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1. A 52-sheet to-do list pad for when you're overwhelmed with all the things that need doing and just don't know where to start.
2. A set of closet cascaders to put all that empty vertical space to good use and instantly double your storage capabilities without leaving any clothes back home.
Your closet is going to look SO empty, which gives you a great excuse to buy more clothes.
Promising review: "Great for a college dorm with lack of closet space. Sturdy and keeps you super organized." —Preslee moser
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $9.99 (available in larger multipacks).
3. A bamboo bedside shelf with a hearty 15-pound weight capacity and no-tool installation that'll serve as a convenient catchall table if you decide to loft your bed or there just simply isn't space for a proper nightstand.
Promising review: "I bought this for my dorm room to hang off the side of my bed to keep things like my TV remote and wireless charger. The slots in the side keep the cords in place and organized, and the wood is made of a good material that doesn't bend or warp. The only problem I have with it is that the pads between the clamps and the side of my bed don't have too much grip, so the shelf can shift if hit from the underside a little bit. This can be fixed by pressing it back down. I've had it for a couple of weeks with no problems, and it's been super helpful in the dorms." —James Poolman
Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in three styles).
4. A drawer divider set if you want to skip the part of the morning where you make yourself late for class digging for a matching pair of socks.
This set includes four bins: a six-cell (for scarves and ties), an eight-cell (for underwear, briefs, and ties), a seven-cell (for bras), and a 24-cell (for socks).
Promising review: "I got these for my college space since I do not have as much storage as I do at home. I was pleasantly surprised by how easily they organize and save space. These organizers filled two of my drawers, so if you want your whole dresser filled, I would get two sets. They also fold up really nicely for easy packing. I highly recommend these!" —Ronald B. Oliver
Get a four-piece set from Amazon for $13.87 (available in seven colors).
5. A multifunction outlet extender and surge protector so you don't have to fight with your roommate over outlet space when your laptop, phone, and speaker all need charging at the exact same time.
Promising review: "It’s a great value for your money! It’s affordable, and it gets the job done. Every college student needs this! It’s been a major help in my dorm since there are hardly any outlets. It doesn’t get hot or anything." —Jonathan bennett
Get it from Amazon for $9.97.
6. A set of eye-popping fine point pens because why settle for just black and blue pens when you could make note-taking fun (and easier to reference later) by having all the colors of the rainbow at your disposal?
These are designed to not bleed through thin pages, so all your planners and journals can get the flair pen treatment.
Promising review: "These pens are absolutely perfect for how I take notes in college. There is a variety of colors, which is so great for organization. They are fine tips, and they don't smudge at all. The pens look really nice and are very comfortable to hold. And getting 18 pens for this cheap...WOW!! You really can't go wrong with them. ... I would 10/10 recommend these pens to anybody. They're affordable and really good quality!!" —Joy Mahowald
Get a set of 18 from Amazon for $6.99 (also available in black).
7. Plus, an expandable pencil case for an all-in-one way to lug around your supplies with space for a lot more than just pens. Easily stash a calculator, protractor, sticky notes, and your impressive collection of highlighters, and still have room to spare.
Promising review: "I needed something better than a plastic bag to carry my pens in. As a college student, I use my pens almost every day. This case has saved me a lot of hassle. I used to have to fish my pens out of the bottom of my backpack for class and set them on the desk, but now I just grab the case, open it up, and tada!! I highly recommend it if you are looking for something versatile. This can be used for a variety of other things as well. I love that it carries so much. I have about 25 pens in it right now, and that's not even its full capacity. My index cards fit nicely in there, too, and they don't fall out! ... I have had this case for a couple of months now, and it still looks brand new. I bet this little guy will last quite a while!" —Maura Borst
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in nine colors).
8. A pack of adjustable furniture risers to bump up your bed and double (even triple!) your available storage space. These stack so you can customize the level of height you want.
I've owned these bed risers since college, and they are still in use today on my NYC apartment bed. They are VITAL for creating additional under-bed storage and can be stacked to create even more height. I haven't exactly been precious with my set, and they have survived many, many moves and look pretty much the same as the day I got them.
Promising review: "I use these for my bed at college. They are perfect! Easy to use and allow for perfect optimization of space under bed. Excellent for small college dorms or rooms with limited storage space." —Ben M.
Get an eight-pack from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in five colors).
9. A plug-in 14" laptop screen extender that works like an extra monitor to prevent a lot of hassle when you're forced to constantly cycle between tabs while copying notes from the online slides.
Promising review: "I’m a college student and this is absolutely fantastic. I mainly use a laptop for most of my technology needs, and having an extra screen boosts my efficiency in multitasking. I used to only take notes by hand on Zoom classes because I can’t take good notes switching back and forth between screens, and dual screen perfectly solved this problem." —Wilson Liu
Get it from Amazon for $199.99+ (available in four styles).
10. A cascading wall organizer with six removable folders if your desk is drowning in papers that you're very scared you're going to lose.
Promising review: "This organizer has been amazing for school. I love being able to organize each class' paperwork and keep it on the wall next to my desk. I do online college, and I have ADHD, so anything that helps me organize while still keeping stuff where I can see it is just what I need!" —Cosmic
Get it from Amazon for $9.50+ (available in four colors).
11. A pack of Downy fabric spray so you can rock wrinkle-free fits even when there's no time (or energy) to break out the iron. Just spray, give your clothes a few swipes, and watch the wrinkles rapidly fall away.
12. A durable mesh hanging shower caddy because trying to remember everything you need to take to the communal bathroom before you've truly even woken up is a doomed mission. Save yourself the agony and get yourself a quick-dry carrier where you can store every part of your morning and nighttime routine.
Promising review: "A shower caddy is essential if you are living in the college dorms with a communal bathroom. Instead of trying to carry all of your toiletries by hand, this caddy makes the long journey to the bathroom so much easier. I prefer the mesh material over the hard plastic one because it is not as heavy and the water won’t stay in the caddy and cause a mess. The large space and many pockets are great for organizing, which many college students struggle with. It is very good quality for the price compared to other ones I have seen. I use this caddy every day and I really enjoy it. I usually dread walking all the way down the hall while carrying all of my toiletries, but this caddy makes me hate it a lot less because of its convenience. So, overall I would recommend this shower caddy to anyone who has a communal bathroom." —Norma
Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in 10 colors).
13. Sleek desktop shelves for organizing distracting workspace clutter so you can spend less time digging through stacks of papers just to find your already overdue assignment and more time actually getting some work done.
The 6-pound shelf unit comes in two easy-to-assemble parts. The distance between each part is customizable and can be adjusted or rotated to best fit your storage needs.
Promising review: "As a college student, papers can start to flood your desk, and little things you pick up begin to pile up. So, if you're trying to pile things up and still want to be organized enough to know where everything is, why not get a shelf that lets you go up? It took me about 20 minutes to assemble, and it even comes with its own screwdriver, so you don't have to push off putting it together once it comes to your door. This shelf just cleared up sooo much space on my desk. It feels amazing sitting down and seeing how free the desk is. 11/10 would recommend." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in seven finishes).
14. A reusable smart notebook to digitize every pen stroke with the Rocketbook app. Finally, the ease and satisfaction of handwritten notes, combined with the organization and convenience of digital notes in a reusable format you can use for every single class.
This set includes the notebook, a Pilot Frixion pen, and a microfiber cloth to wipe it all away. Then, you can beam notes to a medley of popular note-sharing and cloud services with the Rocketbook app, which is available for both iOS and Android.
Promising review: "I love using mine for note-taking for my college courses. It's nice being able to scan and organize them to my Google Drive and never lose them. And, of course, being able to use the notebook an infinite amount of times saves on so much paper! Win-win!" —Miranda Woodward
Get it from Amazon for $33.97+ (available in 2 sizes and in 14 colors).
15. A mini stapler that seems unnecessary until you're printing a paper 15 minutes before it's due, you can't find a stapler anywhere, and your professor already said they wouldn't accept loose assignments. Stress less, and get yourself the portable stapler now.
The mini stapler comes with a refill pack of 1,000 staples, so you should be covered for a good long while.
Promising review: "This has made life so much easier in college classrooms where sometimes a stapler can't be found and you need to submit multi-page paperwork. This one even swings fully open like a big stapler in case you need to staple something to a bulletin board on a wall or something. I did not expect that feature from this, and it lit a smile on my face when I realized I was able to at a time when I needed it. It's also not difficult to punch with my small hands. Very happy with this small purchase." —Sara
Get it from Amazon for $2.48+ (available in three colors).
16. A pack of adhesive cable clips if you're tired of crawling under your desk yet again to fetch fallen charging cords.
Promising review: "Loving these cable clips. I got them for my dorm room to keep my chargers organized, and they have so far been doing a great job! Also got a free set of these from the company! Very good communication. I would definitely recommend these." —khawkins25
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $6.97.
17. A 60-pack of divider sticky notes so you can actually find those really good notes you took in class when you need them later with colorful, built-in tabs.
Promising review: "I really love these. During my freshman year in college they really helped me stay on task and keep most of my things organized." —EuriPovsky
Get a set of 60 from Amazon for $8.25.
18. Plus, a pack of translucent sticky notes for textbook renters who still want to be able to underline notable points, or students with diagram-heavy material. These make it easy to trace the image from the book and stick it in with the rest of your notes.
19. A mesh metal multidrawer monitor stand with plenty of space to stash office supplies because your monitor is already hogging 75% of your desk's real estate space. Might as well get a riser that can pick up the slack.
Promising review: "I’m a college student and this has definitely been a huge help! Especially considering I’m already crunched for space. It’s very sturdy, and doesn’t scratch the table when you move it. It doesn’t sink in when I sit my desktop on it, and the amount of space it has is AMAZING!" —Jonathan bennett
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in black and white).
20. A whimsical cloud-shaped magnetic key holder because its too-cute design just might be motivation enough to finally put your keys in an easy-to-find location, so you don't tear apart your dorm hunting for them later.
21. Or a pack of phone wallet stickers that'll help you keep track of vital key cards and student IDs by keeping it attached to the thing you're almost certain never to forget.
I knew someone in college who stuck one of these to the back of her door so the keycard was literally in her face whenever she tried to leave. Genius!
Promising review: "Didn't want to pay for an overpriced one at my campus bookstore. This was perfect and I would consider it a necessity for any college freshman. It sticks well and is incredibly convenient." —laila
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $6.29+ (available in multiple color combinations and in larger multipacks).
22. An accordion expanding file folder if trying to remember which folder you need for your M, W, F classes versus your T, TH schedule is feeling like a lot to keep straight. Thanks to several dividers, you can carry this one around with you every day and still keep all your coursework organized.
23. A hanging organizer with 24 pockets so you can turn the back of any door into functional storage space for shoes, cleaning supplies, or whatever random things don't fit in the two drawers that whoever designed these dorms thought would be enough.
Promising review: "I used this item when I went to college in my dorm room. I hung it on my closet door, but instead of using it for shoes, I used it as makeup holder (e.g. one pocket was brushes, one pocket was eyeshadows, etc.). This really helped me keep my desk clean and the room more organized. My roommate later brought this and did the same thing." —Kay McK
Get it from Amazon for $8.97+ (available in two sizes and in seven colors).
24. A compact first aid kit because nothing makes you feel less put-together than taking a tumble or getting sick and realizing that you have no way to take care of yourself without parental help. Prepare for the worst, and thank yourself later.
This kit includes: adhesive fabric, plastic bandages, antibiotic ointments, BZK antiseptic towelettes, burn cream packets, Aspirin, ibuprofen, gauze roll and pads, wound closures, cold packs, and other multi-use aid for any *potential* emergency.
Promising review: "I have ordered this time and time again, when I first got my car, moved into a dorm, and worked at summer camp. I could go on and on...I've probably ordered eight of them. This is my favorite first aid kit, which is a weird thing to say, but it has things that more expensive ones don't have and the organization of it is great! It fits easily into a backpack, dry bag, or glove compartment." —Mollie
Get it from Amazon for $20.58.
25. A lightweight water-resistant backpack with plenty of space for holding a laptop, chargers, a water bottle, and more, plus cushy airflow back panels to fight against the dreaded backpack back sweat. Extra appreciated when you're sprinting across campus to turn in an assignment...not that I'd know ANYTHING about that.
The bag has a separate compartment to hold up to a 15.6" laptop, a hidden anti-theft pocket on the back for valuables, a luggage strap, hanging clasps, and an external USB port to hook up to your own power bank.
Promising review: "I love this backpack! As a college student, a well-organized backpack is a must! Tons of pockets and storage. Pockets are placed to optimize the organization. Straps on the backpack are cushioned to relieve stress on shoulders. The best feature on a backpack for me is a key chip with detachable claps, cord to plug-in battery pack through the backpack to charge your phone, and the large-sized drink holder on the side. It even holds my Hydro Flask, a tight fit but it works. The backpack is well made and the black style is stylish and sleek. High end look for a great price!" —Taylor
Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in two sizes and in 24 colors).
26. A magnetic dry-erase calendar to get all those assignment deadlines out of your head and into the real world where you can see and make sense of them. It's a lot harder to forget that term paper when the due date has been emblazoned in red ink by your bed for weeks.
Promising review: "I love having this calendar! I bought it when I started nursing school to keep track of all my assignments, tests, events to remember, etc. I bought fine-tip expo markers with this and they make a great team! It's great quality and it looks very nice — very aesthetic." —Erin R.
Get it from Amazon for $16.49+ (available with or without markers and an eraser).
27. Or a dry-erase sticker board that transforms any wall, desktop, or closet door into an XL whiteboard where you can track to-dos, deadlines, shopping lists, and roommate memos.
It also includes an eraser and three dry-erase markers (blue, black, and red). You can cut this to size and stick this to basically any surface. Don't worry; the adhesive removes easily without damaging the surface underneath.
Promising review: "Perfect chalkboard for a disorganized college student. It helped me study for my exams, and it's good for leaving notes to roommates. Sticks on easily and has lasted two semesters so far with no problem." —Stylia
Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in black, white, and clear).
28. An adjustable wire shelving unit if you've dared to show up to college with more than one plate or bag of snacks and would like to make the space above your mini fridge work a little harder for you and your cramped dorm.
29. A productivity flip cube timer so you stay on task by breaking up that daunting assignment into more manageable 15-, 20-, 30-, and 60-minute working sessions. Knowing there's a break on the horizon should help with focus, and it'll beep and flash when it's time to kick back with a snack and some TikTok.
You set the countdown time, then flip the cube to start the timer! Two AAA batteries are needed.
Promising review: "This timer has really helped me with my ADHD. I’m a college student, and I use it for studying and tracking my breaks." —Hope Diamond
Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in seven styles).
30. Some under-bed storage containers because there's no way that tiny dorm closet is big enough to hold four seasons' worth of outfits.
You can use these for so much more than clothing! Think craft supplies, extra toiletries, shoes...basically whatever you have too much of.
Promising review: "This is amazing if you are trying to organize or a college student needed space. I am in college and I am able to rotate my seasonal clothes by having this under my bed. I am buying more next year! I was originally worried about having to go home often to get more clothes, but with this storage, I am able to store so more clothes and keep it out of the way of other things. Helps me keep organized!" —Kennedy
Get it from Amazon for $12.97+ (available in five colors).
31. A heavy-duty clipboard with storage for students doing field work who need to have easy access to a writing surface and supplies no matter where the classroom happens to be that day.
Promising reviews: "Helps keep me organized in college lab classes." —Sarah Files
"I don't ever write reviews of any sort, but I am so excited about this clipboard. I have many forms to get signed daily being a clinical student at a surgery center, but it will be 10-fold easier now with this. It was exactly what I was looking for. I am obsessed with both storage compartments for paper and writing supplies. It is really handy when tracking down a preceptor in a space that may not even have a place to bear down on. I just hand them my clipboard now, and they have everything they need." —Camryn Holt
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in 15 colors).
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.