I Want my CD Player, VCR, Television Set, Etc., Etc.
Dec 03 '01 (Updated Jan 28 '06)
The Bottom Line Be careful about what you bring to school. You will likely have limited space, and your belongings could easily get trashed or stolen
When summer break is about to come to an end, many prospective students and current students start thinking about the coming college school year and begin to anticipate the fun times and challenges that lie ahead. For most, this time of the year signals the end of work and the beginning of study time. The student’s mind is usually overburdened with the anticipation of school and homework.
Although many students don’t give it much thought, one of the decisions that must be made at this time is exactly what to bring to school. This is probably a more worrisome decision for freshmen, who ponder over whether or not to bring certain personal and/or sentimental items; luxury items; entertainment items; etc. After the initial year, the decisions come much more easily.
What items are Critical to Bring to College?:
For first year students who are going to move into a dormitory, the first consideration that you must make is the limited living quarters. You will, more than likely, be sharing an already too small space with someone else, which will limit the available square footage to unload the U-Haul and make yourself at home.
Depending on how much you want your dorm to feel like your own bedroom did when you lived with the parents, you will have to decide which things to bring and which to leave behind, by weighing the pros and cons. Here’s a list of possibilities:
Essential Items:
This category would include all the things that are necessary to survive. Some of the obvious would be a good supply of clothing (not your entire wardrobe, but a good supply), grooming devices (especially for the women), school supplies, pillows and blankets (you may or may not need sheets- some colleges provide them for you), alarm clock (a must!), desk lamp, and probably a personal computer, unless the school is supplying them for you.
Many other things would fall into this category, too, like toiletries, cosmetics (for the women, unless some of you guys are into that sort of thing), medicine, etc. However, you don’t necessarily need to load up on these things, when you arrive at school. There will be plenty of places, on campus or nearby, to make these additional purchases as they become necessary.
Luxury Items:
This area would include things that you could survive without, but your life would be more comfortable and more convenient if you had them around. Maybe you want to bring along your CD collection and CD player, to listen to your favorite tunes. Maybe you enjoy an afternoon movie, on video or DVD, and feel that bringing your VCR or DVD player would be a nice addition to your dorm room. Television sets are another possibility.
Small appliances are another thing to consider, but you need to check with the rules at your school, because some of them may not be allowed, due to a possible fire hazard or some safety code. Also, things like a coffee maker or toaster can really get in the way, in a small confined space like a dorm room, and your roommates might start to get annoyed with your “lack of consideration”. You need to decide if your morning java or slices of toasted bread are really that important to you, to warrant bringing these appliances to school.
Sentimental Items:
If you’re the type who really misses your family, even when gone for a short time, then you might be inclined to bring along family photographs, souvenirs, and other personal items that remind you of home. I think it’s a good idea to bring along some pictures, because many of your curious university colleagues will want to know what your family looks like. I wouldn’t overdo it, though, with personal items, because they could get lost, stolen, or even destroyed by a careless or vengeful fellow student. Depending on how sentimental the item was, you could very well end up regretting that you ever brought it to school.
Decorations:
This is an area where the young ladies tend to get more carried away than the men. This would include things like posters, pictures, wall ornaments, and anything else that makes a room look more inviting. From my experience, the men usually didn’t care too much about decorating. We just looked at our room as a place to sleep, and we didn’t care that much about the fascination that some would feel when they witnessed our decorating prowess. The women were much more inclined to decorate, and I’m sure that things haven’t changed that much. I can remember some rooms in the girl’s dorms that had multiple wall and door ornaments and pictures, stuffed animals all over the place, and special throw rugs for the floor, honoring their favorite rock artists.
Decorations can make a room feel more like home, but you will need to consider your roommates, and whether or not the item could get damaged, before you begin your quest to win an award for interior design.
Final Thoughts:
Deciding what to bring to school doesn’t need to be a stressful task. You should begin by making out a list of what you definitely need, followed by a list of what luxury items you would enjoy to bring along for your time in school. If you’re about to enter the dorm, you will be limited in terms of space. If you are moving into a larger living quarters, like a house or apartment, then you can be more liberal with what you decide to bring.
With luxury items, sentimental items, and decorations, the most important thing to consider is the possibility that something could become damaged or stolen. Even though a certain item might make you feel happy and secure, you need to ask yourself whether or not you could afford to have this item damaged or stolen. If something has extreme sentimental value, then I would advise not bringing it along. The risk of losing it would be too great.
This rule also applies to luxury items, too. You might really love your CD collection and enjoy listening to your favorite tunes, but what if a good number of them get stolen? CD’s are a popular item to steal (or borrow and never return, which happens a lot in school) because they are small and easy to confiscate. I would recommend only bring a few of your favorite CD’s and leaving the rest at home.
As you progress through your years in college, you will gradually move into larger and larger residences, which will give you more room and more security from theft and damage. In a dorm, there are so many people within a short distance from your room that it’s almost like you’re living with all the students on your floor, and not just with one or two roommates. This makes security a greater concern. But when you move into a house or apartment (usually during upperclassman years), you will likely have far fewer people living with you, and far fewer worries about your personal belongings getting trashed or stolen. When I was a student, I brought along only a few things with me, for my freshman year in the dorm, and left my remaining items in storage at my mom and dad’s house. When freshman year ended, I moved into a house for summer, and I lived in houses from that point forward. Before moving into my first house, I got all my personal belongings from my mom and dad’s house, and brought them to my new home. I had only a few minor incidents of theft (usually of music cassettes) while living in the houses. Most of the stealing took place in the dorm, because it was so easy for others to sneak into my room, grab a cassette, food, or whatever, and quickly run back to their own room.
As long as you remember that your space is limited and that your personal items could get stolen or damaged, you should have no problem deciding on what to bring to school. Just remember to be careful with sentimental items and expensive luxury items. You can easily replace a stolen CD, but you can’t replace a photo album with family vacation pictures.
Think wisely before you pack, and have fun on your journey through college!
For More Educational Reading, Click on the Links Below:
Advice on College Admissions:
Choosing a College or University
How to Help Your Child Choose a College
How to Apply to College
Should I Transfer Schools?
Should I Take Time Off?
Should I Go to Grad School?
Advice on College Life:
College Survival Tips
What is College Really Like?
What I Should Know About Dealing with College Roommates
What Should I Know About Greek Life in College?
What I Should Know About Alcohol Abuse in College
What I Should Know About Spring Break Planning
How Can I Succeed in College Academics?
How to Manage Your Time
How Should I Deal With Tough Times in School?
How Should I Prepare for Life After Graduation?
Advice on College Finances:
Should I Take a Part Time Job?
How to Pay Off Student Loans
How to Manage Your Budget
How to Negotiate Financial Aid Packages
How to Apply for Financial Aid
Reviews of Test Prep Materials, Services, and “How To”:
800Score.com
How to Take the GMAT
How to Take the GRE
What is the GRE?
Kaplan GMAT On- Line Course
Princeton Review GMAT On- Line Course
Reviews of Specific Universities:
Wright State University
University of Dayton
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.