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1. An Anker portable battery pack because being on campus all day without reliable access to an outlet leaves you at risk of a dead battery. This one's small enough to take with you on the go but powerful enough to charge your phone to full battery multiple times. And I'll bet it'll still come in handy when you're working a full-time job and there's no outlet in sight.
2. A shower curtain with pockets for storing the shampoo, conditioner, hair masks, hair brushes, bottles of lotion, razors etc. that won't fit on the counter or shower ledge. Add this to your private dorm bathroom and reap its magical space-creating abilities. And! You'll probably bring this with you to your first apartment, too.
3. A meal planner if you're living off campus and struggling to put together coherent meals now that you're not on the meal plan. There's nothing worse than staring at your fridge at 6:30 p.m. on a Wednesday, wishing that food would magically appear.
4. A daily to-do list so you can easily see and prioritize all the tasks on your plate. There's a section at the top for the day's priorities, as well as a section for other to-dos and hour-by-hour scheduling from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
5. A pair of Sony noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones that'll block out the sounds of your roommate arguing with their long-distance partner, chatty people at the library, construction outside your window, and more.
6. A set of blackout curtains to prevent the sun from ruining your sleep if your first class isn't until 1 p.m. These curtains will help 1) block 85% to 99% of light from entering your room, 2) reduce noise, and 3) regulate the temperature so it's cool in the summer and hot in the winter.
7. Some foam earplugs because you never realize you need them until, well, you need them. Get them now to save yourself from sleepless nights and ruined productivity later.
8. A Wi-Fi extender for anyone who's attending college from their childhood bedroom, which is in the back of the house and as far away from the router as possible. This plug-in will ensure you can get hiccup-free internet for all your important classes.
9. A memory foam seat cushion with cooling gel if you're in a chair for hours sitting through seminars, Zoom lessons, and excruciating butt pain. This bad boy will help you sit comfortably for extended periods of time so you can tackle homework without interruption.
10. A lap desk with all the bells and whistles — a built-in mouse pad, wrist pad, and phone/tablet holder — so you can be just as productive when you're sitting on the couch or in bed as you would be if you were working from your actual desk.
11. A swivel desk chair that'll meet your comfort *and* style requirements. Now you can focus on getting work done instead of squirming constantly because your butt fell asleep.
12. A hanging bed caddy to hold your books, water bottle, phone, glasses, remotes, and whatever else you can fit in it. This will save you many trips up and down the ladder if you're dorm bed is lofted.
13. A power strip because there are a grand total of two outlets in your shared dorm room and you're tired of swapping out your phone, laptop, hair dryer, mini fridge, and TV.
14. A pair of blue-light-blocking glasses for help reducing eye strain since you probably stare at a screen for eight hours a day.
15. A cold brew maker if the employees at the campus coffee shop all know you by name. This handy kitchen tool will make enough cold brew to last you a few days (well, depending on how many cups you drink per day) so you can pour it in your travel mug and be on your way instead of spending $5 a day on caffeine.
16. A white noise machine so you can fall asleep to the soothing sounds of ocean waves or distant thunder. One reviewer, a college student, even said they used it to help them focus.
17. A truly ~egg-cellent~ rapid egg cooker that'll feed you on those mornings when you don't have time to stop at the dining hall. Breakfast is such an important meal for keeping you focused and productive during the day — and this gadget will whip you up some eggs (in many delicious forms) in mere minutes.
18. A heavy-duty alarm clock to literally shake the bed because you do not want to sleep through your exam again. Even the heaviest sleeper won't miss its 113-decibel scream. (This is the equivalent of a live rock concert taking place in your bedroom...apologies to your roommate!)
19. An Ember Mug 2 because you're committed to sitting your butt in that chair for the next four hours and working through your econ homework. Don't let a cup of cold coffee ruin your productivity! This smartmug allows you to pick the exact temperature of your drink from your phone or smartwatch.
20. Or a more low-tech mug warmer for keeping your coffee, tea, or cocoa piping hot. Repeat after me: There's nothing worse than room-temp coffee. There's nothing worse than room-temp coffee. There's nothing worse...
21. A portable monitor if you want to bring your dual-monitor setup to the library instead of going crosseyed looking at teeny tiny cells in Excel. Time to get yourself a second monitor, my dude!
22. A microwave pasta cooker so you can enjoy soft, cheesy, noodly carbs even when the dining hall doesn't have pasta on the menu. Plus this saves you from the hassle of boiling water, cleaning a giant pot, and struggling to strain your noods without spilling hot water everywhere.
23. A seven-in-one Instant Pot that'll tenderize meat, soften veggies, and hydrate rice and beans faster than if you made them on the stove top. Are you a tired college student? Do you want delicious meals but aren't that great at cooking? You need this!
24. Or an air fryer to satisfy your love of crunchy, fried foods but do it without all the grease. You can make all your restaurant faves — like chicken wings, crispy breaded eggplant, charred veggies, and even donuts — with this magical appliance. It's even great for reheating foods that usually get soggy in the microwave, like pizza!
25. A memory foam mattress topper because the dorm mattress is hard as rocks. Add this bad boy on top and instead of feeling lumps and bumps when you turn over, you'll sink into plush memory foam that conforms to your body, as well as temperature-regulating gel beads that help distribute heat so you don't burn up.
26. A pair of L.L. Bean boots for withstanding rain, mud, sleet, and snow if your college is somewhere in the Northeast. I'd be surprised if you needed more than one pair in your lifetime. But if you do, L.L. Bean will repair your boots for cheap as part of their pledge to help customers "Reduce, Reuse, Resole."
27. A variety pack of A Dozen Cousins ready-to-eat seasoned beans if you have approximately 30 minutes to eat lunch between classes and 0 desire to cook a full meal. Just pop them in the microwave, and they're ready in 60 seconds. Or, use them to zhuzh up leftovers!
28. A pack of Downy wrinkle-releasing spray so your dress shirt looks less like a crumpled mess and more like a professional-looking garment for the career fair that's happening in an hour.
29. A Souper Cube that'll remove the hassle of preparing a fresh meal from scratch. This silicone freezing tray stores perfectly portioned meals so you can prep a recipe ahead of time, freeze it in the tray, and defrost them for an easy meal. Dinner in five = done!
30. TheFube — a fidget cube with rounded edges and a different button, knob, or lever on each side to keep your fingers occupied while your brain stays on track.
31. A velvety soft microfiber duvet because all your other bedding from college can be donated, but this bad boy is so comfy you'll make sure to bring it to your first apartment. This reversible comforter is filled with a hypoallergenic down alternative so it won't trigger a coughing or sneezing fit.
32. A wireless HP printer for the college kid who 1) doesn't want to pay to print at the student union or library, 2) always forgets to print until the last minute and doesn't have time to get to the library, or 3) is tired of waiting for the hundred other students ahead of them at the print shop.
33. A combination oil diffuser and humidifier if your dorm room definitely smells like many, many other students have lived there. This adds moisture and soothing scents to the air but only takes up about the size of an iPhone X. Plus, it's super quiet so it won't disturb your sleep and automatically shuts off.
34. A durable faux croc MacBook case so you can protect your precious laptop. The black faux croc design is a classic choice that you won't regret when you have to bring your laptop into a more professional work setting. the
35. And an Animal Crossing keyboard cover that'll protect your keyboard from crumbs.
36. An Amazon Prime student membership to just make life easier. Not only will you get access to two-day delivery, but you'll also get free monthly Grubhub+ Student membership, three months of Calm Premium meditations for free, 10% off travel with StudentUniverse, one month free of Course Hero, and more!
You not having to spend $20 to print your final paper of the semester:
