The hallmark | | | | cork tiles and adding ribbon and colorful |
| of any dorm diet is ramen noodle soup. It's cheap, | | | | thumbtacks to make your own pin up boards. Not |
| gives a quick meal and can last a long time stuck | | | | only can this be cheaper but also adds your own |
| under the bed or in the closet. At around $.25 | | | | stamp of creativity to your dorm room. |
| each in bulk ramen noodle soup is about as cheap | | | | Dorm Bedding |
| as it gets for a meal. Make sure to try different | | | | Dorm rooms usually use an extra long twin bed |
| flavors and some stores will also carry low fat | | | | which requires twin xl bedding. Most mass stores |
| noodle versions. There are many online recipes on | | | | will carry this specially sized 39 x 80 inch bedding |
| how to use or jazz up these dorm meal staples. | | | | but you will generally find cheap disposable pieces. |
| Granola bars make another great back up meal - | | | | Dorms are notorious for being really hot or really |
| combining oats, nuts, honey and other goodness. | | | | cold - and if you settle for a cheap bed in a bag |
| You should buy these in bulk in order to save | | | | set you will be too cold or too hot. A better |
| versus buying at a convenience store on or near | | | | alternative is to invest in down or down |
| campus at prices 4 times the bulk prices. We | | | | alternative bedding which can have duvets added |
| prefer the soft varieties because they make less | | | | for color and fashion (and ease of care - just |
| crumbs and generally come in more flavors then | | | | wash the duvet). Plus by not being tied to the 4 |
| the crispy variety. | | | | patterns everyone else will be using in their rooms |
| Buy these snacks and others at a price club like | | | | you can create your own dorm oasis of comfort |
| Costco, SAM's or BJ's. | | | | and style. Generally we recommend buying |
| Dorm Cleaning Supplies | | | | manufacturer direct and you can expect to pay |
| You will definitely want to have a small yet | | | | between $75 and $125 for a quality dorm |
| powerful vacuum for the dorm room. We usually | | | | comforter (which will last you years versus being |
| find the ones available in mass stores to be | | | | disposable). |
| underpowered and hence unhelpful. One trick is to | | | | Dorm Towels |
| buy a small pro model and keep it in the trunk of | | | | Most of the towels you will find in stores around |
| your car for when it's really needed and hence | | | | the famous back to school season are generally |
| out of our way in the small dorm spaces. | | | | fun in color and prints - but tend to be cheap and |
| We are big fans of pre-moistened cleaning wipes - | | | | neither long lasting nor moisture thirsty. We |
| we like the private label brands found at price | | | | recommend eco friendly materials that are also |
| clubs and recommend buying 6 mega canisters. | | | | soft and silk to the touch - so towels made with |
| Aside from cleaning obvious things like dorm desk | | | | luxury performance fibers like Tencel or Bamboo |
| tops and bathroom counters - they can be used | | | | are wonderful. Not only do they feel silky soft but |
| for a daily or weekly door handle wiping. If you | | | | they absorb moisture like nothing else. Easy care |
| have to use shared computers in the library we | | | | dorm washing machine and dry friendly they can |
| also like portable styles to make sure keyboards | | | | be bought online. |