What to take to university

[raven]

For my own reference, but also for other people who asked for copies, this is my Oxford freshers' guide list of stuff to take. Any other suggestions in comments, please. :)

What to bring

Academic
Old notes which may be relevant
Reading lists sent from college
Paper, pens and pencils
Calculator (for scientists)
Dictionary
Computer (especially essayists)
Printer

Cleaning
Toiletries
Toothbrush
Overnight bag
Washing-up liquid
Cloths
Washing up powder
Febreeze

Eating
Tea, coffee and sugar
At least three mugs
Plates and bowls
Cutlery
Sharp knife
Tin opener
Kettle and toaster (depending on college)

Bedroom
Bed linen (depending on college)
Towels
Hangers
Posters
Phone (depending on college)
Photos
Cushions and extra pillow
Spare lamp
Alarm clock (vital)
At least one four-way plug
Stereo and CDs

Dressing
All the usual
Coat (Oxford is cold in winter)
Umbrella (it’s wet as well)
Suit (black, for matriculating men)
Smart skirt (for matriculation)
Shirts or blouses (one white)
Sports gear
Swimming costume
Dinner jacket (invaluable for men)
White and black bow tie
Ball gown

Useful bits
Passport
Medical details
LEA information (vital)
Anything sent by the university
Freshers’ guide 2005
Passport photos (Bod card, etc)
Diary (vital)
Calendar (equally vital)
ID for opening bank account
Chequebooks and cards
Driving license

Other
Bike and helmet
Bike lights (avoid fines)
Medicines (freshers’ flu – nasty)
Keys (for emergency trips home)
Camera
Teddy bears or other comforters
School tie (inevitable first bop)
Mobile phone and charger
Personal music player
Lamp
Vase
Address book
Corkscrew
Bottle stopper
Sleeping bag
scarf

Crossposted to colleen_show and oxfordljmassive.

Comments

[ladyfalcon.livejournal.com]

You may also want to bring a small travel-sized tool kit, including a hammer, some nails, a screwdriver, etc. I was the only kid on my floor to have one, and people borrowed it for small fix-it projects all the time.

Are you really going to need a ball gown? What sort of strange college are you going to where jeans and t-shirts aren't the norm? (Or is that stereotype just a strange American thing and it's really me that isn't the norm?)

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

You don't need a ballgown at my college, no. But there are formal do's and suchlike at most colleges during the summer. Jeans and t-shirts most of the time, except when wearing full academic dress, which happens more than you would imagine. I need a cap and gown! Waaah.

[rosariotijeras.livejournal.com]

I've heard that electronic dictioanries (dictionarys? God, English is weird) can be helpful if you're on the run a lot, and also for under the desk usage during a forgein language class-are you required to take one? If so, and you haven't picked, may I reccomend SPANISH? Not because I'm biased or anything. Plus, if you get confused I could totally help you. Spanish is my best subject. And I'm friends with an entire family of Peruvians. That helps.

Ahem, yes, well, good luck etc.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Heh! No, no foreign language classes for me. The system is very different, I think; in any case, I've picked my degree and I have to stick with it.

Plus, I sucked at Spanish. The only thing I remember from two years' worth is "comida". Not the most helpful word, no.

[rosariotijeras.livejournal.com]

Well, if you're ever stranded in the Mexican desert for five weeks, "food" is a fairly important thing! I was watching a travel show staring a Brit one day, and he was in a similar situation. He kept saying "Quiero una camisa, por favor!" as hello. No, thank you Mr. Travel Show Guy, I am not giving you my shirt no matter how many times you ask.

[tau_sigma]

Corkscrews are down three times in my fresher's guide!

Also, maybe: rug (or something else colourful and homely), coathangers, tea, coffee, and biscuits, bottle opener, immunisation details, blutack, cheque book, tissues, 20p's for laundry (depends on the university though perhaps), room insurance.

Wine glasses have also been suggested...?

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Oooh, good suggestions all. Yes, wineglasses! I never feel right drinking it from a mug. :)

[tau_sigma]

Heh. I think I will be lazy and cheap skate and use mugs anyway. :) It'll make me feel like a real student.

[snowballjane.livejournal.com]

Pyjamas and dressing gown that you don't mind wearing in public. 3am firealarm evacuations are a regular feature of College life in my experience.

Calendars are pretty vital, but back in '94 I ended up with about 20 of them by the end of freshers' week, since just about everyone (bookshops, banks etc) wants to give you a free one.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Ah, good idea, I'll remember that. And thanks for the tip; I'm hopeless with calendars and diaries and organisers and things like that.

[pinkishmew.livejournal.com]

A vase? [boggles]

Well - I'm in self catered, so: pots, pans, casserole dish, measuring jug, herbs/spices/seasoning, utensils, wooden spoon...

CD Wallet. Very useful for transportation and storing of all the hundreds of CDs you may have. Clothes for different activites, e.g. I'm joining the hiking club, so I'll need scuffy clothes that can get muddy. Equally, clothes for nice events. Photos of nice things, like people and places - plus photo frames or an album or possibly blu tack or even thumb tacks, depending on how you want to be able to view them.

Um... different sized bags. Containers for keeping food (cold pasta in the fridge) or holding your lunch. I'm taking some cushions as well, and throws so my new room reminds me of my old one(s).

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Well, to look pretty!

I need a few pots and pans, probably not as many as you, though. I don't know what clubs yet, though, which is a pain. The room stuff is probably essential if you don't want to forget the fact you once had friends. :)

[pinkishmew.livejournal.com]

Oooh - birth certificate. (I think you might already have that on your list.)

I'm going to have to remember to take photos of people other than Paul.. I do have parents and siblings and things.

[ellielabelle.livejournal.com]

Also take something which is utterly useless but either very beautiful or conversation provoking - when you get past the "What's your name, where are you from, what are you reading?" stage it helps to have something which you can immediately start jawing about.

Someone on my corridor in halls had a lamp made out of a traffic cone and I took my guitar and my 'dressing up box'.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

That is an absolutely great idea. Thank you!

[pinkishmew.livejournal.com]

That's a good idea. I might take my inflatable cactus after all...

[vampire-kitten.livejournal.com]

May I suggest

-as many mugs as possible. Fresher's week is generally spent with about 10+ people in a room at a time and the more mugs the better...

- posters/wall decorations

- snacky food

you can probably skip dictionary, as all college internet has free subscription to OED.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the help. :)

[vampire-kitten.livejournal.com]

Ooh, and can I add - drying rail/line for washing/iron/tabletop ironing board. And one of those cunning little hanger things for hanging up lots of underwear at once. And dirty laundry hamper, preferably with handles so you can drag it to washing machines. Or this rug (http://www.enjoy.co.uk/prodv/laundry-rug/852.html)

[forthwritten.livejournal.com]

Given that I was in the ghetto halls of Liverpool University and the Tab staying with me was horrified at our shower (exposed wires, yo (yes, at one point there was one shower between 20 people))...

- toolkit: one of those screwdrivers with a selection of heads you can slot in, pliers, stanley knife, strong scissors, spare fuses. Battery tester and charger.

- basic first aid kit: painkillers, plasters, any useful medications, safety pins

- slippers that can cope with getting wet when the fire alarm goes off at 4:30am and you end up standing on wet grass for 45 minutes - to be honest, I used my shoes. Don't be like the meffs from my hall who thought they'd be fine with bare feet.

- white-tac: they don't like you using blu-tac as it stains the walls.

- padlock and keys: useful for locking wardrobes etc

- alcohol, tea, coffee, some food: you might miss a few meals because of the activities, so keeping a few packs of pasta'n'sauce around isn't a bad idea. It's nice to have some booze around, but if you get spirits make sure you have some mixer.

- post-it notes

- clothes horse and a place to put stuff to be washed

I second the interesting talking point; mine is a medical model of a coccyx I nicked from my parents. It currently has a sticker with 'et in arcadia ego' written on it as we lacked a skull.

hope you don't mind the unsolicted advice.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much. *g* And kudos on the coccyx. :)

[tafkarfanfic.livejournal.com]

Wow. That is SO much more stuff than I brought to school.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Well, it's all suggested, of course. I'll probably end up panicking at the last moment and leave behind half a dozen things that I really need, but c'est la vie. :)

[eternalwings.livejournal.com]

Vital:
Suitcase to fit her friends in who will miss her and will be too far away so will therefore have to be taken with her :P
Computer to stay in touch with said friends
A lot of chocolate oranges
Pre-ordered tickets to Brokeback mountain that she must see with her friends

Sorry just hit me you will be in OXFORD! thats miles away *sniffles and brings out tissues* (btw the link to my vid still works!)

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

*jumptackleglomphug* This list is just one of the reasons why I am going to MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY. *stamps foot*

[(Anonymous)]

And that run on sentence of DOOM is why I'm gonna miss you lol.
I was talking to Cath earlier and was worrying, in a year or so I'M going to be the oldest in the Scooby gang! GUH! Its scary heh.

[eternalwings.livejournal.com]

And that run on sentence of DOOM is why I'm gonna miss you lol.
I was talking to Cath earlier and was worrying, in a year or so I'M going to be the oldest in the Scooby gang! GUH! Its scary heh.

[hathy-col.livejournal.com]

*stunned*

There's a vast swathe on that I have, and a lot that I suspect I won't need.

My mother is standing over my shoulder as I type, howling something incomphrensible about vases and coke bottles. I think the list just broke her brain, she's muttering now about blouses, I suspect.

"WHY THE WHITE ONE? WHY? ARE THEY GOING TO BE DOING WAITRESSING?"

Crazy lady. And thanks.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

*pets you*
*pets your mum*

I am going to a crazy university with crazy requirements. The white shirt is for me to wear under subfusc and look silly. I'm sure you are far more prepared than I am.

[mettanna.livejournal.com]

Oh god i'm unprepared :\ The only other thing i can think of that may be of some use is a small sewing kit. Maybe that's only of use to me as my clothes are all falling apart, but you never know :) I feel the need to make yet another List..

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

I'm drowning in lists. It's a compulsion! *panics*

[katemonkey.livejournal.com]

Ball gown????

Jeez...

[gamesiplay.livejournal.com]

I kind of boggled at "ball gown," too.

I ought to be reading, so I haven't looked at all of the comments and may be repeating other people. Also, some of these things may be American-college items that aren't as relevant to you guys.
--Some sort of bulletin board/dry-erase board (don't know what your living situation is like, though, so dry-erase might not be as necessary as it is here)
--Lots of extra plastic/ziploc-type bags. You need them for EVERYTHING.
--Flashlight or the like. After the power went out two times in a week here, I really wished I'd brought something like this.
--Highlighters
--I was going to say "lots of change for laundry," but I don't know how your laundry system works. In the same vein, some sort of hamper for dirty clothes.
--Stapler, hole punch, pencil sharpener, paper clips, scissors, and similar.
--Lots and lots of tape.

That's off the top of my head.

[vampire-kitten.livejournal.com]

I kind of boggled at "ball gown," too.

It is useful - union ball/ winter balls in Michealmas and for summer balls/annual dinners in Trinity.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

That is very much an Oxford-specific thing, I think. Sigh.

I don't know how your laundry system works.

Neither do I. Oh god I am so unprepared. What kind of tape? Sellotape?

[likethesun2.livejournal.com]

I brought along every kind of tape known to man: duct tape, both brown and clear Scotch packaging tape, and the normal little rolls of tape. You can never have too much.

(Scotch is, I think, the closest American equivalent to Sellotape.)

[lilka.livejournal.com]

Sewing kit. Will come in handy at some point or another. Cigarette lighter (carry at all times - it's the easiest way to make friends in a crowded bar). Lots and lots of tissues (as you so rightly say, freshers' flu - nasty). Chess set - if you play at all, I guarantee this will come in handy, for drinking games if nothing else.

Old notes, on the other hand, are almost certain to be useless; but take them anyway, because there's bound to be at least one essay for which the perfect example for a point is buried somewhere in your AS work.

Good luck! I'll maybe drop in on you one weekend.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks. And yes, it would be so good to see you! Especially when I'm sitting in my room 'cause I have no friends.

The Lanky Bugger

[(Anonymous)]

Can never have too many mugs: trust me on this. Wineglasses look nice but will be broken within the first week, wine from mugs is fine; pintglass is better. *grin* (red beats white as it's still drinkable at room temp. brandy is also good)
can lend/give you a multihead screwdriver if you want, posses about seven. Um, big pot of biros, esspresso maker and a tub of PVA glue -craft standrd fine. Can't think I used anything else at rossall, When are you going down?

Re: The Lanky Bugger

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Beginning of October, but I'm away from Sept 26th. What on earth do I need glue for?

Re: The Lanky Bugger

[(Anonymous)]

In my case, for repairing a wooden school sheild from the hall we broke, but you never know when you might need it for chairs and um, pictureframes ect

Re: The Lanky Bugger

[(Anonymous)]

actually, superglue would be better - for all the mugs.
*grin*