The first time I headed off to a dorm—it was summer camp, not college, but close enough—my parents gave me a giant tin of caramel popcorn to share and help me make friends. Sadly, I didn’t get many chances to open it: my roommate was allergic to corn.
It’s Freshman Orientation Week at Lifehacker! This week, we’re covering ways to snap out of your summer haze and into an autumnal blitz of activity, whether you’re actually heading to campus for the first time, getting your own kids ready for school, or looking for ways to just be more productive in the classroom of life. So velcro up your Trapper Keepers, students. Class is now in session.
But the idea is a solid one: ease your social transition by bringing things to school that will help bring people together. A few suggestions:
Food. Try for something that doesn’t contain common allergens, so you don’t repeat my sad story. The more people who can eat it, the more shareable it is. You don’t need a semester-long stash, but a supply of treats for move-in day can help you make your room the cool one for people to hang out in.
Entertainment. Our video producer Adam Powers notes, “There’s always one person who sets [a projector TV] up and everyone flocks to it. Nevermind that it never works well.” (Some of us remember the days when a DVD player or an Xbox were the hot ticket.)
Cooking supplies. Tea kettles are cheap and useful but few people think to bring one to school. (And not just for tea—their best use in a dorm is heating ramen.) A microwave or Instant Pot could be an asset, too. But make sure not to lend these things out. You want an excuse for people to stop by, not a headache where you’re always trying to track down your stuff.
Tools and equipment. Do you have a toolbox with a hammer and nails? A sewing machine? A special skill like bike repair? Being able to help people with their problems is nice to do, and might even be lucrative if you can charge for your services or exchange favors.
So, tell us: what was the coolest thing to have at your dorm? Whose room did everybody always want to hang out in, and why? And what shouldn’t you bring, lest it be stolen, over-borrowed, or have drunk people banging down your door in the middle of the night?