I know, I know – I am late to this. I blame the summer holidays. I blame the summer holidays for everything right now – plastic in the oceans, anti-semitism in the Labour party, the renaissance of measles in Europe… everything.
You have probably kitted any Fresher-age kids – (kids?? Adults!) – in your care out already with everything they need should they be heading off to University in October but in case you haven’t, I have spent some time compiling a list of thoughtful and unusual and very useful things, (even if I do say so myself), that you might not have considered.
Honestly the best things I brought to university with me, (possibly the best thing about university for me, full-stop, which was otherwise a 3 year slo-mo car crash), were a set of 2 tall plastic glasses. Actual glass would have smashed when I tried to wash it up in the hall communal bathroom basins (shudder) and I almost always had a nightmarish hangover and had to drink Ribena and Berrocca on rotation.
If you’ve had a child at boarding school you will already be evangelical about these otherwise monstrous items. These particular ones are 25cm x 60cm which is a good manageable size for clothes and other clutter. When not in use they can be folded down and stored away in a tiny space. I never pack for anywhere in anything else unless I have to go on an airplane and even then I would if I didn’t think my husband would say no.
I’m told that University students need a time device separate from their phone that is battery-operated; this looks pleasingly practical and is reassuringly expensive. Try not to laugh at the phrase “German movement”.
For the young coffee addict in your life; proper coffee without needing a cafetière. We have TWO of these for the older coffee addict in my life.
I have many of this brilliant Nabaiji quick-dry swim towels. They pack down to nothing and do the job well. If you have a particular dorkster as a kid, you can have a joke as you hand it over about Ford Prefect and the importance of always having a towel etc
A delicious cheese and ham toastie in even the mankiest of communal toasters.
… because until The Matrix becomes real life and we are the batteries, electricity on the hoof is essential to the modern student.
For wedging your dorm room door open to facilitate socialising. Ugh maybe only if I’d had this I’d have made some friends.
I can’t imagine life without our UE Boom Box. I take it everywhere, either for an impromptu disco when we have run out of other ideas, or to listen to Radio 4 through my phone when there is no radio. I have had other portable Bluetooth speakers in my time and the Bluetooth always stops working after a while – but I’ve had my UE for 3 years now and it’s going strong. This one I have linked to is their newest model and is waterproof so your Fresher can listen to Today in the shower at 7am. Ha ha.
Just a general life essential for everyone. I’ve got one in my kitchen right now. This one looks like a clever and snazzy design.
Who doesn’t need scissors? I have 4 pairs in my kitchen alone.
I like this natty nesting set (though your child will lose all the component parts in a matter of minutes) for making healthful and economic packed lunches to eat in breaks during 8-hour library study sessions. Ha ha.
For learning new languages. Ha ha!
I have a pair of these Bose ones and can vouch for how good they are.
Hanging stuff up is 100% easier than folding it – these hangars are brilliant, (whether or not you are off to university), because they are non-slip and take up very little space when not in use – unlike giant slippery wooden clattery jobs. Your University-age child will mostly not hang their stuff up but when they come in drunk at 2am and suddenly decide to have a massive tidy-up (this is a recognised phenomenon) they will come in handy.
[p.s. if anyone is thinking of pointing out that I have spelled “hangar” wrong know that I purposefully LEAVE spelling mistakes in that have been pointed out to me, so infuriating do I find it to have spelling mistakes pointed out to me. So, like, don’t bother.]
Because communal dorm bathrooms are the most rank, shudder-some places in the world. If Adidas made HazMat suits I would recommend one of those. If for some reason your post-millennial wunderbabe doesn’t already have a pair of these, they need some.
What else have I forgotten? I don’t mean linen and pots and pans – I mean unusual and quirky essentials that might not occur to everyone. Please leave a message in the handy box below.
This is GREAT, Esther. I’m saving it for this time next year. Kinda wish I’d had this for me all those years ago.
My uncle gave me 2 bottles of vodka and a carton of 200 cigarettes for “making friends” (I didn’t smoke.) It did work, but the whole 4 years were STILL a shit show, and I’m no longer friends with anyone from uni, so not convinced it is a long term solution. Stick to the door wedge…
Nevermind the kids, I NEED ALL OF THESE THINGS
I’m with Dex!!
The cups, saucers and any utensils you send them off with, are never to be seen again!
Just prepare yourselves for the washing tsunami , upon their arrival home.
Condoms. Obv.
Brilliant, my firstborn is off to Warwick – didn’t have any of these (except Tupperware) on the list!
….oh and a weed grinder and the number of a good local dealer. Is this inappropriate? Probably. 😬
WEED GRINDER?????
My eldest is going into her second year next week so she’s an old hand and “swears down” that the only non-negotiable essential is some battery fairy lights. “Literally instantly cosy”.
Yes, mini-Mim is 100% correct on this. I had a plug-in set that went everywhere with me.
Esther, a spelling mistake! blame the holiday whisky..
Such a brilliant list!
The irony that only this afternoon I brought my 10 year old the toastie bags… prepping well in advance!
Thank you! Have always wondered where you get those giant laundry bags.
Sent our god daughter off with a mattress protector and this brilliant extension cable (shaped like a cube to help with odd shaped plugs, and has USB ports) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Allocacoc-PowerCube-Extended-Socket-Built/dp/B00KNWVRYS
Excellent suggestions
My daughter insists on taking cactus plants, oh and one of those indian mandala wall hanging things.
I took a fridge, a small one. Meant I got to drink my own OJ when I wanted AND made friends when people needed to keep a bottle of fizz/ birthday cake /special whatever safe from the communal kitchen. It was illegal tho’.
These are all great suggestions, especially those bags. IMO the most underused items would be the hangers. My daughter had a very small roomand above her desk was a bookshelf which is where she stored her heels. My son arrived at Halls and together with countless flyers for takeaway delivery options was also a welcome note from the local dealer. Good luck all!
Ikea blue bags are useful – we have two which have remained unpacked since the early summer pick up – they’ll be going straight back in the car in a few weeks time.
Also I’d say have a duvet strategy – most halls have single beds but in the second year most student houses now have doubles. So either invest in a washable double from the start or be prepared to buy twice. As for bedding buy the absolute cheapest – lots of fitted sheets (assume they’ll never be washed) and junk it all at the end of the year.
You might want one of the over the door hanging racks – handy for the ensuite! And the extension leads with USB slots are great.
Xx
Yes absolutely on the duvet strategy – suggest they take a double for cosiness and then it’s good for the second and third year.
I reckon a wok. We used to wang any old meat, veg and carbs into a wok on full blast with some Iron Maiden on in the background, and it served us well.
Sandwich bags, IKEA ones. X
My son used a tray so that he always had a clean surface to prepare his sandwiches etc on in the communal kitchen!
I was sent off with a sack of potatoes each term – great to just put in the communal kitchen for everyone to help themselves to, and let’s face it, most student meals involved a spud in some shape or form…!
Blu tac (good for sticking stuff on walls/making voodoo dolls of dementing house mates/therapy putty, etc, etc, etc).
A jazzy rug / floor mat. Instantly makes the room feel homely and hides unfortunate carpet stains.
this is what everyone used for using the communal bathrooms and setting down your stuff there when I studied in the States. Found it very handy!
http://krisbe.com/blog/an-extraordinary-artistic-house-combining-colors-and-nature/
Oh, and Ritz crackers, cream cheese, Diet Coke and vitamin pills
A portable steamer would be useful also I think as an alternative to an iron (yes, I did use an iron at University!)
I’m going to make the case for the V60 for coffee making – the plastic one is a fiver, fits over a mug, then all the grounds and filter cone go straight in the bin. All that’s needed is a quick rinse in soapy water. Much quicker than the aeropress.
Im packing: Olive oil, pasta, a huge block of parmesan and one of those posh microplane parmesan graters i.e. the ones that actually work = instant dinner that even my son can cook.
Alarm clock brilliant idea as their phones are always out of charge.
What is a weed grinder???
Sarah – your son could grind culinary herbs in a weed grinder for the Italian meals!
I am a university student about to go into my second year at Manchester. You are pretty spot on with these items, but there are a few more that I’d definitely include:
1. Fairy lights (the best thing I brought to university)
2. An extension lead as university halls plug sockets tend to be in funny places which are not necessarily convenient]
3. Plants. Small cacti or similar. Brings some form of oxygen into your room to remove the alcohol fumes.
4. Enough homemade jam to last the year
Things I didn’t use or need:
1. A wok
2. Hangers (seriously, teenagers don’t hang their clothes up)
3. Toaster bags (I could barely be arsed to make toast let alone put it in a bag)
Frances thank you very much for this, very useful. You are so right about the fairy lights. I had a faithful string that went everywhere with me. And yes, okay, about the hangers.