How To Make Home To Dorm Transition Easier

Personal Essentials

Hey, future college students (and parents)! Moving into a dorm or college apartment is such an exciting time. It’s a fresh start, full of possibilities—but before diving into that new adventure, you must ensure you’re fully prepared for move-in day. So, let’s go over all the essentials you’ll need to make your new space feel like home, and maybe even avoid a few “wish I had packed that” moments!

1. Shower Essentials: Making the Communal Bathrooms Work for You

Shared bathrooms can be a bit of an adjustment, but with the right gear, you’ll be just fine.

Shower Caddy

A sturdy, portable shower caddy will keep all your toiletries organized and easy to carry.

Mesh Shower Caddy Black Shower Bag Quick Dry Hanging Toiletry Bath Organizer

The cleaning caddy collapsible design not only makes carrying around a breeze but it can also be folded and stored as needed.

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Portable Space Saving Bathroom Organizer

This mesh shower caddy hanging is not only lightweight but also easy to carry. 

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 Shower Caddy Plastic Bathroom Shower Tote

One handle design, mesh basket featured with raised feet and holes.Drains easily and dries fast.

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Flip-flops/Shower Shoes

These are a must-have for those communal showers. Keep your feet protected!

Shark Slides Cloud Slippers

The novelty shark slipper sandals are suitable for indoors and outdoors and all seasons, such as as home slippers, pool beach slippers, and shower slippers, which can be folded and stored as needed.

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Open Toe Bath| Shower Shoes

This slide women is made of lightweight and durable EVA material, which is ultra-light and non-slip.

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 Quick Drying Shower Slippers

Quick-drying shoes with drainage holes: specially designed for showering, with drainage holes.

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Bathrobe and Slippers

Knee Length Bath Gown Lightweight Kimono Robe

This bathrobe can keep your body dry and make you feel more comfortable.

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Hooded Flannel Mid-Calf Bathrobe with Pockets

This long-length robe features long sleeves, providing the softness and snuggly warmth

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Lightweight Spa Bathrobe Comfortable Bath Towels Body Wrap Adjustable + Hair Drying Towel Set

The body wrap is designed for maximum comfort and absorbency. The microfiber Hair towel is soft and smooth, dries hair quickly, and doesn’t cause frizz.

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Warm Knit House Slippers for Women

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Adjustable Memory Foam House Shoes

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Cartoon Cow Cotton Slippers

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Perfect for those walks to and from the shower—plus, they add a cozy touch to your mornings.

Bath Towels

Pack a couple of large, absorbent towels. You’ll appreciate having extras when laundry day gets away from you.

Utopia Towels 8-Piece Premium Towel Set, 2 Bath Towels, 2 Hand Towels, and 4 Wash Cloths

Woven with 100% ring spun cotton that are supremely soft and breathable while being strong and durable to hold up to daily use.

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100% Cotton Ultra Soft 6 Pack Towel Set

This long-length robe features long sleeves, providing the softness and snuggly warmth

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2 Pack Premium Bath Towel Set – Quick Drying – Microfiber

 Highly absorbent, yet light-weighted. Gives the body a soft and delicate touch while absorbing moisture.

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2. Personal Care: Keeping Yourself in Tip-Top Shape

You’ll need a few basics to stay healthy and comfortable while you are away from home.

Vagisil Odour Control Deodourant Powder for Women, Talc-Free, Gynecologist Tested

Absorbs moisture and helps keep you feeling fresh and dry; helps prevent odour and chafing between thighs or under breasts.

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Manicure Set 10 in 1 Stainless Steel

This Professional Manicure Set Contains 10 pieces facial, nail and toenail tools.

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Philips BikiniGenie Cordless Women’s Bikini Line Trimmer

 Trim, shape or style the hair down there with this fun, fabulous trimmer. BikiniGenie has a precise trimmer head that makes it easy to give yourself a flawless bikini line.

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Medications

Don’t forget any prescription medications, and consider bringing a small supply of over-the-counter remedies like pain relievers and cold medicine.

Nature’s Way Sambucus Cold and Flu Relief Original Elderberry Gummies 

help relieve symptoms of cold and flu such as coughs and sore throats, as well as help shorten the duration and reduce symptom severity of the common cold, bronchitis, laryngitis and pharyngitis

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Advil Extra Strength Ibuprofen Pain Relief Liquid-Gels

Advil Liqui-Gels start working within 30 minutes — taking pain out of the picture so you can get on with your day or get to sleep at night.

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Emergen-C Immune Support Gummies, A Boost of Vitamins and Minerals, Orange, Tangerine & Raspberry Mix 

A yummy, gummy way to get a daily boost of vitamins and minerals, to help support your immune health whether you’re at home, at the office, or on the go.

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Maxidol Liquid Gels Pain Reliever – Fast Relief of Pain such as Menstrual Cramps

Maxidol Liquid Gels provides fast relief from period symptoms such as menstrual cramps, headaches, backache, migraine pain, and muscle pain.

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Sports Research Vitamin D3 1,000 IU with Coconut Oil

This vitamin D (as Cholecalciferol) supplement is certified non-GMO and free of soybean oil and safflower oil. Formulated with organic coconut oil.

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First-Aid Kit

A small kit with band-aids, antiseptic, and other essentials can be a lifesaver.

Johnson&Johnson Mini First Aid Kit

Mini first aid to go kit packaged in a durable shell.

Perfect for minor first-aid situations.

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Polysporin Antibiotic Ointment Heal-Fast Formula

Contains 2 antibiotics for infection protection for minor cuts, scrapes, and burns

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Bactine First Aid Spray for Pain Relief and Itch Relief, Antiseptic, Anesthetic and No Sting Formula,

topical antiseptic solution, Bactine First Aid Antiseptic Pain Relieving Spray provides immediate pain relief and itch relief.

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Sanitary Products

Playtex Sport Tampons, Super Plus Absorbency

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Always, Ultra Thin Pads For Women

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U by Kotex Clean & Secure Panty Liners

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Make sure you have enough to last until you can hit up the nearest store.

3. Stationery and Study Supplies: Staying On Top of Your Workload

Finally, but most importantly the tools and all the frills that make college fun. I love a good bunch of pens and markers and stickers and okay let’s be honest this list can go on and on. Make sure you bring everything you love to use when you make notes or journal. The initial days when you are trying to find your footing you don’t need the extra frustration of “I wish I thought of that”s or “I wish I had that”s.

Notebooks and Binders

All-in-one Telescoping Binder Notebook

Compressible rubble-wrapped spine of WOT I subject notebook binder provides a flexible storage space, allowing you to hold more index dividers and files as your needs.

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plastic drawer

 Notebook Paper, College Ruled Loose Leaf Paper 

Bulk value is perfect for schools, offices, and more.

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Premium Economy 1.5-Inch Binders

 Label your binder collection by class subjectes in it.

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It is helpful to keep your notes organized by class. And your methods will evolve and get better.

Pens, Pencils, and Highlighters:

Stock up on these essentials—they always seem to disappear.

Retractable Gel Pens, Black Gel Ink Cute Pens, 0.5mm Fine Point

 20 pieces retractable gel pens with BLACK ink, enough quantity to meet your different needs, 0.5mm tip writes fine lines.

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11PCS Funny Pens, Describing Mentality Daily Pen Set

When you need to adjust your emotions, these funny pens can easily express your feelings.

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plastic drawer

 Four Candies Cute Mechanical Pencil Set

The set contains two types of nibs, 0.5mm and 0.7mm, that allows you switch as needed. 

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plastic drawer

 AmazonBasics Pre-sharpened Wood Cased #2 HB Pencils

Strong medium-soft lead produces long-lasting, smooth, readable strokes

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BIC Brite Liner Grip Highlighter

Chisel tip enables broad highlighting

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Planner or Calendar:

Keep track of assignments, deadlines, and social events.

Daily Planner Notepad for Productivity

 Start your morning with a day planner with to do list that adds a splash of vibrance to your routine.

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plastic drawer

 Day-timer Reversible Dry Erase Flexible Undated Planner

This planner is the best thing I got for our home. Best part is it is undated. So when you are done with a month, you can erase it and plan into the future.

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Daily Planner Undated

This daily planner focuses on meeting any of your needs. Includes space for schedule, priority, to-do lists, appointments, and meetings and keeps track of schedule clearly with the daily view.

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Sticky Notes

Perfect for reminders or marking important sections in textbooks.

Post-It Notes Transparent Sticky Notes, 3” x3”

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 Sticky Notes, 3×3 in Post, Vintage Colors Sticky Notes

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8 Pack Multi-Function Sticky Index Tabs,1600 Pieces Writable Labels

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Backpack

Laptop Backpack Anti Theft Slim College Bookbag Fits 15.6 Inch Notebook

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plastic drawer

 Mocare Casual College Backpack, Fits 15.6 inch Notebook computer

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Womens Laptop Backpack with Separate Laptop Compartment Water Resistant Computer Backpacks Fits 15.6 Inch Notebook

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A sturdy, comfortable backpack that can hold your laptop, books, and everything else you need.

I have tried my best to think of everything you will need to make this transition as easy as possible. If you love this post make sure you go through this post talking about all the dorm room essentials you will need for an easy transition to school. And definitely download the free printable checklist. I promise it is the best one out there with everything I have mentioned in this post and space for your must-haves and nice-to-haves. Good luck!