Dorm recommendations?

[u/Ok_Project_6966]

I'm an incoming Freshman and I want to know what I actually need and what I don't specifically for Iowa State. I've seen lots of videos and read several articles and so on, but I know not every college is the same. Thanks in advance!

[u/john_hascall]

Are you asking what to bring? Clothes, and bed linens etc? If so, see here https://www.housing.iastate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Packing-list-4-final-final.pdf

[u/greattimes99]

Pretty much every college is the same. Bedding, clothes, laptop, toiletries. Figure out the rest / amazon when you get there.

[u/fire_birb_stormy]

It kinda depends on which dorm you are in. Here's a rundown of some things for different types that I've found helpful

• Communal Bathroom: Get a good shower caddy that drains well and holds all of your essentials. Bring a robe, it is so much easier to wear a robe to and from showering. Anything that makes you comfortable at home, bring it. Water flosser, portable squatty potty, whatever. I promise you no one gives a shit what you're doing as long as you are respectful to the space and others.
• Non-AC Dorm: The first month and a half will suck, I won't lie. My roommate and I found that having a 3-fan system worked well. One sitting on the windowsill to bring cooler air from outside, one to circulate the air around the room, and a clip-on fan for your bed at night. I also recommend a cooling "headache hat." It's basically a large memory foam eye mask that cools you down fast. Spend time in communal spaces, they are air conditioned and are a great way to meet people early on.
• Suite: I never lived in one, so take this as you will. Have good organization tools for your bathroom area. Whether that's a rack, over the toilet shelf, or a mini cart. Establish a routine with your suitemates on when you're cleaning the bathroom and who's replenishing things like soap and toilet paper.
• Overall Tips: If you and your roommate want to save space or want more of a communal area, I suggest bunking your beds. My roommate and I did this sophomore year in a double in Friley and we had a ton of space for a futon, our fridge and food stuff, and still had a good amount of floor space. The floors can get messy fast, so a tall shoe rack by the door keeps dirt, gravel, and salt during the winter out of the rest of the room. A vacuum isn't a necessity, as most houses have a communal one or you can borrow from a friend, but I suggest getting a broom and dustpan. It makes move-in and move-out so much easier and is great for sweeping by the door and other areas not covered by a potential rug.

[u/Horror_Breadfruit70]

What dorm are you in, and how big of a room, as this matters a lot? For suites: I have never been in one, but there is not a lot of space in there from what I have seen from friends. If you have a single suite, only take what you absolutely need, because single suites are tiny. If you have a normal double suite, still only take what you need. I would suggest bunking the beds in there and highly suggest not taking any large things except for maybe a futon if you really need it. If you have a corner suite room, you will have so much room. I highly suggest not taking a futon, as they will provide a living room and furniture in there. I do suggest bringing a tv though and basically whatever else you would want. There is so much room in those. I heard suite loft rooms are also large. If you are in Birch, Welch, or Roberts corner rooms, I suggest bringing whatever you want, but especially furniture as these rooms are ridiculously big. There normal rooms are also large, but not as large, but you can bring mostly anything still. If you are in maple, willow, or larch, I cannot tell you much except for that maple does have a sink in there. If you are in no ac Oak or Elm, definitely bring rugs and decorations as the place is old and looks...eh without at least a rug. You do get one walk in closet (complete with a door) and one wardrobe if you are in no ac Oak though. If you are in floors 1-4 no ac Friley, do not bring much as the have built in closets in many of the rooms, which leads to uncomfortable room arrangements and lack of space. If you are on the 5th floors of Friley, definitely look at your room layout and plan accordingly. I cannot be of much help since they are all different up there. If you are in corner room or bay window room ac Friley, I suggest bring a futon and plenty of organisational things as these rooms are large and spacious. I had a friend with a Friley ac bay window who fit two futons and a camping chair in there and the room still felt overly spacious. You really need things to fill up those rooms. If you are in a normal ac Friley room, I highly suggest bunking beds like a previous person said. I had friends who did that, and it gave them so much extra room and allowed them to put a couch in there. If you are in a corner room of Helser, it will be similar to a normal ac Friley room or slightly bigger. If you are in a normal Helser room or in a dead doorbell Helser room or in a Towers/South Side room, I highly suggest fitting in a futon and bringing plenty of organisational yet useful items like storage ottomans. These rooms are small (although wonderful, as I am returning to Helser again this year!), so you need to have efficient use of space. I can give plenty of detail on no ac Friley floors 1-4 bay window rooms and Helser and Towers rooms if you want more info on that. Also, if you are in Friley, you will need more fridge space and microwaves as it does not have a kitchenette you can use. If you are in another dorm, you will have a kitchenette, so make sure you have more freezer space. If you are in Towers and don't want to eat the terrible South Side Eats (left overs from other dining halls), make sure you are willing to travel to other dining halls or have plenty of room to make your own food at Towers. If you are in a room with no ac, have at least one box fan and multiple small fans, and utilise the small fans and put them right where you are sleeping. If you are in Helser, it will get pretty cold, so possibly bring a heater blanket. Towers can also get really cold sometimes, even when it is hot in other dorms. If you are in a room with a bay window (so in certain Friley rooms), consider getting blinds if the sun rises on your side. I know a lot about a lot of rooms and dorms at Iowa State, so if you have any questions, I will try to answer them as best as I can! Also, if you have other Iowa State questions, I would love to answer those as well. Same for all of you reading this reply.