On freshman move-in day, my dad’s Honda Ridgeline was packed to the brim with moving bags, boxes and everything I thought I needed to start my new, independent life. But when I looked at the cars parked behind me I realized that they were not cars, but in fact, U-Hauls. Seeing that made me wonder, how much of this stuff do we actually need to have a successful college experience?
No essentials list or Amazon storefront can construct your perfect college experience; the answer depends more on the individual. Some students consider a Brita filter, mattress topper and vacuum genuinely necessary. Attending university in San Francisco also means preparing for the realities of the city, so investing in practical items like a warm jacket or reliable shoes can be worthwhile. At the same time, some commonly recommended purchases — such as an iron, decorative appliances or specialized cleaning tools — may sit untouched for most of the semester.
The financial aspect of move-in season makes this distinction especially important. Students and families are not simply buying decorations; they are investing in an entirely new living situation. College already comes with high expenses. Adding hundreds of dollars of unnecessary dorm purchases can make the transition even more financially stressful. According to Forbes, prices for dorm essentials have increased 40% in the last four years.
This is where the idea of “essential” becomes complicated. Back-to-school campaigns tend to convince students that they are all one and the same, or that a single product will make or break their academic year. These purchases can be part of expressing your personal style and embracing independence. But independence should not be measured by how much you can buy. A mattress topper could make a major difference for someone who struggles to sleep on a standard dorm mattress, while another student might be perfectly comfortable without one. What is essential is not necessarily what is most popular on a college shopping list — it is what solves an actual problem in your daily life.
There is also something meaningful about not buying everything immediately. A great piece of advice I heard from my friend and fellow student, Kaelin ‘29, was to communicate with roommates before moving in. Also, a huge bonus of having roommates is cutting costs while getting full use of appliances — when I moved in with my first roommate, she bought the microwave and I got our mini-fridge. It is also useful to buy personal necessities first and wait before purchasing everything else. Once you actually live in your space, you may discover that you never needed the trendy appliance or organizational gadget you thought was essential.
Being mindful about what we acquire matters beyond saving money. Dorm rooms and apartments are temporary living spaces, and students will eventually have to move again. Every unnecessary item purchased for the excitement of move-in day becomes something that has to be disposed of or transported later. According to Dump and Run, Inc., the average college student produces 640 pounds of trash annually, most of which accumulates at the end of the year during move-out. While moving out of my dorm last year, I saw many students throwing away storage shelves, tables, minifridges — all still full of life but lacking room in someone’s new living space. Therefore, buying less means less waste, less clutter and less financial pressure.
College is already a major transition from living at home to becoming more responsible for yourself. The most important “essentials” are not necessarily the products sitting in your dorm room. They are the skills you develop, the people you meet and the independence you gain.
