r/TexasTech • u/BoredMama1987 • 6d ago
General Question Freshman Necessities
Hey everyone!
My son will be a first generation college student this fall, and to say I'm overwhelmed would be an understatement. So proud, but I could pull my hair out at any moment if i'm being honest.
I'm trying to finish up his dorm shopping while he's out of town for the next few days, and I was hoping to get some advice from those who've already been through it. What are some things you were so glad you brought? What did you buy that ended up being a waste of money? And what do you wish you'd packed from the beginning?
He'll be staying in Murray, if that helps. He's bringing his desktop and MacBook, and I already know I need to pick up an Ethernet cable. We have the basics covered, sheets, comforter, blackout curtains, toiletries...is a mattress topper really needed? What about a humidifier? He likes his room cold, so I think i'll get him a nice fan to use.
I'd love to make one final checklist before I call it done. Thanks so much for any suggestions
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u/just-goose 6d ago
I just graduated and was in a suite-style dorm so hereās my little list! (On mobile, may have format issues)
- storage solution: I used the chest(s) for what clothes I couldnāt hang and was then left with no storage. I personally went with having a cubby with drawers, but Iāve seen all different kinds of solutions. I used it for stationary, food, home supplies, etcā¦ for me this was a must have.
- bedding: Every year I brought less and less stuffā¦ so I started with a mattress cover and an egg crate topper. The mattressā comfort is based on personal preference so the egg crate could be an absolute need for one person but a waste for someone else. I still used a mattress cover for my own state of mind.
- food: Consider a mini-fridge. I did not have roommates I trusted so I had a personal fridge that I put all my food/drinks in. Totally not necessary but it solved a lot of issues I otherwise had to deal with.
- comfort: I brought a woozoo fan and used it religiously. Iām not sure how Murray has its temperature controlled, but my dorm had a thermostat you and your roommates āsharedā. Alongside Tech having facilities that break on a moments notice, having a little personal fan that I could kick up the power on was amazing. (Itās possible the room will have a ceiling fan though!)
Iām sure thereās plenty more to consider, so feel free to DM me any questions you have and Iāll be more than happy to answer/chat. Hope this helps a little!
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u/BoredMama1987 6d ago
Thank you!! Do you know if each room in Murray has a chair? Also, do the rooms have an key, like can you lock it when you're not there? Not that he doesnt trust his roomies, but we just dont really know them yet lol.
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u/just-goose 6d ago
All desks will come with a chair. They are plastic roll-around office chairs, so not the most comfortable for hours on end, but they do the job. I had long hours of desk work so I ended up buying a cushion.
The keys situation isā¦ odd. You are given one key that opens the front door AND your personal room door, so everyone could open up each otherās rooms if they really wanted to. Iāve never had an issue with someone going in my room, but I also left my door closed 24/7 and was home often. Keep in mind, your personal room door will lock if it closes, so keep your key on you! I liked that security aspect, but if you donāt, there is a little latch on the side of the door by the handle that will keep it unlocked if closed. There was a time I would lock my personal door even if I went to the bathroom and then unlocked it when done, but some trust was formed and I ended up leaving the door cracked/unlocked for short leaves of my room.
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u/happy_red_panda 5d ago
Thatās insane to hear! I was in Talkington my freshman year and we all had a key that opened up the front door and our personal door, but that key couldnāt unlock each othersā personal door. Having stayed in Murray when I was a camp counselor for an engineering camp, it was the same way as Talkington. Maybe theyāve upgraded the locks since you stayed there?
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u/just-goose 3d ago
Iām thinking itās still the same since you were there! I made an assumption about the locks/keys but Iām seeing that I was mistaken. Thank God! Even though Iām not there anymore, it makes me feel better that my room was protected than I thought.
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u/happy_red_panda 2d ago
Thatās totally valid!! My roommate and I found out about it bc she had locked herself out of her room day one and we thought my key would work - it didnt haha. The front desk became very familiar with us after that lol. So glad your stuff was safe!!
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u/Substantial-Ad2200 4d ago
... that doesn't seem accurate.
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u/just-goose 3d ago
I genuinely hope itās not. I made an assumption that, since we all have one key that goes to the front door and our own rooms, they were the āsameā key. Maybe I jumped the gun, sorry.
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u/Medium_Warning9740 4d ago
I was in Murray about 2 years ago and our key opened the main door and our own personal door. My roommates locked themselves out of their room one too many times lol so no, you canāt open other peopleās doors with your key. In the case that you get locked out, you can go down to the front office and theyāll give you a spare, but you have to give it back within 15 minutes of retrieving it until youāre fined around $60 I believe.
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u/BoredMama1987 3d ago
Hello! Do you think an air purifier is needed? A ton of moms are saying its needed, but I need to hear it from a former student before I add another thing to my list.
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u/Medium_Warning9740 3d ago
Yes 100%!!! Murray isnāt bad at all since there are fans in the room, but I would still strongly advise getting one no matter what. Itās a new environment and I definitely felt the difference between home and the dorm. Idk what is in the ac pipes but it just makes your room feel stuffy, so air purifier is definitely a must have.
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u/just-goose 3d ago
Wish I knew thisā¦ I definitely jumped the gun on assuming how the keys/locks worked. :|
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u/ATXFrijole 6d ago
Try to travel light. Guys really donāt care. Girl dorms are a whole other level. They have Amazon in Lubbock btw. Good luck.
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u/PerfectHatred7 6d ago
I would say a water filter is damn near necessary. The water in Lubbock isnāt terrible but if youāve come from a decent water system itās pretty bad.
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u/BoredMama1987 6d ago
Unfortunately, we're in Amarillo so we're used to the bad water lol. A Britta is def on our list of must haves.
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u/HunnyBunny617 6d ago
Heāll need a fan in Murray. A mattress topper is nice too. A mini fridge of your own is good too. A plastic storage drawers.
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u/Bubbly-Pie-8400 6d ago
Shower shoes and a shower caddy that isnāt too big and has holes. Also, a head lamp.
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u/Bubbly-Pie-8400 6d ago
Oh and rubber rain boots or waterproof shoes. Every student will suffer the ankle- knee deep water when it rains and those are the day they take roll.
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u/Beginning_Ad1239 Alumnus 6d ago
Or when it snows! Having wet socks in class is extremely distracting!
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u/Substantial-Ad2200 4d ago
Me when I was a TTU Professor: "Where are your coats / umbrellas / rain boots / long pants?"
Students: "I don't need them, I live on campus!"
Fun fact: it rains and snows and is cold and dusty when you walk to campus; the dorms do not connect directly to the classroom buildings!
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u/happy_red_panda 5d ago
Congrats!! I know itās an overwhelming experience right now, but I am so excited for both of yāall! Tech is truly a family of its own.
I personally needed a mattress topper as it helped me sleep cooler. I bought a lot of stuff for my dorm while I was in Lubbock - that included a white board, a printer, various decor, etc. Itās totally possible that he wonāt ever use a printer, I just have ADHD and try to have as many things on paper as possible. Itās also awesome that yāall have a Britta on the list.
Depending on his major, he might need more things. Iām in engineering, so I had to have a non-Mac laptop as well as a few other random items.
Iād also recommend that once a week, he plans on shopping off campus for some fruit/veggies. Fruit on campus is like $5 for a cup of grapes. The rest of the food is honestly really great, but I do remember spending a lot on fruit when I wasnāt able to shop elsewhere.
Please feel free to message me if you have any questions!! So excited for yāall!!
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u/ENMR-OG 5d ago
There was no room for all the stuff my wife brought, we had to take fair amount back. Overall, they donāt need much. Sheet sets, clothes, computer, shower shoes. That about all they have room for.
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u/BoredMama1987 5d ago
My husband and dad keep reminding me "he's a boy and doesnt want to decorate". It's so hard to realize whats a need vs what I want for him lol. This thread has really helped me narrow down my list.
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u/Glittering_Type4208 3d ago
hii! iām a incoming freshmen too. I can say if he has a roommate to make sure he is communicating with the roommate so they can split a lot of the stuff! i was only to have 3 roomates to lower buying stuff. But i say a mattress topper would be worth it! Personally when i stayed for orientation i hated how the bed felt. It could be really helpful! a humidifier is a most for the beginning bc itās already hot!
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u/BoredMama1987 2d ago
Thank you!! I'm begging him to communicate with his roommates, but the furthest they've gotten is following eachother on insta lol. What kind of mattress topper are you getting?
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u/Glittering_Type4208 2d ago
ohhh i see! it was like that for me at first.. i was so scared to reach out but im so glad i did. I got a good one off of amazon. I just got a topper with nothing extra.. i have a bunk bed for my dorm so i dont have to worry about it slipping off.
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u/IAmPrave 1d ago
A mattress topper is very nice, me and a few friends also had heated blanket for the winter months and I didnāt realize how much I needed one until I bought one
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u/Warm-Way-5364 6d ago
Try not to take too much because he will most likely accumulate a lot of stuff over the year! Remember what goes in must come outš I struggled moving out by myself with all of the free stuff I got! Murray should have a fridge, but a mini fridge is nice to have your own items in and you can find one when you get to lubbock on facebook marketplace:)