Are you looking for a more realistic college freshman dorm checklist? This is the exact checklist that you’ll need to get ready for your college freshman dorm.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
First off, congratulations!! One of the most exciting yet anxious times in your young adult life is getting ready to leave for college. I’m removing all the fluff and I am giving you an insanely realistic college freshman dorm checklist.
When I was prepping for my dorm, I had to figure things out on my own and use my McDonald’s paychecks to pay for every single thing for my dorm room. I wanted this list to be as helpful as possible so that you have all of the essentials before you move in. This is honestly the college freshmen dorm checklist that I WISH I had.
Grab a pen and paper or bookmark this blog post because after reading this list, you’ll undoubtedly feel less stressed.
This post is all about a college freshman dorm checklist.
NO-NONSENSE COLLEGE FRESHMAN DORM CHECKLIST:
BEDDING
Shopping for the bedding of your dorm is arguably the most essential purchase for your dorm room. If you are in your room then more than likely you are on top of that bed. The naps you take in between classes are everything!
Why not make your bed as comfortable and as welcoming as possible? You want your bed to be your peace! Here is what you will need…
✓ Mattress Topper
Dorm room mattresses are known to be rough and tough. When you get in your bed after a long day, you deserve to sleep on a nice soft cloud. Before you put sheets on your bed and proceed to lay on it you will need this mattress topper.
✓ Twin XL Sheets
Most dorm beds do not fit the standard twin-size sheets so make sure you get the twin XL size. These twin sheets will give that luxury feel! I also love that these sheets come in different colors. We love options around here. Super good!
✓ Comforter
Get a comforter in any color or design that matches your vibe, like these, for instance. Make a wise choice because this can become the comforter you use for all of your years living in a dorm.
✓ Pillow
The amount of pillows that you bring to your dorm is definitely up to you! I do recommend that you purchase a pillow specifically for your dorm as tempting as it may be to just bring yours from home.
BATHROOM
There are more than likely three types of bathroom options on your college campus: community, suite, and private. I experienced 2 out of the 3.
So basically, for community bathrooms, you share a bathroom with anyone who lives on the same floor as you. Obviously, not my first choice out of the three options but if you are in a dorm with a community bathroom you too will survive!
With the suite bathrooms, your dorm will share a bathroom with your neighbor, therefore there will be around four students assigned to one bathroom.
A private bathroom is one that is solely used by you and your roommate. This is obviously the best scenario, but as a freshman, you might not have this choice, so be prepared.
Here are some bathroom necessities that you should include in your college freshman dorm checklist, regardless of which dorm you choose to live in.
✓ Shower Caddy 
This is super important! You can transport all the things you need for your bathroom time with the help of a shower caddy. Since the one I had would gather water and I hated it, I honestly wish I had a shower caddy like this one. Avoid the possibility of mildew with something like this.
✓ Towel
I recommend that you get more than one towel so you can rotate them. You wouldn’t want to be dependent on one towel if you can help it.
✓ Wash Cloth
Replace your typical wash rag with this. This is seriously so good! I’ve been using this for a few years now and the difference in your skin is undeniable. I cannot recommend this enough.
✓ Robe
A robe is ideal so that you won’t have to walk around in a towel. You can put on your robe in your dorm, go down the hall to the community bathroom, and then return to your dorm in your robe to finish getting dressed.
✓ Shower Shoes
You do not want to put your bare feet in the shower. My cheap shower shoes would frequently pop since they weren’t sturdy enough and were too slippery. But, these in particular are really good since the holes ensure that the water will not become trapped and the bottoms are anti-slip.
✓ Bathroom Mat
You will not need this for a community bathroom but a bathroom mat will be super helpful to have for a suite or private bathroom.
✓ Hand Soap
I think we can all agree that having an antibacterial hand soap in your dorm or in your bathroom is essential.
LAUNDRY
Your parents are nowhere in sight, and it’s laundry day! Don’t panic; everything you’ll need is right here for your laundry checklist.
You should periodically check the laundry room to see when it is the least busy. Once you’ve found that time, go ahead and schedule your laundry time accordingly.
✓ Laundry Basket
Any laundry basket that is difficult to get from your dorm to the laundry room should be avoided. The removable laundry bag for your laundry wash days makes this hamper absolutely great!
✓ Laundry Detergent
Laundry pods are just so convenient for your college dorm! Take a pod and go instead of dealing with transporting a heavy gallon of detergent.
✓ Dryer Sheets
In terms of laundry day, dryer sheets are the icing on the cake.
✓ Iron
Avoid those wrinkles and add an iron to your checklist. For my first year of college, I entirely forgot to pack one, and it was so annoying. Don’t be like college freshman me and get one!
✓ Ironing Board
Unlike hotels, your college dorm will not have an iron board already in them. It would be ideal for you to get your own so you can continue to avoid wrinkles.
CLOSET
Decide what your style will be or already is, then pack it. You’ll need clothing and footwear for a variety of events, including class, leisure, going out with friends, game days, etc.
You may not want to pack every single piece of clothing from home, depending on how much clothes and shoes you already own. At the end of the day, it is ultimately your decision!
✓ Clothes
Keep in mind the weather of your college location when packing. I do recommend that you pack some business attire as well. You might need to dress professionally on particular days, depending on your college or major.
✓ Hangers
I highly recommend velvet hangers for your dorm room closet. They are cute, reliable, and do the job.
✓ Shoes
Make sure the shoes you bring are comfortable for everyday walking to class. Each school day, you might have to walk a good distance.
✓ Shoe Organizer
It’s really useful to have an over-the-door shoe organizer! It doesn’t take up any space and makes it simple to locate your day’s shoes.
ELECTRONICS
During my four years of college, I did not own a laptop, and I say this to say if you do not have your own then it is okay. Don’t worry too much about that.
Students can rent laptops or use the desktop computers that are available on your college campus.
✓ Laptop
A MacBook air was created with students in mind. If you buy a laptop, make sure it has enough storage space, like this one.
✓ Headphones
You will absolutely want to bring some headphones with you for move-in day. No need to get the latest version of Airpods, these still work perfectly fine for me.
✓ Power Strip
It makes perfect sense to have a power strip because you will need to plug in numerous items. Pick a perfect spot in your dorm for it and plug away!
✓ Chargers
Seriously, don’t forget to bring them all! They are all necessary. Chargers for phones, laptops, AirPods, etc.
CLEANING
You and your roommate can discuss your cleaning expectations after you move into your dorm. It’s better to talk about it than to beat around the bush.
The space you are given isn’t the biggest in the world so it’s good to keep that small space nice and clean.
Here are some things you will want to check off your list.
✓ Broom & Dustpan
Anyone else find sweeping to be stress relieving? Since there’s a good chance your dorm won’t have carpeting, keeping a broom and dustpan on hand is perfect.
✓ Swiffer Mop
You do not need the typical mop and mop bucket for such a small space. This Swiffer mop is so convenient for a college dorm.
✓ Disinfectant Spray
To start fresh when you move in, I advise disinfecting everything. This Lysol spray always gets the job done for me.
✓ Disinfectant Wipes
Same as the Lysol spray, this always gets the job done for me. I have to have these wipes on hand whether at work or at home. They are just that good!
✓Glass Cleaner
Grab this spray and some paper towels to ensure that your mirrors are spotless!
✓ Trash Can
Your dorm will not come with a trash can so bring your own. It’s really up to you what trash bags you choose to use; I personally reused grocery store bags as the trash bags for my trash can.
✓ Mini Vacuum, if applicable
This mini vacuum is ideal if you choose to purchase a rug or other form of carpeting for your dorm.
KITCHEN
For your dorm room “kitchen” you do not need much. I provided a list of everything you would want. If you believe you would not be able to afford a microwave and/or fridge that is perfectly fine.
You can have all of your meals at the cafe and snacks that don’t require a microwave or refrigerator in your room.
✓ Mini Fridge
The mini fridge that I purchased had the tiniest freezer compartment. I could barely fit one thing of pizza rolls in there. This mini fridge is perfect and something that I wish I had instead.
✓ Microwave
Having a microwave in your dorm is so useful! You can reheat leftovers, cook ramen noodles or some pizza rolls like me!
✓ Plates, Bowls, Cups & Utensils
Having these would be fantastic for you if using plastic or paper plates is not your thing. You can use it again after washing.
✓ Dish Soap
I don’t think it gets any better than Dawn dish soap. It’s that good!
✓ Sponge
After I discovered Scrub Daddy, there’s no going back.
School Supplies
Since the majority of your work will be done online, you won’t need much unless the professor specifically says otherwise. On the first day of class, look over the syllabus to see what other materials the instructor expects you to bring.
The school supplies I’ve provided are a wonderful place to start.
✓ Backpack
Students have been wearing Jansport for so long and for good reason. These backpacks are sturdy and comfortable to wear around from class to class.
✓ Writing Utensils
I love these eraseable pens so much! They actually erase everything without leaving pen stains or any marks on your paper. This would be very helpful if you prefer to take notes with a pen.
✓ Highlighters
For taking notes, you should absolutely have some highlighters on hand, particularly ones with a variety of color options.
✓ Notebook
I would advise you to purchase one notebook for the first day of classes. You can purchase more notebooks, if necessary after you are aware of the supplies required for every class.
✓ Folder
During that first week of school, you will receive a lot of paperwork. Having folders on hand will assist you with the organization.
✓ Planner
Use a physical planner to organize your work and personal life! You’ll have a lot more homework and projects in college than you had in high school, so include a planner on your college freshman dorm checklist list to keep yourself organized.
✓ Calculator
A calculator should be kept in your backpack because you will need to take certain math courses as a freshman in order to graduate unless you already fulfilled that need in high school through dual enrollment.
Hygiene
It is up to you which supplies you bring with you for personal hygiene. All of your personal hygiene supplies can be brought from home, or you can buy brand-new supplies. I would just bring certain items from home because some things, like skincare products, might be pricey.
The following is a list of items you can bring to your dorm. This is an excellent guide for you to have, but you may always bring additional items if necessary.
✓ Shampoo & Conditioner
✓ Body Wash / Soap Bar
✓ Toothbrush
✓ Toothpaste
✓ Floss
✓ Pads / Tampons
✓ Deodorant
✓ Skincare Products
✓ Lotion
✓ Perfume / Cologne
✓ Sunscreen
Miscellaneous
Welp! You made it to the end of this super realistic college freshman dorm checklist! I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed providing this information for you.
I wanted to make sure I gave you this list of extra products even if they didn’t fit into my previous categories. If you’re staying in a college dorm, you do not want to forget these items if they apply to you.
Leave a Reply