Living in a dorm is oftenthe first experience a student has of living away from the family home and a familiar environment. While most people thrive, it is natural to be a little lost and lonely for loved ones and familiar things. Adding some familiar comforts of home to your environment such as favorite blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, sporting mementos, pictures and posters can all help to add a familiar touch to a foreign environment and make the adjustment to college life less stressful.
Think about what you will be doing when you have some down time. You may wish to bring some leisure and entertainment items such as board games, a pack of cards. Sports equipment and sports gear are other items to think about such as jogging shoes, tennis rackets or a soccer ball.
Many dorms have a common room and computer facilities, but coming from wired-up homes with many technological appliances, some students may find it hard to cope with a communal approach to such things. A laptop or desktop in your room gives you instant access to family and friends and a home entertainment center. A small, cheap television is useful for relaxation and can also lead to some communal times from dorm mates who may drop by to watch the latest show. And of course in student life musical devices like an MP3 player will always be appreciated.
Practicalities are all those things necessary for comfortable day-to-day living that a dorm does not provide, such as shower kits, hair and makeup accessories, clothing and linen, a bedside lamp and alarm clock. You will of course need scholastic materials for your studies. And you should also think about everyday household items like scissors, storage crates, all-purpose cleaner, paper towels and the like.