11 Things You Should Always Keep in Your Room

The 11 Things You Should Always Keep In Your Room

Are you nervous about moving to Ohio State? Worried that you are going to over or under pack for your new room in a residence hall? Scared that you’re going to forget something important? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are in the right place! To kick off the eleventh day of Orientation, I’m here to let you know about the 11 things you should always keep in your room when you get to Ohio State.

1. A Computer

Having a computer or access to one is essential to your success as an Ohio State student. The university’s primary method of communication is through email and your professors will often use Carmen (our electronic hub for class information) for homework and quizzes. If you don’t have a computer of your own, don’t worry! The university has many computer labs that students can access for free!

2. Air Freshener

Let’s be real here — young people stink. You may wash your clothes and your body every day, but that doesn’t mean that your roommates or floor mates follow the same routine. Living in small spaces with many people is a breeding ground for the smelliest kinds of smells. Bring the air freshener and this problem will disappear!

3. Medicine

For most first-year students, this is the first time you’ll be away from home. That means it’ll be the first time you’ll be taking care of yourself if you get sick. When it comes to medicine, bring it even if you think you’ll never need it. Cold medicine, pain relievers, immune system boosters, cough drops— bring it all. A thermometer won’t hurt either.

4. Cards or Games

I’ve always believed that the easiest way to make new friends is by playing a super intense game of cards with a group of strangers. If you aren’t into card games, bring something you do enjoy. Cards Against Humanity, Bananagrams, Monopoly — a game that requires more than one person to participate is a great way to connect with your roommate and hall mates.

5. Extra Blankets and Sheets

Your sheets are super dirty, but you’re too tired to do anything about it! Having extras will definitely come in handy at that moment, and great for the busy college student who doesn’t have time (or doesn’t want) to clean.

6. Extension Cords

If you’re planning on trying to plug in more than four things in your new room, bring an extension cord. Trust me.

7. Snacks

There is no worse feeling than when you’re working on a paper late at night and you have an undying hunger that can’t be satisfied with vending machine potato chips.

8. Coffee Maker

You may find that, as a college student, you start to put a lot more caffeine into your body than you did previously (or at all). By no means is this necessary to survive your classes, but if you start to drink a lot of coffee or tea, it will be much more cost effective to have your own machine (and you won’t have to wake up so early to go out and get some before class).

9. Rain Gear

You don’t realize how much it rains in Ohio until your main mode of transportation is your own two feet. Bring an umbrella, rain boots and/or rain jacket or you’ll quickly discover that the worst state of being is a soggy one.

10. Hangers

I bet you remembered that you need to bring clothes, but did you remember hangers? This is the biggest thing I hear about students forgetting at home, but having these glorious plastic triangles in your closet is actually kind of a necessity.

11. Something That Makes You Feel at Home

Ohio State is full of opportunity and it’s a huge place. Because of that, you may (at times) feel lost and homesick in your first year here. When I was a first-year student, I found that the best thing I did to combat those feelings was bring photos of friends and family members and hang them where I would see them every day. Surrounding myself with something familiar enabled me to turn Ohio State into my home away from home.

Come back on Wednesday to read about Thirteen Myths and Traditions of Ohio State, brought to you by Marcos Olivarez!