8 Items You’ll Actually Use in College

By Kyana Aguilera

Dear College Students,

I know if we all looked at our search history after high school all we’d find is: “Best things to get for your college dorm!” or “Everything You Need to Survive in College!”. Or hey, maybe you went simple, bought some twin XL bed sheets, LED lights, and a tapestry, and called it a day. But since being here, one could say we’re wiser and have more experience now (one would be lying), and we know what we used and what we didn’t. I tried to refrain from including obvious things like fridges, microwaves, SHOWER SHOES, chargers, etc. So please enjoy below: 8 items you’ll actually use in college.

1. Games
   • It may seem silly, but card games, board games, and drinking games for nights out are all very useful. I’m always being asked to bring games for going out and it’s fun to have variety so you’re not playing the same game every weekend. I even made my own board game and it’s a cute personal spin on hanging out with friends and even a fun project to do together, as well. I think it’s always handy to have a deck of cards for rummy, poker, or a little goldfish with your roommate!
2. Giant Ass Coat
   • Knowing we live in Wisconsin, and as it’s 8 degrees as I’m writing this, a “giant ass coat” is a very useful thing to have, according to sophomore Brooke Lowe. Why? It’s freezing. Fun fact: I’m actually attempting to go this whole winter without a winter coat! Maybe it’s my inner child rebelling all the times my mom layered four coats on me before school or maybe I’m just stubborn. Either way, I don’t think any college student will tell you they didn’t need their coat at least once. Especially midwestern college students.
3. Noise-cancelling headphones
   • Neighbors fucking next-door? Dorm party in your lounge every night? Tap-dancing upstairs neighbor? Good thing you brought noise-cancelling headphones! If you’re ever cramming for a test and need to focus, or working out in the PowerHouse, or your roommate won’t stop saying, “No, you hang up!”, or you just want to jam to music, headphones are extremely helpful. I personally use Airpods Pro and they’re my favorite. Just ask my friends, they’re always having to constantly throw things at me when walking behind me because I couldn’t hear them screaming my name for the last two minutes. This one might be more obvious, but many people end up forgetting or buying them later, but it’s definitely nice to have them upon arrival. 
4. Cold medicine
   • The Beloit Plague is no joke, and I know campuses in general have this big issue due to the amount of germs being spread, the weather changes, and irresponsibility as stupid gross young horny adults. I personally recommend bringing Sudafed, Dayquil, Nyquil (highest dose), Vitamin C, and Mucinex. Another fun fact: I have only been sick once while being at college but I was sure as hell glad when I had Vitamin C as soon as I started feeling sick, Dayquil in the morning, tea from DK’s all day, sudafed every 6 hours, and Nyquil at night. Being sick sucks, but medicine makes it suck a little less. Also, don’t forget to appreciate that you don’t have a sore throat right now. 
5. Plastic bag and hanger
   • Now… you didn’t hear this from me, and I personally discourage you from doing so due to the warnings of the dangers of covering your smoke alarms blah blah blah, but a student who wishes to remain anonymous claims, “by placing a plastic bag over my smoke alarm and securing it tightly with a hanger around it, I can successfully, momentarily, block the smoke alarm from going off if smoke, for some reason, happened to appear.” What one can cover their smoke alarm for, is up to interpretation but I once again fully discourage this.  
6. Extra beddings/body pillows
   • Having a sleepover? A non-Beloiter guest? A hookup, perhaps? Well, I hope you have extra beddings and pillows. Extra blankets can give you space to change your bedding, do your laundry comfortably, host sleepovers, have a picnic, the list is endless! I keep a tote bin of comforters, fuzzy blankets, and body pillows under my bed. It stays out of the way and is a great help when I have friends over. I heard similar thoughts from my peers around me and you’ll thank yourself when you don’t have to hear your friend complaining about a sore neck the next day.
7. Fun lighting/lamps
   • We all know that big overhead lights are not trending right now. The new in is small warm lights around the room. And as much as I tried to not make this list trendy, they are useful for multiple reasons. I personally have included more lamps and light sources in my decorations this year. I found two really cute, good quality lamps from Marshalls and got warm light bulbs from Walmart and I’ve barely flipped my lightswitch up all year. According to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, warm lighting creates a sense of relaxation and comfort. I have felt this affect my mental health all winter, noticing my mood stabilize or improve just by my lighting.
8. Vibrator

And last, but definitely not least, a vibrator. They come in all shapes and sizes, and can get almost any need met. I mean, I think we all can understand the usefulness of this item. An anonymous student from the class of 2027 even said, “14 times. I used mine 14 times in a day once. My vagina hurt after that one.” Now, while I’m not saying you’ll use it 14 times like some of us, it’ll come in handy at least once. However, I would recommend getting this one after moving in or online. It would be a little awkward when your mom is helping you unpack and she finds something neither of you wanted her to.

Featured images: Kyana Aguilera