Dorm Essentials

Printer: Unless you want to be running to the library and waiting for a computer to free up minutes before your first period class, buy a printer for your room. We all know printers are finicky and stubborn, but you’d rather deal with replacing an ink cartridge in the comfort of your dorm room with your loving roommate, than printing during the five minutes in between classes.Mattress Pad: If this is your first time away from home, you’re probably used to the cushy mattress you’ve slept on your whole life. If you’ve been to a sleepaway camp before, you know how uncomfortable and hard dorm beds are, and Exeter is no exception. To make your dorm room feel more like home, invest in a mattress pad. It will last you all four years and into college and will make your few hours of sleep each night more restful, almost enough to forget how soon you have to wake up for classes.Rug: Think about how many people have lived in the dorm room you’re currently moving into. Or don’t, it might frighten you a bit to think about the number of times people have spilled Szechuan’s lo mein onto that worn-out, greyish blue carpet. Buying a fluffy rug of your own to cover a portion of your floor will add vitality to your room, and your feet will thank you. It also adds a homey touch to your new room.Speakers: Everyone needs something that helps them get into the zone while studying, and for many people, that something is music. Speakers make the work a lot more enjoyable. And during the weekends, having a good speaker system is a nice way to relax and listen to music with friends.Big Light: The constant barely-audible buzz and the uncomforting bright whiteness of the fluorescent overhead light in your dorm room bothers a lot of students while studying, and most opt. out of using it and plug in a standing light instead. Other dorms do not have overhead lighting at all, so large lamps are a necessity for some dorms, not just a convenience.Futon: With your new mattress pad, your bed will be comfortable, but when friends are hanging out in your room, they need somewhere to sit too. That’s where a futon comes in. Futons are very versatile; they act as excellent, cheaper versions of couches, provide a secondary bed that friends can sleep on during the weekends and are also used as a comfier study place for activities such as reading.Kitchenware: It’s 10 p.m. and you have three subjects of homework left. All you ate for dinner was an unsatisfying salad from the dining hall. You know it’s too late to order food, but you’re hungry. This is when you wish you had some instant mac and cheese, a bowl and utensils. Food is always a good thing to keep in your dorm room along with a plate, a bowl and reusable silverware. A mug is also a must-have for the tea and hot chocolate lovers out there.While investing in all of these must-haves, you must also think of the consequences. People will ask to have your mac and cheese and a spoon, use your printer and sit on your comfy bed. These amenities will make your room much more enjoyable for yourself, but will also tag your room as a popular place for your dorm-mates and friends to hang out, which may not help your study habits.