What to bring to college
A freshman checklist

What colleges tell you to bring -
• Address book
• Alarm clock
• Answering machine
• Cell phone
• Compact microwave oven
• Computer
• Cups and plates
• Desk lamp
• Eating utensils
• Landline phone – if not provided
• Laundry bag
• Laundry soap
• Post-it® notes
• Power strip/surge protector
• Refrigerator
• Stain remover
• Stereo Receiver with headphones
• Television
• Three-prong extension cords
• VCR or DVD player

What colleges don't mention but you should bring anyway -
• A fan — especially if there is no air conditioning
• A flashlight with extra batteries — in case of a power outage
• A small clip-to-your-textbook lamp — for late night studying
• Bath towels — you’ll need towels, and lots of them
• Bedding — sheets, pillow cases and a few good blankets
• Bicycle and bike lock — the best way to get around campus
• Can opener — canned foods are quick and easy to prepare
• College clothes — leave your high school T-shirts and letter jackets home
• First aid kit — Band Aids, pain relievers, cold medicine
• Heating pad — they are hard to find on campus
• Insurance card/health care information — better safe than sorry
• Iron and small ironing board — and know how to use it
• Lots of socks and underwear — enough pairs to get you through wash cycles
• Organizer/planning calendar — no one will be there to keep your schedule
Personal hygiene items — toothpaste, deodorant, etc.
• Phone cards — if you don’t have cell phone
• Phonebook from your hometown — to look up old friends
• Pictures of family and friends — you’ll want a connection to home
• Sewing kit — include lots of buttons
• Shower bucket — to put your shower stuff in to tote to and from the bathroom
• Shower shoes — college showers have multiple users
• Sports equipment — football, volleyball, basketball, etc.
• Umbrella — be prepared for all kinds of weather
• White board for your door — for messages