You’ve seen the miles-long checklists of things to bring to college (XL twin sheets, a 700-watt microwave, ear plugs for noisy roommates), but there are a few oft-overlooked items that can make campus life so much easier — and enjoyable.
Are there any you’d-never-believe-it-but-it’s-changed-my-life items we’re leaving out? Comment or tweet at us (@CollegiateCook), and we’ll make sure it winds up in Round 2.
An On-the-Door Conversation Starter
Any whiteboard will do, but this Words with Friends Magnetic Game/Message Board is particularly brilliant because it encourages people to get in on the game. Stick it on your door and you’ll be amazed how many people you meet. (Seriously — whether they love the game and use it as a conversation piece, find it funny to pen a random message or want to flex their wordsmithery by posting a 60-points-plus word, this board gets you meeting people.)
An Energy-Boosting Bar You Can Eat on the Go
When you’re hurtling across campus from one class to another on four hours’ sleep, you may not have time to grab a cup of coffee. Even if you’re seriously dragging and you know your professor’s droning is going to lull you right into full snore in about 8 minutes flat. It’s always good to have a discrete energy boost on hand, and honestly, when it comes in chocolate form, it’s that much better. One bar of Awake’s Caffeinated Chocolate = one cup of java, and it really works. (Admittedly, I was skeptical at first — chocolate that tastes good AND buzzes you awake? It sounded too good to be true, but when I shared bars with students, startup employees and frenzied editors alike, they all had the same response: Wow, this is tasty and I feel more alert after eating it.)
It’s not a daily treat, for sure, but in case of an emergency, it’s great to have on hand.
The Gadget That Makes You Actually Want to Pack Lunch
You’re so excited to eat lunch…and then you realize you have to hunt down a fork. Or in your rush, you drizzled Ranch all over your salad, and by noon, the salad is wilted and less-than-delightful. This Reusable Lunch Cup from Fred Flare has you covered: there’s a cup for dips and dressings, the utensils attach to the side, and it’s just the right size to easily stash in any bag.
The Best Way to Make Use of that Space Under Your Bed
Whether you’re staying in a dorm or living in an apartment, one thing’s for sure: space is at a premium. We all have things we don’t need day-to-day, but we want easy access to them without having to burrow underneath our beds like some kind of troll. This slide-out storage provides exactly that. Fill it with out-of-season clothes, the chilly-days throw blanket you rarely use, your kitchen supplies, or anything else you won’t use every. Single. Day.
One Way to Make Sure You Actually Accessorize
Jewelry boxes (and trees, and dishes) are a great way to display your necklaces, bracelets and earrings, but I’ve found three big problems with them: (1) you may not have the counterspace to hold them, (2) in an open dorm, it can be a glaring “check out my expensive goodies!” sign to any Sticky Fingered-hallmates, and (3) if they’re all in a box, you may not realize what you have, so you stick to the same earrings or necklace every day. Snooze.
A closet hanger is a bit more discrete, takes up barely any space and with all those little compartments, you can scope out your jewelry at a glance.
A Read That’s Just for You
I know, I know — college makes you read too frequently as it is, but I promise you, reading something you truly enjoy makes all the required stuff feel more enjoyable. And it’s a great way to pass time between classes (especially if you download books to your phone using the Kindle app or your phone’s bookstore; many libraries are starting to offer free ebook downloads!).
If you’re a nonfiction fan, I’ve loved Miki Agarwal’s Do Cool Sh*t (about finding your purpose and getting it done), Jonah Berger’s Contagious (a look into what makes things catch on, including studies on Blendtec’s “Will it Blend?” campaign and why Cheerios are more talked about than Disney World).
For fiction lovers, I’ve heard incredible things about the Divergent and Mortal Instruments series.
What are your favorite reads right now?