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Off-to-College Checklist
Print this checklist to make sure you have everything you need for your first year at college. Each person's needs are different, so tailor this list to suit your requirements.
| Kitchen Needs | |
| Plastic bowl and cup | |
| Coffee cup | |
| Fork, knife, spoon | |
| Can/bottle opener | |
| Chip clips | |
| Room Needs/Storage | |
| Bedside lamp | |
| Alarm clock/clock radio | |
| Wastepaper basket | |
| Milk crates or other sturdy storage cubes (a collapsible crate also comes in handy for carrying laundry or other things) | |
| Stacking baskets | |
| Under-the-bed storage trays | |
| Lots of hangers | |
| Desk lamp | |
| Fan | |
| Drying rack | |
| Adhesive hooks, tacky adhesive, and mounting tape | |
| Bulletin board and push pins | |
| Dry erase wall calendar/board | |
| Toolkit | |
| Electronics | |
| Computer and printer | |
| Phone cord/Ethernet cord for computer | |
| Headphones | |
| Surge protector | |
| Extension cords | |
| 3-2 prong adapters | |
| Phone (Check with roommate(s) to avoid duplication.) It should be cordless, with multiple message boxes in the answering machine, unless you're using voicemail. | |
| Portable CD or cassette player (great to use at the gym) | |
| Linens/Laundry Supplies | |
| Sheets and pillowcases (2 sets. Check with school for size needed—some college twin beds are extra long.) | |
| Towels (3 each of bath, hand, and face) | |
| Pillows (2) | |
| Headrest pillow | |
| Mattress pad (Check with school for size needed—some college twin beds are extra long.) | |
| Blankets (2) | |
| Comforter and duvet cover (makes laundering easier) | |
| Clothes hangers (wire takes up less space, plastic are easier on your clothes) | |
| Laundry bag/basket | |
| Laundry marking pen | |
| Laundry stain remover | |
| Roll(s) of quarters | |
| Quarter dispenser | |
| Lint brush | |
| Sewing kit | |
| Toiletries/Misc | |
| Pepto-Bismol® | |
| Imodium® | |
| Aspirin or ibuprofen | |
| Vitamin C | |
| Neosporin® | |
| Band-Aid® bandages | |
| Cough drops | |
| Shower tote | |
| Shampoo & conditioner | |
| Hair-styling products | |
| Bath and face soap | |
| Traveling-soap container(s) | |
| Toothpaste and toothbrush | |
| Dental floss | |
| Comb/brush | |
| Tweezers | |
| Nail clippers | |
| Hair dryer | |
| Razor and shaving cream | |
| Lotion and/or facial moisturizer | |
| Q-tips® | |
| Office/Desk Supplies | |
| CD-ROMs/Memory Sticks | |
| Phone/address book | |
| Assignment book | |
| Heavy-duty stapler and staples | |
| Printer paper | |
| Pens and pencils | |
| Pencil holder and sharpener | |
| Notebooks | |
| Pocket folders | |
| Labels of various sizes | |
| 3 x 5 cards | |
| Post-it® notes | |
| Paper clips | |
| Rubber bands | |
| Scissors | |
| Highlighter pens (multiple colors) | |
| Ruler | |
| Stackable desk trays (at least 4) | |
| Hanging files or folders | |
| Dictionary and thesaurus | |
| Stamps/envelopes | |
| These Can Be Purchased Upon Arrival | |
| Paper towels | |
| Trash bags | |
| Lightbulbs | |
| All-purpose cleaner | |
| Ziploc® bags | |
| Kitchen storage containers | |
| Laundry detergent (tablets are easiest to manage) | |
| Fabric softener (sheets are easiest to manage) | |
| Dish soap | |
| Wet wipes | |
| Tissues | |
| Clothing Guidelines | |
| 21 pairs of underwear | |
| 21 pairs of socks (more if you play sports) | |
| 7 pairs of pants/jeans | |
| 14 shirts/blouses | |
| 2 sets of sweats | |
| Pajamas | |
| Slippers and/or flip-flops | |
| 2 sweaters (if appropriate) | |
| Light/heavy jackets | |
| Gloves/scarf/hat (if appropriate) | |
| 1 pair of boots | |
| 2 pairs of sneakers or comfortable/walking shoes | |
| 1 pair of dress shoes | |
| 1 set of business attire | |
| 1 set of semi-formal attire (optional) | |
| Shared Items (Check with roommate(s) to avoid duplication.) | |
| Audio equipment | |
| TV and VCR/DVD player | |
| Coffee maker/hot pot | |
| Microwave/toaster oven | |
| Small refrigerator | |
| Area rug | |
| Camera | |
| Posters/art | |
