Thursday, August 25, 2016

University Checklist //

Dear Readers,

Being the obsessive list-maker that I am, I like to create them for just about anything and University does not lack when it comes to list writing opportunities. 

Today I have created a section by section checklist of everything you should need for university life. Granted, some of it may already be covered by your accommodation, other places such as private rentals may not include such luxuries.

For First Year's I recommend that you buy your own stuff, as chances are you don't know who you might be sharing with. You may be a clean freak, but they might not wash their dishes for three months so stock up on your own utensils.

If you are in Second or Third Year, you can come together with your housemates on things like kettles, toasters, pots and pans. This is a great way to save on space and indeed money.

I also found that I made the mistake of buying everything at my shopping centre back home, as if there wasn't going to be shops near my uni. This was obviously wrong and I should have really thought about the fact that I could have bought more stuff once I was there, rather than ramming the car full of bedding and kitchen equipment.

Documents:

  • Passport or driving licence
  • NHS number
  • National Insurance number
  • TV Licence - You must declare that you are not watching TV, otherwise you will be prosecuted
  • CV and references
  • Discount travel cards
  • Bank account details
  • Address book and email contacts list
  • Local map - You will most likely get these given to you during Fresher's Week
  • What's on guide - This will be both emailed to you and given to you on your first day
  • Old textbooks and notes - If you have any material which could aid your learning or help you refresh your memory on particular topics then bring this to uni.
  • Diary or Calendar
  • Doctor and Dentist details
  • Other university documents - You will always have important documents handed to you
  • Room insurance - You will have the opportunity to insure your house keys, belongings and room from anything

Kitchen:

A lot of the kitchen stuff will depend if you're going self catering or not.
  • Corkscrew
  • Bottle opener
  • Mugs
  • Glasses
  • Wine glasses
  • Shot glasses
  • Kettle (Optional if in halls of residence)
  • Knives, forks and spoons
  • Plates
  • Bowls
  • One-person casserole dish
  • Small frying or omelette pan
  • 1 small, 1 large saucepan with lids
  • Egg cup
  • Tin opener
  • Scissors
  • Chopping knives
  • Chopping board - An extra chopping board if you are cutting meat: This is a great way to avoid food poisoning
  • Vegetable peeler
  • Cheese grate
  • Bread knife
  • Wooden spoons
  • Spatula
  • Potato Masher
  • Recipe Books - This will make cooking food so much easier
  • Store cupboard ingredients - coffee, tea, milk, sugar, eggs, margarine, cooking oil, salt and pepper - and let's not forget pasta
  • Coffee whitener - for when you run out of milk
  • Sandwich bags - good for lots of stuff you open and need to contain. e.g. sugar / teabags and things
  • Plastic bowl or box with lid
  • Microwaveable bowl
  • Cling film
  • Tin foil
  • Sieve
  • Tea towels
  • Oven gloves
  • Washing-up stuff - Washing-up liquid / Dishcloth / Scrubbing brush
  • Tray - For carrying food to your room. This was something I didn't pack and wish I had packed because there was a incident involving food flying everywhere

Studying:

  • Desk Lamp
  • Book Chair - saves a lot of neck strain if you are making notes out of a big book]
  • Notice Board - for timetables, numbers, etc. Some halls may already provide one.
  • Message Board or Mini White Board -These are great for writing quick reminders to yourself
  • Diary/planner - to keep track of assignments
  • Dictionary and Thesaurus - Helpful for essay writing
  • Subject Notebooks - for making notes/doing drafts etc. I have found that Paperchase's Subject Notebooks are the best for the job and they come in a range of sizes/number of subjects
  • A4 folders
  • Pens, pencils, paper, files, highlighters
  • Scissors
  • Sticky tape
  • Stapler, hole punch
  • Sticky labels
  • Post-it notes
  • Paper clips
  • White Tac - so it doesn't mark the walls
  • Stamps and envelopes
  • Washi Tape - This can be used literally anywhere like on your books, your walls, your kitchen to mark which cupboards are yours
  •  

Outdoor:

  • Bike (Optional)
  • Raincoat
  • Umbrella

Healthcare

  • Meningitis Jab - Ensure that you have got this jab prior to starting university as the risk of contracting the virus is even higher
  • Multivitamins - Fresher's flu is a thing
  • Painkillers
  • Basic first aid kit - plasters, antiseptic wipes, bandages
  • Paracetamol
  • Cold and flu remedies e.g. Nose spray and Beecham's
  • Anti-allergy pills - e.g. Piriton anti-allergy tablets
  • A cold/hot pack
  • Throat spray
  • Throat sweets

Bathroom

  • Bath mat
  • Bath and hand towels
  • Basket or hold all for shower supplies
  • Wash bag
  • Toilet roll
  • Box of tissues
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Hand Soap
  • Shower gel
  • Shampoo/Conditioner
  • Nail clippers
  • Deodorant
  • Perfume/Cologne
  • Hair gel
  • Hair spray
  • Hairbrush
  • Comb
  • Razor
  • Shaving cream/gel
  • Moisturiser

Housekeeping

  • Febreze - A must for halls of residence (trust me)
  • Laundry bag - So your dirty clothes don't end up on the floor. And for dragging to the laundry or dumping on your parents to wash for you!
  • Clothes horse - Save money on dryers by drying your clothes in your room
  • Coat hangers - you may not get any in wardrobes
  • Dustpan and brush - for cleaning up the odd mess, though most unis should provide this
  • Duster
  • Paper towels
  • Cleaning products - including glass cleaner, bleach and antibacterial spray
  • Washing powder/liquid/tablets - It gets very expensive when you buy the individual tablets at a launderette, so keep a box handy
  • Use an old blue IKEA bag to take your laundry. It's large enough to fit your entire wash load.
  • Door wedge - an open door in freshers week is much more friendly and opens up the space.

Electrical:

  • Alarm clock - since there's no more Mum or Dad to wake you up
  • Computer and/or laptop - saves on queues at deadline time
  • Your own printer - Trust me, no one wants to trek all the way to campus just to print out a document.
  • External hard drive
  • USB Stick
  • Mini fridge (Optional)
  • Bedside lamp
  • Mobile and charger
  • CD player/Hi-fi system - though better (certainly space wise) just to bring speakers and use your computer
  • TV - but license fee will be costly
  • Camera (Optional)
  • Headphones - so you don't disturb others when you play music loud
  • Portable Speakers - Essential for any decent Pre's 
  • Batteries - rechargeable (save money)
  • Multi plug adaptor/extension lead - to give you more than the normal 2/4 sockets

Clothing:

I recommend that you split your clothes into an Autumn & Winter Wardrobe and a Spring & Summer Wardrobe. That way you can swap the clothes when you come home for Christmas. 
  • Dressing gown/Pyjamas
  • Slippers
  • T-shirts
  • Jumpers
  • Trousers
  • Underwear
  • Socks
  • Shoes/trainers
  • Flip flops - for wearing in showers / communal wash areas
  • Swimwear
  • Dresses - for the Freshers' Ball
  • Shirt and tie for any smart-casual events - for the guys
  • Lots of clubbing/party outfits

Leisure:

  • Pack of Cards/Uno Cards - Any games that can be used for drinking games
  • Ball - Rugby ball/Football for any sporty people out there

Style

  • Posters - Because who really likes Magnolia walls!
  • Photos of family and friends
  • Wall hanging - more homely than posters
  • Rugs - to hide the odd coloured carpet
  • Fairy Lights
  • Cushions/beanbags - for friends to sit down in your room
  • A throw - to make your bed into a sofa for friends to sit on
  • Pot plants
  • Teddy bear/stuffed toys
  • Blankets - for when it gets cold and you want to snuggle up

Bedding

  • Sheets
  • Duvet and duvet covers
  • Pillows & pillow cases - did you know the average used pillow is 75% dead flesh?
  • Mattress cover - goes between the mattress and the bottom sheet
  • Hot water bottle
  • Spare duvet & pillow for when friends come to visit
  • Sleeping bag - for when friends come to stay/when you go to stay

Miscellaneous

  • Alcohol (Optional, but advisable)
  • Sweets or biscuits - Snacks are everything
  • Extra storage - plastic boxes for things like Cereal, Sugar, Coffee
  • Large suitcase - to put things in when going home for the weekend
  • Torch - for power cuts and looking under desks/chairs/beds
  • Loose change - for washing / vending machines
  • Earplugs - to cut out the noise from other residents
  • Safety pins
  • Small sewing kit
  • Fan
  • Alarm Clock

What You Don't Need:

  • Iron
  • Toaster
  • Sandwich maker
  • Nice kitchen stuff - Save that for when you are in your second or third year
  • Candles - serious fire hazard and they will get confiscated
Now I am sure there will be other items which I have forgotten or that you may prefer to bring, so feel free to use this checklist flexibly. 
     Good Luck Uni shopping! 
    Stay Sweet,
    Alice xx 
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