College Dorm Room Essentials

There is a fine line between what a college student wants to place in their dorm room and the things they really need. There is also a gap between what a parent feels are college dorm room essentials and what truly is essential in today's college life. College dorm room essentials start with the basics. Students will need organization, bedding, personal items and clothing. With those out of the way, the college dorm room essentials can be placed on the block for debate. The personal computer, for instance, may not have been a college dorm room essential when a parent was in college, but today is required by some college courses for note taking and research papers. The college library may close before the student is able to finish researching a paper which makes the computer, specifically the laptop, a huge college dorm room essential.

Moving away from electronics, college dorm room essentials should also include food preparation. The student can only eat in the dining hall during certain times of the day. If, for some reason, the student misses a meal they will need a place to fix a quick bite before the next meal. A microwave and refrigerator are college dorm room essentials that cost money upfront, but save a parent money in food bills if the child misses meals regularly and chooses to eat out.

College dorm room essentials are not just physical items to place in the room. Teaching students about the dangers of college life and credit cards can be the most important of all college dorm room essentials. The student moving into the dorm will be moving out of a protected setting. These students are often approached by credit card companies from the first moments at college. College dorm room essentials including financial talks can be important. Personal safety is just as important. Drinking, accepting drugs or entering into a personal relationship will be a part of peer life on campus. Students can benefit from a simple talk about safety and the realities of life as the number one item on the college dorm room essentials list.