20 College Essentials You Will Actually Use!

This post is all about 20 college essentials you will actually use in college!

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When I was getting ready for my freshman year of college I had no idea what items I would actually get a lot of use out of.

Now that I’m getting ready for my junior year I have a much better idea of what college items are actually helpful! I rounded up my top 20 college essentials that help me all of the time in college and I know will help you too!

Related Post: 17 Essential Items Every College Student Needs To Pack

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20 college essentials you need to bring!

1. Pop socket Wallet

This is my favorite of these 20 college essentials! I have used this exact pop-wallet ever since my freshman year of college and it’s a lifesaver! It is the perfect place to put your student ID card and other important cards.

You can fit up to 4 cards in it and it’s super secure. If you are going to college, this pop-wallet is a great place to put important cards like your student ID. It will make your life a million times easier!

Related post: The Ultimate College Packing List For Girls!

2. Mattress Topper

Mattress toppers are a lifesaver in college because dorm mattresses are the worst! They are hard and not comfy at all.

I have a 4-inch mattress topper super similar to the one above and it’s perfect! Seriously, it will make you sleep like a baby, haha. I recommend getting 4″ or more and make sure that you get a twin XL size to fit the standard dorm bed size.

Related Post: The Top 4 Best Amazon Mattress Toppers You Will Love!

3. Water Bottle

Every girl in college needs a good water bottle that they can carry around campus. Two of my favorite water bottles are the Hydro Flask and Super Sparrow bottles. These bottles come in really fun colors and will keep your drink hot or cold for hours!

4. Laptop (ASUS Chromebook CORE m3)

Having a good laptop is essential in college! I did so much on my laptop in college. This laptop is the one that I used during my freshman year of college and still use today.

It’s an amazing laptop and perfect for college students. My favorite thing about this laptop is that it is really lightweight which makes it easy to carry around campus. 🙂

5. Snacks (and lots of them!)

Make sure that you have a lot of snacks for your dorm room! I recommend having a lot of granola bars and fruit snacks. Sometimes I would wake up later than usual and need food that I could eat super quickly on the way to class.

You should also stock up on all your favorite snacks! Some of my favorites are popcorn, cheez its, Chex mix, goldfish, etc.

6. Tide Pods

Tide pods aren’t really essential but they will make your life so much easier! If you don’t buy tide pods I would recommend buying tide detergent. It always makes my clothes smell so good!

7. Planner

Every girl needs a nice planner that she can use to organize her life. Staying extremely organized is the key to success in college which is why having a planner is so important.

I just got this 5 x 8 planner which people rave about! It is a Day Designer knock-off by Blue Sky and is really good for people who have a lot to do and aren’t the best at planning out their time.

The one I have is a daily/monthly planner and gives you an entire page for each day of the month which allows you to time-block your schedule for the day. Time-blocking can really help you to stay on task and use your time wisely.

8. First Aid Kit: 

Make sure to bring a first aid kit or the first aid essentials like band-aids, Neosporin, and hydrocortisone. Also bring some medicine like Tylenol/Advil and vitamin c drops.

9. Long Phone Charger

Make sure to pack a long phone charger (10 feet or more) for college. Usually, the outlets in dorm rooms are not conveniently located. A long charger will allow you to use your phone while it is charging!

10. Lip-balm

My lips get super chapped, especially in cold weather. It is the worst feeling when your lips are dry and you don’t have any chapstick so make sure to keep some with you at all times.

One of my favorite lip balms is glossier balm dotcom. It comes it all different flavors and is very hydrating!

11. Long Surge Protector

Extension cords aren’t allowed in most dorm rooms because they are fire hazards. An easy replacement is a long surge protector or power strip. I use this Belkin power strip, and it works great!

12. Robe or Towel Wrap

A towel wrap is so helpful for college especially if you’re using communal bathrooms. This towel wrap from Target is so soft and cute too.

13. Shower tote with straps

You are definitely going to need one of these for college, especially if you are going to use communal bathrooms. Having a bag like this with straps will allow you to hang it up on a hook outside of the shower.

14. Shower shoes!

Shower shoes are a must for college bathrooms. The floors can be pretty nasty and you should protect your feet at all costs. I used super cheap flip flops from Old Navy for shower shoes and they worked great!

15. Plates & Utensils: 

It’s nice to have some plates and utensils in your dorm so that you can eat food easily. This set of dishware comes with everything you will need and is a great price. Make sure to bring some plastic silverware as well. 

16. Hamper

I love this hamper because it’s cute, spacious, stays open, and has handles.

17. Fun-Tak

I had no idea what fun-tak even was before I went to college. My roommate had some and let me use it to hang up pictures on my wall. It sticks so much better than tape and won’t damage walls.

18. Command hooks

These are a must if you are planning to hang up any frames, tapestries or other decorations. They also come in all different sizes and won’t damage walls.

Tapestry Tip: if you are planning to hang up a tapestry make sure to use the larger command hooks. The mini ones are not strong enough and they will fall down which is super annoying.

19. Mini Fan

Dorm rooms can get super hot even if they have air conditioning. I definitely recommend bringing a mini fan that you can put near your bed. It will make all the difference and you’ll be so happy you have it!

20. Broom and Dustpan

A broom is one of the most important college cleaning supplies. My roommates and I used ours almost every day!

Thank you for reading this post on the best 20 College Essentials! I know that figuring out what to buy for college can be stressful. I want to help make your transition to college as easy as possible! If you have any questions or just want to say hey I would love to hear from you. You can comment on my post or email me at emily@positivityispretty.com

If you liked this post check out my post on 55 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION GIFT IDEAS GIRLS WILL LOVE!

Also, check out my post on 15 ONLINE SCHOOL TIPS STUDENTS WILL LOVE!

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