I lived on campus all four years of my college career at Naz and, because of that, I’ve learned the items I can’t live without and which ones are okay to leave at home. I’ve created a list of my top 5 products, the things I’ve used the most the past 4 years. All of these products were ones that were recommended to me to bring from family members, my friends, Naz tour guides, and lists similar to this one.
Mini-fridge: Naz allows students to have a mini-fridge in their dorms, which is great because it’s something I use every day. Before I lived in an on-campus apartment, which comes with a fridge, I would keep as much as possible in my mini fridge. I often would have juice, small snacks, quick meals (such as Lunchables), or water in a Brita filter. I know many people also keep things like coffee creamer in their fridges as well. Now, living in an on-campus apartment, I use my mini-fridge to hold things that couldn’t fit into the shared fridge, things I want to know are mine, or things that I don’t want my roommates to have. For example, my grandfather gave me a pie when I came back to school, so I put it in my fridge so that no one else would eat it and I would remember that it was mine. Another reason I love my fridge is for extra storage space. In the dorms, it’s important to be creative in the ways you utilize your space. Currently, I have all my books in a milk crate (more on the importance of those later) on top of my fridge. That way they’re easily accessible and neatly organized.
Fan: By far, the most used item in my dorm room has been my fan. Most dorms on campus don’t have air conditioning, so in the beginning of the semester, a fan is essential. I actually use my fan all year long. Sometimes the room can be quite warm even in the winter, so it’s a great way to cool off especially when sleeping. I also love using my fan for white noise in order to help me sleep better. The white noise does a great job of blocking out noisy roommates or other noises dorms make throughout the night. I spend as much time as possible napping, so when it’s the middle of the day things can get loud. The noise helps everything be quieter and clears my mind.
Blankets: I know I’m contradicting myself a bit from what I said about needing a fan, however, extra blankets are something I couldn’t live without in my dorm. Rochester is cold, and there’s nothing better than wrapping up in a warm blanket after walking outside in the 0° weather. For me, blankets are also a big sense of comfort and home. I got the blanket I use when I was about 14, and I use it every chance I can. They’re also helpful for when a roommate likes the dorm to be at a different temperature than you like. They get a cool room and you get a comforting sense of home. Blankets are great for naps, extra warmth, naps, when a friend comes over, and naps. Although they’re not always needed, just having a blanket around is a necessity for any situations that arise, such as naps.
Mirrors: All the dorms come with their own mirrors, but the sizes and locations vary greatly. Back when I lived in Kearney, there was only one mirror on the inside of a cabinet that showed from your shoulders up and a floor length mirror in each of the communal bathrooms. Whereas Portka, the on-campus apartment I lived in last semester, has large mirrors in each of the two bathrooms as well a floor length mirror near the door. While it may not seem like a necessity, the built-in mirrors can be in awkward places, or they may not be easily accessible, for example if your roommate is in the bathroom. It’s for those reasons that I would recommend having at least one mirror with you. My freshman year, I bought a floor length mirror that hooks over doors. I’ve used that on the back of my door every year since. It’s a convenient place to have your own mirror that you can see your full body in. Another mirror I bought is a small table top mirror that can fit on my desk. I have an obsession with makeup, so every morning I utilize this small mirror. These smaller mirrors could be helpful for other things like putting in contacts or seeing if you have food in your teeth as well. I’ve found it’s better to have something that’s yours, that way you, and your roommate if you decide to share, can choose where you want it to be.
Milk crates: The last things I’ve gotten a lot of use out of throughout my college career are my milk crates. Milk crates are small storage contains like the one pictured here. They are great for moving miscellaneous items into your dorm, holding small objects, or for organizing your class materials. I always keep one of my milk crates on top of my fridge to hold all my books and supplies for classes. It’s a simple and organized way to store folders, books, and notebooks. I also keep things like extra chargers or other small objects in them. This way they’re all in one space but still taking up a small amount of room.
Everyone’s top 5 most important items in their dorms are going to be different, but these are the items I’ve utilized the most through my four years at Naz. I would recommend for anyone to bring some or all of them to their dorms. If you want more information on what Naz recommends to bring and what isn’t allowed you can view the list here.