For those heading off to explore the world of dorms and 2 a.m. pizza runs (also known as college) this fall, there are a few things you'll need that aren't advertised in the university's brochure. Here's a tip: always, ALWAYS, make sure you have quarters available. They're useful for vending machines, laundry machines, and a game often played on Thursday nights that takes its name from the coin. In that same spirit, this is a gentle suggestion to avoid any and all classes that meet on Fridays.
For the half-a-room that students will call home for the first year, there are a few items out there that might also be helpful to purchase. The first is a latex pillow. Unlike some other items made from the material, this object is truly made for sleep rather than protection. According to this website, the benefits of such a bedding addition leads to "maximum comfort" and the material's "breathable structure allows to keep warm during the cold season and warm in the heat." A latex pillow is helpful for people with allergies, so the site says, because dustmites and bacteria can't survive. When surviving on four hours of sleep each night (if you're lucky) it's important that what sleep is available is comfortable. Moreover, since dorm rooms aren't exactly known for their pristine conditions, having bedding that's inhospitable to germs sounds like it makes sense.
Sleep, studying, or nearly anything else, can be difficult with the harsh lighting that most colleges have available. Therefore, floor lamps might be a useful addition to your college supplies. A five-armed arch floorlamp can be a bit pricey, so it might be worthwhile to shop around. There's also a curved floor lamp that appears to be popular. Considering the prices, though, a solid desk lamp might be sufficient. Then again, savings are likely to come up during the end-of-summer / college-send-off sales that tend to occur in August.
