First-Year Dorm Move-In List

Dorm Room Basics

• Desk lamp

• Light bulbs

• Bedding: Dorm beds are Twin XL. Don’t go crazy on the thread count for your sheets or get an expensive comforter. Your dorm bed is not something you should invest a lot into, because you will likely move into an apartment afterward with a differently-sized mattress. 300 thread count is more than adequate.

• Pillows: I recommend two pillows for your head and a couple of shams. A “husband” pillow, a pillow with arms extending out from the sides, is a fantastic purchase.

• Blankets: You will never know when you need a blanket. Bring two.

• 3M Command hooks

• Small desk fan

• Paper products: Unless you have a single dorm with a kitchen, dorm rooms do not have sinks. Bringing reusable plates means you will have to wash them in the communal lounge or bathrooms. It’s not that you can’t bring reusable plates, but I’ve seen first-hand how otherwise studious individuals stack up dirty plates that eventually become a magnet for flies.

• Can opener

Electronics

• Laptop: I brought a desktop computer and two monitors to my first-year dorm. I barely managed to fit the two monitors on my small desk, and the footprint of my computer on the floor beneath my desk meant that I had very little legroom. If you have a powerful laptop, I highly recommend only bringing that.

• Headphones/earbuds

• Two (2) surge protector power strips

• Phone charger + power cables

• Entertainment device: If you own a console, it’s worth bringing. Having separate devices for work and play helps develop discipline.

Clothes/Laundry

• Collapsible laundry basket

• Towels and washcloths

• Coat hangers: Purchase wooden ones. Rubber ones will fall apart after a few months.

• Raincoat + umbrella

• Winter coat, hat, and gloves

• Two (2) weeks’ worth of clothes: This is my recommended metric so you come to RIT with enough of your favorite outfits but don’t have trouble stuffing them into the small dresser you’re provided.

• Robe: Trust me on this one. It’s so useful to have an outer garment that isn’t a coat when you want to walk around your dorm on a chilly morning.

Shower Supplies

• Basic toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, rinse, hairbrush)

• Deodorant

• Shampoo and conditioner: Purchase bottles of shampoo and conditioner separately. This practice is much healthier for your hair and scalp than a 27 in 1 cleaner that can double as motor oil.

• Body wash/soap

• Whatever you need to trim body hair: I brought two razors because that is what I needed to shave my facial hair. Maintaining your hygiene is vital to having a healthy college life, so bring whatever you need to complete your standard hygienic routine.

• Shower shoes

• Shower caddy: Search for a larger one so it’s the only thing you need to bring into the shower stall.

Health and Wellness

• Pain/fever reducer (acetaminophen/ibuprofen)

• Any prescription medications

• Seasonal allergy medicine

• Bug spray: I was demolished by bugs during my first couple months at RIT. Be prepared with a couple bottles in case you’re assaulted by everything that flies upon arriving here!

• Tissues

• First-aid kit (band-aids, gauze, tape, antiseptic ointment)

• Cough drops

• All surface cleaner