The Dos and Donts of Dorm Packing

 

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Do's

Sleep:

As a college student, sleep is one of the most important and useful parts of your student life. I can say from experience that if I do not get good sleep, I do not do well in my classes (or my daily interactions). Some ideas for your sleeping checklist should include a comforter or bedspread, sheets (beds in the dorms are twin size), a mattress topper and the obvious pillows and blankets of your choice. These items will help you be comfortable in your new environment.

Washin' Up:

Sleep is important, yes, but hygiene will help you not only look better but feel better as well. Showers and bathrooms in the UW residence halls are communal so it is best to be prepared to share spaces.

First, I recommend shower shoes and a shower caddy. The shoes help prevent walking on the dirt left by other people and the caddy helps you transport your belongings quickly in and out. Don’t forget towels because those are just as important. These items will help you feel comfortable and efficient whilst getting ready for the day.

Now for the in-dorm items. Because a sink is provided in the dorms, you can do your daily care while in the comfort of your own space. Don’t forget a toothbrush, cotton swabs, face wash and other toiletry items that could either help get your day started or send you off to bed.

Eats:

Washakie Dining Center is the one-stop-shop for breakfast, lunch and dinner for students. Dining plans are required for students living in the residence halls to use throughout the school year, so make sure you pick the right one to suit your needs.

Work with your roommate to figure out the essentials when it comes to food in your room. It is a possibility that you love Bagel Bites, and your roommate can’t stand them, and that is a very serious conversation you need to have. Pack up some snacks but do not forget silverware and dishes. It’s pretty hard to eat an entire bag of pizza rolls without a plate!

It may be important to bring a microwave and a mini-fridge. These two items will help you with leftovers, frozen food, snacks, and other small items that you may not be able to just store. And it’s pretty hard to make microwave popcorn without the microwave: just saying.

Other Essential Items to Think About: 

Sometimes it is hard to imagine all the things you need day to day until you start packing. This is a reminder to remember clothes hangers, storage bins and totes and laundry items that are easy to forget. There are washing machines and dryers in the tunnels below the residence halls so do not forget to do laundry!

Study:

Oh yeah, you’re here for school! With all the chaos surrounding packing and living, it is easy to forget why you even moved. I recommend bringing everything you might need for studying and academic life. Bring a laptop (in today’s age of technology, this is essential) and school supplies like backpacks, folders, binders, pencils, pens and flash drives. If you forget any of these items, you can buy them at the University Store on campus!

Living with a roommate means living on different studying schedules and that is okay! Just make sure to utilize studying strategies that help you stay efficient without any distractions from the outside. Bring headphones or earbuds; listening to music is definitely a good idea for studying and doing homework.

Lastly, I recommend bringing a desk lamp. Working in harsh fluorescent lights may not spark creativity or passion. A softer light could help you feel cozy and allow for more motivation.

The "Fun" Stuff:

Okay, now you have the essentials, now it’s time for the fun! First things first, bring a TV. They are great for relaxation and fun. You and your roommate can watch new shows together, watch movies and enjoy some much-needed downtime. Bring some movies along or make sure you have the passwords to your favorite streaming services.

This one is much more personal to me but please bring a fan. In the winter you may think to yourself, “a fan? In Wyoming?” Yes. You have heat in your dorm provided but when the seasons start to get warmer and winter turns to spring and summer, the last thing you would ever want is the heater. A fan helps circulate air in the room and helps cool you off when the weather gets hot.

Also make sure to bring cleaning supplies, first aid kits, command strips and some air fresheners. The cleaning supplies and first aid kits seem pretty self-explanatory: keep the apartment clean and keep yourself not injured. Command strips and air fresheners may not seem dyer, but they are important for dorm living.

Command strips allow you to hang up art, so you feel more at home in your new place and hang up jackets, coats and backpacks. The air fresheners will help make the space feel fresh. Two people living in close quarters often lend themselves to less than desirable smells so this can help the smell, especially in the warmer months.

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Don'ts

The list of items not to bring into a dorm room is much smaller, more important and more self-explanatory. These items are not allowed in the UW residence halls. First off, do not bring items like hot plates, grills or toasters. These can get extremely hot and unsafe in such a small space. Accordingly, do not have open flames and candles. This makes the air fresheners I described earlier a bit more desirable.

Hunting in Wyoming is a large pastime for many people and understandably so! However, you are not allowed to have any hunting equipment in the dorm rooms. With that said, there are also no weapons allowed.

Some other quick “no items” are mattresses/bed lofts and drum sets/amplified instruments. The UW dorms supply a mattress, so no mattresses are needed on your end. As for the latter, you have many residents around you (above, next to and below you) so it is in your best interest to be a good neighbor and not be a burden. The walls are also not the most soundproof in the world.

 

 

You're Done!

Congratulations! You now have a background on what and what not to bring to your new living situation. It can seem a little confusing but if you use this as a guide, you will have a successful first year at UW.