With incoming MSU freshmen settling in to their dorms and meeting their roommates, many must be wondering if they packed the correct essentials needed for a full year in their home away from home.
The State News asked current students on what they think incoming students should bring into their dorm space while sharing some things that are best to be left back home, from scooters to sheets to TVs.
Finance junior Cainan Treadway said the thing students should double check on getting is the right size for a mattress topper and sheets.
“For the love of god, make sure that your bedding fits the twin-size bed in your dorm,” Treadway said.
Treadway said regarding saving space in a dorm, there are other alternatives available other than a flat-screen TV.
“If you’re worried about space you can bring a mini projector instead of a TV,” Treadway said. “It saves space.”
Providing further advice on what students should bring to their dorms, Treadway said students should get different lighting than relying on the overhead lights.
“Get some different lights, whether it be a lamp or those TikTok room lights,” Treadway said. “That giant white light in the dorm room is harsh on you, especially when it’s 1 or 2 in the morning. Yellow light works wonders for your eyes in these times. Me and my old roommate used it for like two years straight.”
Another thing Treadway said students should bring with them is toilet paper among bathroom items.
“I never knew there was such a thing as bad toilet paper until college,” Treadway said.
Music and art history sophomore Xavier Smith said among of the things students shouldn’t bring with them is a rug or carpet that could easily be annoying.
“I don’t think that rugs are entirely bad but at the same time it was a hassle to deal with it,” Smith said. “I wasn’t personally comfortable with it in the room but my roommate was, and I wasn’t going to say that she couldn’t have it.”
To avoid the risk of overpacking and having a lot of things in a small dorm, one of the many things students shouldn’t pack is a bunch of clothes they don’t plan on immediately wearing.
“If you’re one of the kids who lives closer to campus and plans to go home for some weekends, then it’s probably best to only bring clothes that you need for the current season, and then switch them out when you go back home,” Smith said. “Believe me, having ADHD and trying to keep a closet clean is a struggle.”
At the start of each fall semester at MSU, it is notoriously known to be one of the hottest and brightest days on campus.
Political science senior and resident assistant Jeanette Dompreh said the biggest thing students shouldn’t bring to their dorms is electric scooters or E-bikes.
“As an RA, this is something I see a lot,” Dompreh said. “Students aren’t allowed to keep electric scooters in dorms because they blow up.”
According to MSU LiveOn, students are prohibited from bringing electric scooters and E-bikes in their dorms, as it causes a great risk of catching fire.
“In my own experience as an RA, I’d say that electric scooters in dorms are very common and I do see them quite a lot because students often don’t know where to properly store them,” Dompreh said. “According to university housing regulations, no electric scooters are allowed inside of living quarters (dorms).”
Dompreh said it’s very important for students to follow the regulations mainly because the rule was established due to the electric scooters’ lithium batteries exploding in dorms. Dompreh also said electric scooters aren’t allowed in a residence building at all, shutting down the thought of students storing them in the bike rooms.
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On things students should bring with them, Dompreh has also said mattress toppers and box fans are must-have items.
“A mattress topper makes your bed much more comfortable and a box fan is essential, especially during the summer,” Dompreh said.
Offering their final thoughts, students have shared their pieces of advice for incoming freshmen.
“For freshmen coming into college, everyone says they’re ready for it until they get away from their parents and the homesickness starts coming in,” Treadway said. “You realize that the first person you can interact with that’s not your parent is your roommate so get comfortable with your roommate if you can. Just realize that you're a big boy and girl now and you’re doing something good with your life.”
Smith offered similar advice, saying being kind to people is important.
“Be kind to the people you meet around campus,” Smith said. “A lot of people are struggling with self-confidence issues, a heavy workload, and many other stresses that college can bring. It’s easier to be nice than it is to be mean. Also, don’t be afraid to talk to the people in your classes, that’s how I met my girlfriend, Nat.”
Dompreh said it's important for incoming freshmen to enjoy their time at MSU as time can fly by.
“Enjoy the time that you spend at MSU because four years go by very fast,” Dompreh said. “Also, don’t be afraid to put yourselves out there in order to meet new people.”
