Packing and organising everything you need to bring to uni can be stressful. You don’t want to bring too much, but you also don’t want to forget anything pertinent! Well, I can at least help out with the last part. Here are 20 things no one told you to bring to uni…that you’re probably going to need.
Yes, a proper bottle opener and corkscrew is already on everyone’s list, but these will live in your flat. You and your bottles, on the other hand, will be at flat parties and on buses to night clubs that are off campus, and therefore far more exciting. You could complain loudly about your imprisoned liquor until you come across someone drunk enough to open it using their teeth, it’s true. But as you lift your now slightly saliva-y bottle to drink, you’ll wish you had come prepared.
I promise this list does include non-alcoholic ideas. Let’s face it though, uni quite frequently centres on getting drunk, and be it fact or some kind of placebo effect, drinking through a straw makes you drunker, quicker. And it doesn’t ruin your face paint.
There is nothing worse than getting into bed, getting comfy, and then realising that the light switch is at the other end of the room. You never find that comfy position again. Save yourself the trouble and bring a lamp, which (bonus) will be far less blindingly bright should you need some source of light in the early hours.
To all those wearing heels, this wondrous piece of information I shall now impart is for you. Fold up, or roll up shoes, are a thing. An incredible thing, that usually comes with a little bag to put your heels from hell in too. These genius inventions are your friends, and they will be your friends for life. BUY THEM.
Maybe it was the previous occupant, maybe it’s you. Maybe it’s the month worth of pizza boxes by the door. Either way, your uni room is no basket of roses, and no one wants to be the smelly kid. While febreeze and the like can be nice, they do have a certain ‘I shall mask these foul odours temporarily’ going on as you try not to choke yourself or set off the over sensitive fire alarms. A diffuser, on the other hand, spreads a subtle scent for days on end. Ahh, lovely.
Nothing makes you more popular than the words “does anyone mind if I leave my toastie machine in the kitchen?” They cover breakfast, lunch, dinner, and just-got-in-from-a-night-out hunger. Just make sure you impose a ‘you can use it if you clean it’ rule!
Okay, the 1950’s housewife look isn’t for everyone. But at some point during university, you will end up cleaning something you really don’t want to touch. The details aren’t necessary, but seriously, you want these in the cupboard.
Or several, no judgement. Because, you know, people meet, things happen.
Now, this may be something you have thought about, but thought maybe you shouldn’t. People, it’s allowed. A little home comfort never goes amiss, especially when that comfort is a heat-up-in-the-microwave fluffy bunny rabbit.
Inevitably, there will be a traffic light party. Not your usual fancy dress. For those unaware, this is a night where single, available people wear green, committed, not available people wear red, and those that want to confuse you wear orange. Now I don’t know about you, but I don’t wear a whole lot of orange or green on nights out. Red, maybe, but even so, the system is flawed. I wore black. But hey, you may want to prepare yourself for this eventuality when you’re packing.
The ‘super shock absorbing, suitable for diving and swimming’ phone case you buy online for £5 might not actually be suitable for diving and swimming. And please don’t test the ‘you can even drive a car over it!’ theory. But they will withstand being dropped on the dancefloor, having a drink spilt over them, and with some hope, prayers and a bowl of rice, being dropped in the toilet. It’s money well spent; please, take it from someone who knows!
You’ve seriously upset your skin with your new university habits, and hey, face mask photos are funny, always. AND the sort of uni memory you can show your parents without a lecture. Go all out with a throwback pamper session, and boys, don’t back out on the basis of some vague masculine ideals. They’re fun!
Getting cards on your birthday is nice. Especially when you’re at uni, and the majority of your cards are at home. So be the nice person and get the flat to sign a birthday card for someone’s special day. Bring a few generic or funny cards with you, because it’s also nice not to have to go out to buy said card when the day comes and you’ve forgotten.
First off, I’m not going to advocate ‘the chunder bucket.’ I’m sorry but it’s gross; be a civilised drunk and throw up in the toilet instead. No, a bucket has a variety of functions – personally, I have a booze bucket. I arrived at uni with my pink bucket full of clinking bottles, which was a huge success with my flatmates. At times it has also provided an ice bucket, a picnic basket, an extra chair, a sock drawer and a bin. I therefore advise you to take a bucket, and challenge you to find exciting uses for it.
Admittedly, kitchen utensils are on everyone’s list. Every flat will end up with twenty cheese graters and three dozen plates. But ours lacked a pizza cutter, and let me tell you, hacking at a pizza with a blunt knife at 3am is frustrating, and I wouldn’t want you to experience it.
The same goes for an ice tray, or three. Remember, the good flat parties offer ice and straws.
Studying with your own books, you may well be happy to scribble notes in the margins, or fold down corners (ahem, HEATHENS). Library books demand a little more respect, so these things come in handy!
Everyone uses their phone for reminders now, but assignment deadlines, library book due dates and exams are kind of important, so double up. You can close an app on your phone without thinking, but a calendar on your wall? Put it somewhere you have to see every day, like next to your bathroom mirror. Just try not to stress too much when you’re cleaning your teeth and realise you’ve only got a week to read four books and write a 3,000 word essay.
There will be endless drinking games and card games on offer at uni, but some days you all want to take your duvets to the table and play a board game. Or maybe you just met someone, or it’s before midday, and drinking isn’t really acceptable right there and then. Jenga, Scrabble, Articulate, Scattergories…these all made an appearance at uni, and it was good. Admittedly, so did Twister, and ‘Pin The Tail on The Male.’ Whatever floats your boat.
Two, minimum. When I started university, these were included in our fresher’s flat welcome pack, and I believe this should be standard procedure. Until it is, bring your own! Drunken space hopper races are hilarious, and you will have endless fun naming them, and going on raids to the flat next door to steal theirs, or otherwise retrieve the hostages they hold from you. This may seem an odd note to end on, but I wanted to go out with a bang. (As Ginger George, our beloved first year hopper did. Flat 9, one day you will pay.)
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