From drying mats to sewing kits, URochester students and Residential Life staff share the college dorm essentials they wish someone had told them about.
Packing for college? Start with the University of Rochester’s official Residential Life packing list, which covers what’s already provided in residence halls, what students may want to bring, and what items aren’t permitted.
Then make room for the items that don’t appear on any official list: the ones students at URochester end up buying by October, borrowing in December, or wishing they’d packed before leaving home. We asked students and Residential Life staff a simple question: What’s one thing you didn’t bring that you ended up needing?
Answers ranged from a drying mat and sewing kit to a hammock and a rubber shoe mat. And because this is Rochester, a coat and gloves that mean business.
Here are some additions to consider for your unofficial URochester college packing list.
One outfit that says, “Yes, I own something besides a hoodie”
Most days on campus skew casual. But sooner or later there will be a reason to look like you own an iron: a research presentation, a concert or recital, or an interview for one of URochester’s internship opportunities.
That’s why Reddit user SlowResearch2, responding to an incoming student asking what to bring to URochester, offered one addition that hadn’t appeared on most other lists: a nice outfit. Students may wear casual clothes to class every day, the user noted, but “there will sometimes be an event where you have to dress up nice. So just bring one.”
You may need it sooner than you think: Eastman’s New Student Semi-Formal Dance traditionally lands during Welcome Week, and events such as the annual Boar’s Head Dinner in December give River Campus students a reason to dress up, too.
A shower caddy—and its best friend, the drying mat
For many first-year students, college introduces a new daily routine: gathering everything needed for a shower and carrying it down a hallway.
Shower shoes or slippers are high on the list for Kaycee Viator, a Residential Life area coordinator. Add a caddy for toiletries, and the trip to and from a communal bathroom becomes much simpler. A mesh caddy has another advantage: It dries quickly.
“The drying mat is an underrated essential.”
“The shower caddy definitely saved me in my freshman year when I had to use the communal bathroom,” says Maliki Hawkins ’27. “It was so easy to carry soaps and other toiletries with the caddy when I had to walk farther to the actual shower. Instead of having to take multiple trips to carry things, I was able to do it in one.”
Then there’s the question of where a wet towel and dripping caddy go once you’re back in the room. Adelyne “Addie” Jareo ’27, a resident advisor in a first-year residence hall, recommends a drying mat for underneath. “The drying mat is an underrated essential,” she says.
A Twin XL mattress topper for a touch of comfort
Most residence hall mattresses are Twin XL, so make sure your bedding is, too. For students who prefer a softer or more cushioned bed, a mattress topper can make a standard-issue mattress feel a little more luxurious after a busy day.
Noise-canceling headphones—because your roommate keeps different hours
When your bedroom is also your study space—not to mention someone else’s bedroom—the ability to create a little quiet can be surprisingly valuable. Noise-canceling headphones can help with studying; for sleeping, a small white-noise machine can help mask hallway conversations, closing doors, or a roommate on a different schedule.
A passport—Toronto is closer than you think
A passport isn’t on most dorm packing lists. At URochester, there’s a good argument for bringing one: Canada is close enough to make Toronto or the Canadian side of Niagara Falls a tempting road-trip destination.
Keep in mind this important distinction: A standard REAL ID is not, by itself, a border-crossing document. For US citizens traveling to and from Canada by land, acceptable documents can include a US passport, passport card, Enhanced Driver’s License, or certain trusted-traveler cards. Whatever document you bring, keep it stored securely in your room.
p.s. Our alumni offer plenty of picks for the perfect long weekend in the T.O.
A basic sewing kit—for the unexpected snag
This is the kind of item that sits in a drawer for two months and then earns its keep in about four minutes. “Even if you don’t know how to sew, you’ll be grateful it’s there when you nick your favorite pants or sweater on a corner in November,” says Jackson Wimpsett ’29.
A basic kit with needles, a few colors of thread, safety pins, and spare buttons takes up less space than a deck of cards.
“Even if you don’t know how to sew, you’ll be grateful it’s there when you nick your favorite pants or sweater on a corner in November.”
A rubber shoe mat—for the Rochester winter you’ll track inside
Rochester winters arrive indoors too, tracked in on the soles of everyone’s boots. Wimpsett recommends putting a rubber shoe mat in the room before winter arrives. “You don’t realize the space wet shoes take up until they’re inside,” he says.
A mat by the door gives boots a designated spot to drip and keeps meltwater off your rug.
A hammock or picnic blanket—to join your squad on the quad
When campus turns brilliant in fall or blooms in spring, you’ll want to soak up every glorious minute. Jareo recommends bringing a hammock or picnic blanket for listening to the Rush Rhees carillon, studying al fresco, grabbing a power nap, or simply claiming a patch of grass with friends.
Pro tip: You can always sign out a hammock from the Campus Information Center at Wilson Commons.
A laundry bag you can actually carry
Every URochester residence hall has laundry facilities. The bigger question is how you’re going to get your clothes there. A sturdy or mesh laundry bag can be easier to carry than a basket, especially if the laundry room is on another floor. And don’t forget detergent.
A long charging cable—you don’t know where the outlets are yet
You don’t yet know where the outlets will be in your residence hall room—or where your bed and desk will end up once you and your roommate start arranging things. A long phone or USB charging cable gives you flexibility.
Just remember that a long charging cable is different from an extension cord. Before bringing electrical equipment, check the current Residential Life packing and fire-safety guidelines; electronics and appliances used in residence halls must meet University safety requirements.
The Rochester weather survival kit
August-you and February-you may have very different opinions about Rochester weather.
For the warmer weeks at the beginning of the academic year, Viator recommends a compact oscillating fan. Come winter, she recommends a thick coat, hat, and gloves—“especially relevant for our city depending on how nice Mother Nature wants to be to us,” she jokes.
And don’t underestimate the gloves. Before coming to Rochester, Chloe Yokitis ’28 says, she had never been “a gloves person.” URochester changed her mind. “I brought my gloves to Rochester, and I’m so glad I did,” she says. “They kept me so cozy and really worked wonders against the wind and snow.”
One more small-weather essential: a compact umbrella that actually fits in your backpack or tote. Rochester can serve up a sunny morning, drizzly afternoon, and chilly evening in a single day.
Pro tip: While you acclimate to Rochester winters, take advantage of the River Campus tunnel system under Eastman Quad.
Something that reminds you of home
Not everything on a college packing list needs to solve a logistical problem. Bring the framed photo that has always had pride of place on your dresser. The stuffed animal you’ve had since childhood. A favorite T-shirt or blanket. The tea you can only get at home. Even a simple sticker that you can affix to your laptop.
You don’t need to recreate your childhood bedroom. One or two meaningful objects can go a long way toward making an unfamiliar space begin to feel like your room.
And finally: Don’t bring everything
Residence hall rooms are smaller than you think. Your roommate is bringing things, too. And plenty can be borrowed or purchased after move-in, once you know what you actually need and use.
Bring the essentials. Bring a few things you love. And leave yourself some room to figure out the rest once URochester starts feeling like home.
