What to bring to college
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Shopping For College

I. Start shopping early, but not too early.
99% of the people in this world save things until the last minute (we're sure you already knew that), and the last minute is when everyone will be getting themselves ready for college. If you like rushing, then it would be fine to start preparing for school around the end of July. If you would like to take your time, then it's best to start planning for school as soon as you get your acceptance notification.

II. Get any seasonal items as soon as possible.
As we will explain in detail later, it is important to do research before buying the majority of your school supplies. However, you should purchase any seasonal supplies as soon as possible. The major seasonal items are any extra-long bedding such as sheets, mattress pads, and comforters. Because extra-long bedding is primarily used in college residence halls, it is only stocked in large numbers around college time. When supplies run out, they are usually gone until the following season. If you will need extra-long bedding at college get out and pick it up as soon as possible. If you wait too long you may end up paying a premium price, or having to settle for colors or styles that you don't like. We have found a great web site that sells extra-long bedding at awesome prices. Check out gray box at the bottom of this page for details.

III. Know the layout and arrangement of your room.
Before you spend a ton of money on things that you think you may need at school, take a minute to figure out exactly where you're going. Your school will provide you with information about the residence hall that you will be living in. Take a look at information such as room size, furniture supplied for you, bathroom accommodations, and what isn't allowed. Write this information down and take it along when you go shopping so you can reference it quickly. Some schools provide more details than others about living accommodations, but every little bit helps. For example, if the average room size in the residence hall you will be living in is listed as 10' X 13', it's not a good idea to buy an area rug that is 10' X 15'. Or a more practical example, if you will be living in a suite you may not need to buy a shower caddy and shower shoes because you will have your own bathroom. Keep in mind that your room may be small and what little space there is will have to be shared with your roommate(s). Don't buy a ton of things that will end up not fitting in your room.

IV. Know What You Can't Bring.
In the information that you will receive from your school will be a list of items that are not allowed in the residence halls. There are a few items that are illegal at almost all schools. Items such as candles, open ember incense burners, hot plates, and any other items that pose a fire hazard are typically not allowed. Not that this needs to be mentioned, but you should leave any guns, explosives, and fireworks at home as well. No two schools have the same policy, so it's good to know what you won't be able to have in the residence hall before you go shopping. Make a list of any items that are not allowed at your school and take it with you for quick reference when you go shopping. Bringing illegal items to school is not something to take lightly. Some schools will not return illegal items that are confiscated and others will return them only at the end of the year.

V. Pool expenses with your roommate(s).
There is no need for two TV's, two refrigerators, and two microwaves (if allowed at all) in one room. This is what happens when you don't call your roommate(s) to find out who is bringing what. Your school will provide you with a phone number for one or more of your roommates in the information that they send. Get in touch with your roommate(s) and make a list together of who will bring what. This way you will all know what the other is responsible for bringing, and you can split the cost of shared items like a refrigerator, TV, or stereo.

VI. Do your school shopping together.
Mom and dad are not the ones who are going to school in the fall. But for some reason they are the ones that usually end up buying all the stuff they think their future student(s) will need. This is one reason why a lot of things that you bring to school will come back home three weeks later. Make the process of shopping for college a team effort. Parents will buy anything that they think will be useful without first consulting the person who will be using it.

There are certain things that can be safely purchased without any consultation between parents and students. Stuff like bed pads, bathroom supplies, and other things of this nature are not going to end up coming home if they are the wrong color, or if they don't match the rest of the room decor. Don't waste money on things that will end up sitting at home. Go shopping for school supplies together so all that is bought will stay at school and be put to good use.

VII. If possible, buy in bulk.
Before you run out to the supermarket to buy deodorant, soap, shampoo, or even munchies, check out a bulk discount store. It's much cheaper to buy stuff like this in bulk at the beginning of the year than it is to keep buying it throughout the year at higher mark-ups. Re-stock when you're home on a break, or have a nice family member ship supplies to you when you get low. Many bulk discounters require you to have a membership before you are able to shop. If a membership is expensive, or you don't want to get one, find a friend who already belongs to one of these stores and go shopping together.

VIII. Get a group of friends together to get your initial supplies.
Buying stuff in bulk at the beginning of the year and keeping a stock may not be your thing, but you can still save by getting your initial supplies in bulk. Get a few of your friends together and head to the bulk discounter. By purchasing supplies in bulk your group can split the cost, divide up the goods, and all walk away with a few extra bucks!

IX. Don't eat your money!
You may find that most of your money is spent on the vending machines or ordering food after the dining hall closes. Most schools provide vending machines in the residence halls so you can get a late night snack at $1.50 per soda, and $1.25 per candy bar. Many students bring a ton of food on move-in day and are fine for a few weeks (remember that all your new friends will be snacking on your goods too). Once the initial stock of munchies run out most students don't bother to buy more, or they wait until they go home to buy more. When you have no grub in your room is when all your money is wasted on pizza. It's fine to order food every now and then, but a lot of students order out too often (after mom and dad already paid for your meal plan). This is where the discount stores come in handy again. At the beginning of the year stock up on munchies like crackers and chips and have your parents ship them to you as they are needed. If you have the convenience of having a supermarket near your school, make use of it, and keep your fridge stocked with munchies. If you don't plan ahead, food will turn into one of the biggest expenses that you will have at school.

X. Get everything you will need before you get to school.
Schools know that you will need unique things like extra-long twin size sheets, specific books for your classes, and other odds and ends. Schools also know if you don't have these items when you arrive, you will need to get them somewhere. There are certain companies that schools will refer you to when you need to buy these items. The only problem is that you will pay a higher price than you would have if you had bought these items at the store or online. The most common items that students get once they arrive at school are refrigerators and microwaves (MicroFrige), bedding (sheets, mattress pads, and comforters) and books. The majority of the time all of these items are cheaper if they are purchased prior to arriving at school.

XI. What About Books?
It's no secret that books are not cheap, and as we will discuss later you may be waiting around a long time to get them, unless you have them before you even get to school. If you have the luxury of knowing what books you will need for your classes, buy your books at a large book retailer like Borders or Barnes & Noble before you leave for school. You will save a lot of money and even more time. This is easier said than done because most students don't know what books they will need until they get to school.

If you don't know what books you will need, give your school bookstore a call and ask what books are required for your classes. Another option is to go to your school's web site to find out what books your classes require. You may not be able to find out what books you will need until you get to school. If this is the case with you, look for an off-campus bookstore when you arrive. For the most part, off-campus bookstores are not associated with the school that they are located near, and usually have lower prices for books. Keep in mind that the off-campus bookstore may be just as busy as the school's bookstore, and you should get there early.

Some professors can be finicky. You may buy a book for a class you are taking, only to arrive and have the professor tell you that he or she has switched the textbook. Some students will suggest that you wait until after the first day of classes to purchase your books. By doing this you will avoid having to return and re-buy books that have been changed by professors. This suggestion may be better for some than it is for others, but is not recommended for most. If you buy books a day late you will not get any used books, and you will have to pay more.

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