tsel, mrs. bitterness ([info]kelsiarei) wrote in [info]niu,
@ 2008-07-03 15:17:00
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Stuff to bring to NIU for freshmen/transfers
The university gives you a list of stuff to bring, but in the past couple of years, I've tried to provide a list of things they don't mention. What follows is generally a list for people who live in the dorms: still working on a list of essentials for the new apartment dweller.

  • a coffee pot cafeteria service on the weekend sucks, and does not begin before 11. Tough shit if you're an early riser.
  • a questia account. because ERIC sucks ass
  • a pouch or bag to use as a nightstand if you are sleeping on the top bunk
  • sweater bag or plastic drawers If you live in Neptune. There are no dressers.
  • style manual for your field your advisor can tell you which one it might be.
  • humidifier dorms are dry as hell in winter. look out if you are prone to nose bleeds.
  • drugs just stock up. advil, tylenol, benadril, neosporin, something for athlete's foot, ladies: treatments for yeast and bladder infections, malox, pepto bismo, multi-vitamin, zycam, and sudafed. nothing is work than a long bus ride or cold walk to the store when you are sick.
  • shower shoes they only clean the showers once a week. eeeew.
  • batteries you can never have enough. get your folks to buy you a really big pack.
  • earplugs for sleep or study in nearly all conditions.
  • small bottles or jugs for water, or making your own drinks.
  • three-hole punch for the teacher who just has to have your paper in a binder
  • stapler and extra staples they're jerks about that too
  • markers color when your bored, impress your teacher when they assign you flow charts or mind maps.
  • hand mirror the one in your dorm room may be in an inconvenient place
  • over the door hanging rack for towels, bathrobes, and drying laundry
  • multi-vitamin If you have never lived with a roommate before, you will be sick a lot. Help prevent this by keeping yourself properly nourished.
  • mug and something to boil water in make tea for your sick roommate, and maybe they'll make tea for you when they've passed their death virus on.
  • underwear you won't be embarrassed to sit around in not all the dorms have a/c
  • earphones can be used to listen to computers in labs, or to drown out your roommate's music.
  • jump drive many of the computers on campus no longer have floppy drives
  • bottle opener you still need one for Corona and some other kinds of adult beverages. one with a corkscrew built in and you'll have wine covered too.
  • can opener doubles as a bottle opener. opens cans. you won't always want or have the schedule to eat when they want you to.
  • paper towels
  • windex multi-surface. This gets your mirrors, windows, computer, television, and just about everything in your room covered.
  • other first aid supplies like bandaids and anti-bacterial ointment. oh, and an ace bandage and ice pack.
  • fan. i forget if the official list has one, but you really need more than one. even if you don't need it for cooling, the noise from a fan can drown out a lot of sound from your neighbors.
  • dust-removing products. you might want dry swiffer sheets. you might want an air cleaner, particularly if you have an allergy. the dust here is pretty strong, because of the farming.
  • power strips. spend some money on decent ones because in some dorms you get one outlet (two plugs) per person.
  • envelopes and stamps
  • umbrella and other weather gear. sometimes people don't notice winter approaching and have to get their parents to mail them their winter coats when it snows.
  • duct tape - tape down cords, patch holes in your screen, so many uses
  • computer - yes, there are labs. no, you don't really want to be in them.
  • dining gear - in the past there's been some debate over disposable vs. going to the thrift shop or walmart and picking up some cheap reusable. I'm a reusable fan. but start lean, and pick up what you need as you go
  • egg crate - helps with dubious mattresses. even better if you can get a thick fluffy mattress pad too.
  • dish cleaning stuff - dishsoap, dishcloth or sponge, possibly a dishtub to throw your dirties in, although it is much less gross to wash them right away. a sponge is a fairly sanitary option - microwave for about 30-45 seconds to sterilize that bitch.
skip bringing:
  • extra-long sheets. I've never had a problem with my regular ones, nor has anyone i talked to. Just make sure to get a high enough thread count so it doesn't feel like you are sleeping on sandpaper
  • regular phone, cordless phone, answering machine - niu rates are pricey, and every room comes with voice mail anyway, but we all use our cells here - it comes out much more affordable if you know what you are doing.
  • vcr - you can rent videos cheaply, but why clutter up your room. I don't even have a dvd player - just my computer.
  • cds - super easy to steal and also a space hog. just rip that stuff to your computer
  • forbidden pets - even though you think fluffy's cage might fit into the closet, it is a shitty thing to do to your roommate

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[info]caffeine_boy
2008-07-03 11:02 pm UTC (link)
Here are a couple of things that I think should be added to the list:

  • a collapsable hamper or laundry bag - space (particularly in Grant) is at a premium, and anything that is flexible will make your life a lot easier.

  • some sort of mattress pad - any sort of extra padding with the crappy mattresses will benefit you

  • a shower caddy - you will need some way to bring your shampoo, soap, razor, and oral care to the bathroom while holding a towel. Look at Target/Wally World, and you'll see some with a soap holder, as well as a toothbrush holder.

  • a closet organizer - as said before, space is at a premium, and the most efficient you can use space, the better off you will be

  • some sort of rubbermaid container - you won't believe how much stuff that you will accumulate over the course of the school year. The easier the way you can move it, the better. You'll be particularly thankful for this if you're living in Lincoln or Douglas.

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[info]kelsiarei
2008-07-04 12:15 am UTC (link)
Neptune Closet Recipe for success: at least 2 milk crates (helps you hold more on top shelves - and keep stuff together in the high cubby). One wide set of sterilite drawers (put on floor next to shoe shelves). One narrow set of sterilite drawers (put on top of shoe shelves). Add additional small tubs of holding as needed.

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[info]zimdawg
2008-07-04 03:22 pm UTC (link)
I didn't even bother. My desk drawers became my clothes drawers for underwear/socks. Everything else got hung. Extra closet space went to instruments.

Solid list, though. I might add that I had a tiny stapler that I kept in my bag at all times for stapling on the go. EXTREMELY handy.

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[info]partly_bouncy
2008-07-04 12:57 am UTC (link)
forbidden pets - even though you think fluffy's cage might fit into the closet, it is a shitty thing to do to your roommate

Do I want to know?

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[info]venus77
2008-07-04 02:20 am UTC (link)
I had a roommate with a hamster my 1st semester.

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[info]kelsiarei
2008-08-08 02:20 pm UTC (link)
I know. I had that in mind when I wrote this list.

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[info]virdilak
2008-07-04 03:32 am UTC (link)
I think coffee pots aren't allowed in the dorms? Unless they've changed the rules.

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[info]kelsiarei
2008-07-04 03:57 am UTC (link)
If you read the guidepost, they're okay as long as you leave them attended while they are on.

And even if it's not legal, bring it anyway.

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[info]caffeine_boy
2008-07-04 06:45 am UTC (link)
Things like that are merely a suggestion. You hide them when your room is inspected at the beginning of the year and that's about it.

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[info]superjpcw
2008-07-05 10:34 pm UTC (link)
Also bring some sponges or dishrags and dishsoap if you plan on using cups/mugs/plates etc. You don't want to share the communal floor sponges.

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[info]kelsiarei
2008-08-08 02:21 pm UTC (link)
Well, I put paper towels for that reason, but I think I'll update the list.

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wows
[info]evie_six
2008-08-08 01:58 pm UTC (link)
that...is extremely helpfull..*prints* Thank you!! *goes out shopping*

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Re: wows
[info]kelsiarei
2008-08-08 02:19 pm UTC (link)
Best of luck!

Keep in mind that you won't completely understand your organization needs until you actually get in the room. So it's good to sort of schedule/budget for a trip to a place that sells that sort of thing on that first weekend, rather than buying expensive stuff that won't work for you.

If you have any other questions, feel free to hit me up on gchat or something - edenton at gmail dot com

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