unexpected things to bring to college

Unexpected Things To Bring To College

Heading off to college is both an exciting and stressful time for students. Moving away from a comfortable home where mom and dad ensure everything is in order to a place with minimal supervision can be both exciting and stressful for students. When at home with parents, there are many things that are around on a daily basis that students take for granted – food, umbrellas, pain relievers, etc. Once away from home, students may quickly realize just how much mom and dad did to keep their lives in order! We have put together this list of unexpected things to bring to college to help smooth the transition to independence. 

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Waterproof Sandals

When heading to the shared washrooms and showers at college, a pair of soft and flexible waterproof sandals are a must have. These ones are available in a rainbow of colors, for both men and women. They have a non slip sole and molded cushion footbed. 

Brita Water Filter

The BPA-free, small 6-cup water pitcher will ensure that fresh water is always at your side. The filter cuts the cuts the taste and odor of chlorine and also reduces copper, cadmium and mercury impurities. Also, the  easy-fill locking lid helps prevent unwanted spills and makes pouring and refilling a breeze.

Mini First Aid Kit

Everything you need is in this small kit! With 100 pieces of useful medical supplies, you'll be prepared for any minor injury. From bandages to iodine pads to burn gel to gauze, this little kit has it all!

Command Hook Variety Pack

This awesome Command Hook variety pack includes four small and four large picture hanging strips, three medium wall hooks, one large wall hook, seven mini adhesive hooks, four wire hooks and 22 Command Strips. These will allow you to hang wall decor or storage without damaging the dorm room walls.

Coffee Maker

A basic coffee maker will help reduce the cost of take out coffee and allow for coffee sharing with dorm mates. This 12-cup coffee maker is affordable and a basic, easy to use option.

Tide Stain Remover

Tide to go is an instant stain remover designed to help eliminate some of the toughest fresh food and drink stains by getting to them before they set in. The portable, pen-like design fits neatly into purses, drawers, or school bags. It works well on ketchup, BBQ sauce, grape juice, coffee, wine, tea, and more!

Mini Air Fryer

This small air fryer is perfect for single serving items like sides, snacks, wings, and more. Weighing in at less than 5 pounds, this mini air fryer is designed to be easily stored and carried with its sleek, compact design. With functions such as Air Fry, Roast, Bake, or Reheat, you can easily customize your cooking for your favorite foods right in your dorm room!

White Noise Machine

This handy little device will help you sleep while in noisy college dorms. Featuring white noise, fan, ocean, bonfire, and more, this machine will help drown out the exterior distractions for sleep and studying sessions. With 32 volume levels and multiple timer options, this is one of the most useful items on this list of unexpected things to bring to college. 

Apple iPad Air 11-inch

Forget lugging heavy text books around and get an iPad Air instead. Honestly, e-texts are so much cheaper than physical books that the money I saved switching to e-texts paid for the iPad! For reading, studying, assignments, and more - the iPad does it all!

Medicine

Whether its a headache, cold, toothache, or the flu-being sick when away at school sucks! Having some medicine on hand is an absolute must!

Umbrella

Don't get soaked on your way to class - bring an umbrella! This 2 pack of mini umbrellas are perfect for small spaces and travelling. The auto open/close function makes these easy to use around campus too!

Bedside Shelf

This versatile bed shelf is so unique and useful. It can be easily secured to the side of a bed for easy storage and organization. This durable shelf can hold up to 35 pounds and even keeps cords and cables in place. This is such a special and unique college student gift idea!

Whiteboard

This over the door dry erase board is a great way to keep track of tasks and reminders. Measuring 20×24 inches, it is a perfect size for a dorm room door. It can be mounted vertically or horizontally for easy communication. Another practical item on this list of unexpected things so bring to college that is so useful!

General Tool Kit

For fixing squeaky chairs to loose screws in the bed, a little tool kit may just come in handy. This set comes in a variety of colors and includes everything you need for most small repairs and DIY projects.

Steamer for Clothes

This 700W steamer generates gentle, long-lasting steam and has a 9- foot power cord making it easy to use anywhere. It is portable and lightweight, ideal for travelling or for use in college dorms. No need for a big clunky iron when you have this handy steamer!

Bathrobe

Bathrobes are great for covering up while walking around the dorm rooms. This one features terry toweling that is warm, cozy, and machine washable.

Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds

Drown out external distractions with these noise cancelling ear buds. With up to 8 hours of listening time on a single charge, this awesome item on our list of unexpected things to bring to college won't be a regret!

Fan with Remote

Woozoo is amazing! This phenomenal fan provides full room auto air circulation with multidirectional oscillation. Set the fan to oscillate horizontally 120°, vertically 60°, or activate both simultaneously to ensure airflow reaches every corner of the room. Dorms can get warm so a fan is a great unexpected thing to bring to college! 

Air Purifier

Students can breathe easier with this little air purifier. Great for those with allergies or just want the cleanest air possible, this purifier has a HEPA filter which will filter a room size of up to 337 square feet! It’s quiet operation won’t disturb your sleep too!

Small Fridge

Great for keeping drinks cold or food fresh, this small fridge is a great additional to any dorm room. Small enough to fit in small spaces but big enough to keep food necessities close by, this is a perfect item to keep healthy foods fresh and available. The included freezer is a bonus!

Portable Utensils Set

This 7-Piece utensil set includes a knife, fork, spoon, two straws, a straw cleaning brush plus a cute case to store them all. Better for the environment and used only for you, this is a great unexpected item to bring to college. 

Mesh Shower Caddy

This portable shower caddy has 7 side pockets along with a large storage compartment in the center. Perfect for holding all your bathroom accessories: towels, lotions, shampoo, conditioner, soap, body wash, shavers, and more! The breathable mesh allows water to drain out easily and is quick drying too!

Mini Flashlight Set

Whether its a power outage or reading while your roommate is asleep, having small flashlights handy is a really great idea. This mini flashlight set includes 6 flashlights and 18 AAA batteries along with a lanyard for safety. 

Electric Kettle

With a 1.7-liter capacity, this cordless glass kettle is great for making tea, hot chocolate, instant soups, ramen noodle cups, instant mashed potatoes and more! It's auto shut off feature offers safety for use in dorms and shared spaces. 

Portable Power Bank

Don’t be left with a dead cellphone! This portable charger is a mega one, with 40000mAh battery capacity and 5v. This powerhouse can charge your phone for a whole week! It features a flashlight and 2 USB ports for simultaneous device charging.

Nintendo Switch

This amazing console is super versatile and features 3 gameplay modes: TV mode, tabletop mode, and handheld mode. There is an impressive game lineup with games available for all ages. A perfect gaming console for college due to its versatility and small size.

Laundry Bag with Shoulder Straps

This laundry bag with shoulder straps and an outer storage pocket is great for students living in dorms or areas with shared laundry rooms. The outer pocket is perfect for storying laundry detergent and dryer sheets and the large main compartment is perfect for carrying laundry items. 

Wire Cube Storage

Wire cube organizers offer a flexible storage option that can be adapted to any space. Perfect for bags, books, personal items and more; this wire organizer allows for up to 28lbs of essential college gear per cube! 

Desk Lamp

With a modern design, built in charger, and pen holder, this desk lamp is perfect for small college spaces. It features 2 color modes and dimming options, perfect for all of your studying needs. The build in cell phone charge is an additional bonus too!

Well there you have it…unexpected things to bring to college. Heading off to college can be stressful but being prepared will ensure that things go smoothly! Whether you are a college student or a college student parent browsing our site, we wish you the best in your college journey!

We hope you found this list of unexpected things to bring to college helpful!

Looking for more ideas?

We have a gift list for college students here. 

We also have gift ideas for high school graduates here.

Click below for a free college packing checklist!

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