The 5 Things Every College Student Needs

If you’re heading off to college in the fall, you might already be thinking about what you need to buy before you get there. And if you’re already there, there are things you must have but definitely don’t know about yet.

I’ve done some of the work for you and picked out the top five things that every college student needs.

1. Alarm Clock – This is an absolute necessity, although an annoying one. With all the fun stuff that you’ll do in college, it’s sometimes easy to forget why you’re actually there in the first place: CLASS! To make sure you’re getting your tuition’s worth by actually going to class, you’re going to need a reliable alarm clock. Of course, any old alarm clock or clock radio will do, but there are definitely better options out there. With the iHome iH4B, you can fall asleep and wake up to your favorite music. Plus, it charges your iPod, so you’re never stuck with a drained battery. I also really like the Clocky ® alarm clock, designed for people like me who turn off their alarm clocks without getting out of bed. I used to have to put my alarm clock across the room and run to the other side to shut it off, much to the annoyance of my roommates. This one, which has wheels and rolls around the room, probably would have annoyed them even more, but it definitely would have stopped me from going back to sleep and missing class for the umpteenth time.

2. Mini-Fridge – Another dorm room essential, because eating at the dining hall for every meal can get boring, and you’ll need this to store ingredients for easy meals, along with snacks for when you and your friends are hanging out in your room and a variety of beverages. Think Geek’s Deluxe Mini-Fridge/Warmer is compact, yet holds up to 20 liters inside. Plus, it also has a warming option, which is great for PopTarts… but not for your beers. Think Geek also makes a one-can USB fridge, which allows you to cool one drink at your desk through your computer’s USB port, so you can still enjoy your favorite drink cold, even if it’s from the stash you keep hidden from your roommates.

3. Freshman in the Kitchen Cookbook – As I said before, going to the dining hall for every meal can get boring, and sometimes you’ll want to shake it up a bit. However, you might not have the money to go out to eat whenever you feel like it, so why don’t you try cooking something in the dorm kitchen? Check out Freshman in the Kitchen, From Clueless Cook to Creative Chef,  a cookbook designed for college students written by brothers and recent college grads, Max and Eli Sussman. It helps even the least experienced person (who had mom cook their every meal) learn to make great meals by starting off with simple, no-heat meals and gradually moving into more elaborate spreads.

4. Earbuds – Yes, the ones that came with your iPod work great, but these JBuds noise-isolating earbuds fit more comfortably into your ears and cancel out outside noise, which is perfect for blocking your roommates’ snoring when you’re trying to sleep or their talking when you’re trying to study.

5. iPhone – The new iPhone 3G may not be in everyone’s budget, but it makes up for the price in the features it offers. Besides making phone calls and sending texts, the iPhone allows you to access your e-mail (from profs), browse the web (for that research paper), check the weather (for that party), manage your to-do list (for your life), access Google Maps (for that road trip), and a whole lot more from virtually anywhere. Plus, you can download any application imaginable from the App store. There are apps that do anything from connect you to Facebook or check your bank balance to leading you to the nearest public bathroom (www.have2p.com, which even tells you how clean the bathroom is!), especially useful when you’ve had a little too much to drink.