EXTRA Back To School Must Haves

Pencils, folders, notebooks, and a backpack. Duh you need those for school. But what about other necessities that no one tells you about? In this post, I am going to list my college must haves for any incoming freshmen or anyone going back to college. I didn't want to have "duh" items in my list, so I branched out and tried to keep the list to what might be considered "extra" to some people, but MUST HAVES for me and my friends in college.

Don't forget to subscribe to my blog and comment down below what are your back to school must haves or your favorite item from my list!

Decor/Living Essentials

Most people in college do not live at home. Some do, but at BYU, almost no one does. We all live in dorms or apartments with on average 4-6 people to an apartment. You have a lot of control with the space that you have, but at the same time, you might not know what to do with it. It is important to use the space you have wisely.

10 ft charging cord/Wire Protector

Seriously this 10 ft charging cord is a life saver in dorms and apartments if you like to lay in bed on your phone. Often times outlets are in the strangest, most inconvenient places. If you don’t want to get a long charging cord, at least get an extension cord. I also suggest getting a wire protector with it because it will make the cord last a lot longer.

Polaroid Camera/Polaroid Pictures

If you read my Polaroid Post, you’ll understand this one. Really any kind of camera will be fun for you and your friends. I liked Polaroids because I put them up in my room, but a DSLR of roommate photoshoots, or even a disposable camera can help you keep memories in a more unconventional way.

Mugs

I liked having my own mug because although in my dorm building we didn’t have a full kitchen, we had microwaves on each floor. I made herbal tea, hot chocolate, and even mug cakes in my mug. So highly recommend to bring your own or consider giving one to someone as a gift.

Full Length Mirror

Each dorm room had their own full length mirror, but it's possible that you might not have one. These are extremely handy to check out your whole outfit. It’s really hard to get the whole picture when you can only see the upper half of your body. If you can’t find room to place it on a wall, try finding a way to hang it on the back of your door!

Blankets

I’m sure this is self explanatory, but bring a blanket. Like an actually warm one. They are so handy for long night studying or talking with your roommates. I had one at the start of fall semester that was really light, but I switched it out to a thicker, fluffier one the next semester.

Variety of Hangers

My mom actually thought of these. There are a ton of hangers that will help you save space in your tiny closets. I use velvet hangers to keep everything from falling off of them. I got mine at TJMaxx, but plenty of places sell them. I also got skirt/pant hangers that allow you to hang 4-8 bottoms on one hanger. I also got these collapsible hangers where you can put a bunch of hangers on one of these and it will hang them vertically. Saves a ton of space and keeps things organized in categories

Jewelry Holder

I actually forgot to bring a jewelry holder to college and I instantly regretted it. I got one right away. This will just keep you jewelry a lot more organized which will free up desk space and make everything look put together.

Fairy Lights

This is great for decor, but also fairy lights are super practical. It allows you to have a little bit of light in your room without the full light on. It's great of movie ambiance, or getting ready for bed. I personally love mine because there are a bunch of different modes that allow you to change the pattern or the brightness.

Vanity Desk Setup

If you are at all into doing your makeup like I am, I HIGHLY suggest getting a light up vanity mirror, and a little storage container for your makeup. It will make your life so much easier. In my dorm, I shared sinks with 3 other girls, and trying to get ready all at the same time was near impossible. It was so nice to have my own space to sit down and do my makeup. It doesn’t take too much room on the desk either.

Wax Warmer/Diffuser

I got a diffuser towards the end of fall semester, and it was actually really nice. I didn’t use it much for aromatherapy, but I used it more to make our room smell nice. Most dorms and apartments ban candles because of the open flame, but wax warmers and diffusers can create the same cozy scent.

Label Maker

With any valuables, you have, you want to make sure that you put your name and phone number one them. Label makers make it super easy to print a bunch of stickers for your stuff. BYU is pretty lucky in the sense that theft tends to be a little less common, but it still happens. So just take the extra precaution. If you don't want to bring a label maker with you to school, just print out a bunch of stickers and bring them with you instead.

Dryer Balls

Now you have to do your own laundry. So sad. I highly recommend getting these dryer balls to prevent wrinkles in your clothes. They really help. I personally like them better than dryer sheets because they are reusable and good for sensitive skin.

Beauty/Fashion Essentials

Robe

A robe is a practical item that most girls don't realize they needed until they have it. I’m just extra and got a VS Fashion Show Robe, but it makes me feel boujee after the shower. I also have a fluffy one though which is just as amazing. Highly recommend if you don’t like changing right after the shower but share a bathroom with other people.

Steamer

In my last blog post, I talked about my style and clothes I wear. The reality is though, with a lot of my clothes, since they are “nicer”, they often need to be ironed or steamed. My mom got me this hand held steamer and I found that steaming clothes is a lot easier and much more practical for me than ironing. A lot of people forget about this. But seriously it is a life saver when you have a wrinkly dress or dress pants that need to be refreshed.

Dry Brush

A recent discovery but makes a big difference. For those of you who don’t know what a dry brush is, it is a brush that you use on your skin before the shower to exfoliate. It has been known to reduce signs of cellulite as well. I use it on my legs before shaving and it works wonders.

Glitter/Face Paint

My inner cheerleader here. Glitter and face paint just makes any college football or sports game so much better. Share with friends, and show your school spirit because college games are WAYYYY more hype than high school ones.

Small Backpack

Mini road trips and outings make a small backpack necessary. I have a couple that I use for different purposes. I have a Rebecca Minkoff one that is really small when I only want to bring my Polaroid camera and wallet. Usually used for shopping trips. I have a medium backpack from Thailand that I use on hikes and all day trips to hold my camera, charger, and water bottle. Then, I have another larger backpack from Sage & Harper that I use for overnight trips or my DSLR. Each is very handy and I personally like backpacks more than purses.

Fake Lashes

The dancer in me loves to dress up for parties. And to add that EXTRA sass and confidence, I use false lashes. I wear a full face of makeup almost everyday anyways, so changing my eye shadow and adding lashes really takes my look from everyday to a party look. I‘ll be doing a blog post about my party makeup looks in September where I will give you my false lashes tips and tricks so stay tuned for that. I personally use Ardell Magnetic Accents. I really like them and find them to look really good but I know they are not for everyone. I suggest going to an Ulta and asking an associate to help you find good ones for your eye shape.

Scrunchies

I use scrunchies all the time. When I wash my face, put on makeup, as well as while I study. I think they are just a staple for any girl right now and they are on trend which makes them much more stylish to wear on your wrist than a black band. I used them so much that I literally used my cork board in my dorm room to make a "scrunchy wall" with all my scrunchies.

Threadwallet/Lane Yard Wallet

Even if you are not driving, you need a place to keep your money, ID cards, and room keys. I highly recommend getting either a Threadwallet or a Vera Bradley wallet with a lane yard. These make it super easy to keep track of your important things and carry them around without a purse. I always used the Vera Bradley wallet in high school, but since finding out about Threadwallets, I really like them since they are even more compact.

Bluetooth Earbuds

No, I don't have airpods. I use a random pair that my brother had, but I seriously love them. I use them while walking around campus or even working out. These earbuds just make my life so much easier because I am not hassling with a string while studying. It also it great for when I need to charge my phone but also want to listen to music. Must have. Make sure to do some research about what earbuds will be the best for you.

Water Bottle (2 Sizes)

With this, you might think I am crazy, or you might be like "duh", but having 2 water bottles has seriously been amazing. In my opinion, you need 2 different ones for 2 different reasons. First, I have my 32 oz. Hydroflask. I use this while hiking or going to the gym. Then, I have my 17 oz. Swell bottle. I put this in my backpack and for while I am at home. It has made my life so much easier. I know it is pretty extra to have 2 water bottles, but like, it works for me and I like it.

Entertainment Essentials

Thank You Notes

I just thought of this the other day. I really wish I had these going into college. These are something you just don't think about until you need them. There were so many times I wanted to write thank you notes to some of my teachers, my Hall Advisers, and people who gave me gifts for Christmas. They don't need to be fancy, but they are good to have for those times you need them.

Projector

My friend had a projector, and it was literally the best thing ever. We would put up a sheet in one of rooms, or project a movie on our lounge wall, and it was sooooo fun to have a movie night. Watching movies on a laptop screen kinda sucks...but a projector, though an investment, will FOR SURE be a crowd favorite.

Face Masks

Classic spa night idea. My friends and I did face masks all the time together. It was seriously so much fun. I highly recommend getting a couple face masks or bringing a clay mask to college so that you can invite some friends over and bond or relax with a spa night and some girl talk.

Art Supplies

In my hall, we had a door decorating contest for different holidays. Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day. It was insane. Not gonna lie, my roommate and I slacked on our door decor, but some of the girls had AMAZING doors. Seriously it was insane. But even if you don't decorate your door, there are just those times you want to paint, draw, or color, so it is nice to have the tools to do so.

Portable Charger

Kind of a "duh" item, but seriously there are so many people who A) don't have portable chargers or B) don't use them. They are a lifesaver and YOU NEED TO USE IT. Invest in a good one that will give you multiple battery lives so that your friends can use it too. They'll need it.

S'mores/Dessert Making Tools

In my dorm building, like I said before, we don't have a kitchen on each floor, but we have one in the basement. Our building let us rent cooking utensils from them to use, and so my friends and I ended up having "family dinner" a couple times a month and it was so fun. So, I highly suggest finding out if you have access to cooking utensils if you are in a dorm with no kitchen, or always being prepared to have baking supplies if you are in an apartment. It is always fun to cook or bake with friends.

Comment your Back To School Must Haves!!! There are honestly way more I could have listed, but I'm sure you would all get bored. Next weeks post will be all about saving money while you are in college. This was SUPER highly requested so be sure to subscribe so you don't miss it!

Alena