Beyond the Packing List

Although NMU Housing and Residence Life does offer a pretty extensive packing list, I still found myself looking further to make sure I wasn’t going to forget anything for my first semester. I moved into a Woods Private Bedroom Suite, so I packed relatively light due to the lack of shared space. Here, I want to share with you all of the things I brought, wish I brought and sent back home beyond the NMU Packing List. There may be things on this list that may not apply to you, so don’t feel obligated to bring everything. I linked most items to the items I purchased. Most links will direct you to either Target or Amazon, but you may find better deals elsewhere. I also created an Amazon list with almost everything on this list available with this link. While it is important to pack everything you need, and it is usually less stressful to get everything before you move in, if you forget something, you are not out of luck! Marquette does have Target, Walmart and Meijer for all of your shopping needs! However, certain things go quick and might sellout, especially during move in weekend. Thus, it is advised to get most everything beforehand!

Pro-Tips:

• For hot water, a Keurig with no pod in the machine will serve the purpose of an electric kettle.
• Mini-fridges with a separate fridge and freezer will keep frozen foods colder than mini fridges with the freezer inside of the refrigerator section. (Plus they have more space for smoothie fruit, ice cream, and whatever your sweet tooth desires). I had a mini cube fridge and I was never able to keep ice cream frozen and it didn’t have enough room for an ice tray.
• Facebook Marketplace can be a great place to find cheap second-hand microwaves, Keurigs, and mini-fridges. The NMU Hub app also has quite a few postings near the end of the summer (you can download this as soon as you have your NMU IN and email!).
• I recommend bringing a collapsible or soft-sided laundry hamper. Make sure it’s easy to carry to and from the laundry room.
• Speaking of laundry, our machines are high-efficiency, meaning that they don’t break down Tide Pods properly. Although you may be tempted to break the rules, they will ruin your clothes as the plastic sticks to them and the detergent stains. Instead, you can get single-use laundry detergent sheets. These were so much easier than hauling an entire bottle of detergent with me. Also, save a tree and use dryer balls! They’re reusable and cheap.
• If you take regular medicines, make sure to switch to a Marquette pharmacy before you move.
• I got an oversized full-length mirror and it became the famed OOTD selfie spot. You cannot go wrong.

Kitchen:

• 2 bowls, plates, forks, spoons, knives, etc. I got plastic plates and bowls from Target and they worked perfectly. Target also sells individual silverware pieces, but it’s not as much of a deal.
• At least two coffee mugs and tumblers (I rarely had time to drink coffee before I had to leave for class, so closed tops work great for the early morning boost)
• Reusable water bottles

Bed:

• Memory foam mattress pad/cushion. The Woods bed I had was also memory foam, and this combo was giving me the best sleep I’ve ever had.
• Throw Blanket
• Backrest pillow
• Laptop lap desk

Clothes:

• WARM clothes. Winters start early and end late in Marquette. Be prepared for snow.
• Comfy/Snuggie blanket
• Slippers. Or any shoe that’s comfortable and easy to slip on to wear to your friend’s room, dining hall, doing laundry, etc. 
• I would bring enough essentials (like socks, underwear, and everyday clothes like jeans, leggings, sweatpants, etc.) to last you around a week or more. The laundry rooms can back up pretty quickly (especially in the Woods), so only doing laundry when necessary was my way of life.
• Hangers (more than you think you’ll need)
• Space Saving Hangers Absolute game changer! Really helped save space!

Bathroom:

• TWO bathmats (sink and shower, coordinate with roommate/suitemates)
• Consider getting a tiered make-up cart for the shower. Overflow toiletries, towels, etc. will be easy to reach.
• Portable makeup mirror. The bathroom can sometimes get busy and I found it easiest to do my makeup at my desk everyday with one of these. 

Shared Space:

• Coat tree. I honestly don’t know very many people who had these but mine was so useful. With Michigan weather, it’s nice to have options on hand.
• Shoe rack/over-the-door shoe organizer
• Weather-proof shoe mat (salt, sand, and snow will track into your room during the winter and you’ll want to let them dry off on a mat).
• Wall decor. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but make sure you’re able to hang it up with 3M Command Strips or thumb-tacks. If you’re able, there are some cute stores in Marquette that have beautiful wall art for sale. I also had good luck on Etsy
• Cube shelf. I had a 2x2 shelf and it was nice to use as a bedside table and additional storage. If you do bring a TV, these can work nicely as a TV stand.
• Box fan. While the winters are long, the residence halls do not have AC (they do have heating though!). If you get warm, you can always open your window, but a fan is a nice addition!

Cleaning Supplies:

• Swiffer Mop
• Broom and dustpan
• Disinfectant wipes
• Shower cleaning supplies (spray and sponge)
• Window cleaner
• Trash bags (medium size)
• All-purpose spray cleaner
• Air freshener (no candles allowed)
• Paper towels
• Sponges with an abrasive pad
• Kleenex

School Supplies:

• Backpack. You will need one with a laptop sleeve. Although they aren’t the prettiest, I love my Northface backpack. It has plenty of room for notebooks, textbooks, writing utensils, and whatever else you might need that day.
• Wall calendar for your room. Making plans for the weekend? Not anymore because your wall calendar just reminded you of your 10-page paper due Monday.
• Calculator
• Laptop case. Just make sure it fits the schools’ ThinkPads if you’re planning to use them (13”x9”).
• Sticky notes

Miscellaneous:

• Ambient lighting. I’m not a huge fan of overhead lighting. A lot of students bring LED light strips or string lights, but I had a few smart light bulbs that I controlled with my phone via Bluetooth. Bring whatever you prefer, but I was able to double my desk lamp as ambient lighting when it got dark.
• Desk lamp (not clip-on, per campus rules). *note: Quad rooms come with an overhead desk lamp but my friends preferred a separate desk lamp instead.
• Airpods/Headphones. The residence halls can get a little loud sometimes, but I use mine all around campus.
• Bluetooth speaker or smart home speaker. Depending on the vibe, these are great for studying or having a few friends over.
• Board games/cards.
• Extension cord, extension cord, extension cord. Any of these would work fine. I used the last one and kept it at my desk. 
• Extra phone and laptop charger. Leave one charger in your backpack and one in your room. You don’t want to deal with a dead device during class.
• Tide Pen
• First-aid kit. Personally, it’s a good idea to make your own. Bring a little bit of everything you might need. Allergy meds, bandages, melatonin, TUMS, cold and flu medication, thermometer–anything you could need.
• Medical insurance card
• Card holder for your phone. I get it. They aren’t the prettiest, but everyone I know LOVED theirs. The only cards you will ever really need day-to-day are your student ID, driver’s license, and credit/debit card.
• HOUSE PLANTS. If you have anything close to a green thumb, consider bringing a couple of houseplants. They brought me joy on the hardest days and honestly helped me from being homesick a lot of the time. There are lots of plant stores in Marquette!
• Tool kit. You will use it.
• Air mattress. If you aren’t planning on bringing a futon, I would recommend getting a small air mattress in case guests stay the night. Make sure you have appropriate bedding and blankets available for this.

Things I Didn’t Need/Sent Back Home:

• TV. While it probably would’ve been nice to have my own TV, I was perfectly content with the TV in the residence hall lobby. These TVs are new, huge, and easy to use. Just make sure you bring an HDMI cord to connect your laptop for streaming.
• Printer. Honestly, with the price of paper and ink these days, it’s not worth getting your own printer. Cheap printers might entice you, but their printing quality is really bad and they’ll buy themselves over each time you have to get ink. The library has high-quality printing with various paper sizes for $.05 a page with B&W ink. It’s a steal.
• Airfryer, Toaster Oven, Toaster, and other kitchen equipment. I strongly recommend only bringing a microwave, mini fridge, and a coffee maker if you partake. I know a lot of people who brought an air fryer, but not many used them (same with toasters and toaster ovens). Unless you are sure you’ll crave late-night Eggo waffles and chicken nuggets, you should consider saving the space (plus all of these things can be purchased from Target, Meijer, or Amazon once you get here).
• More seating. There are lots of ways you can make more space for more seating, like lofting a bed and putting a futon underneath. I had a friend with a papasan chair that was really cute and comfortable. However, it took up so much space that left their room feeling cramped. I would recommend digging deep to determine if an extra chair is right for you and your space.
• Lots of jewelry. It was hard to find a good way to organize all of it and it ended up just getting very tangled. 

I hope you find this packing list useful. Obviously, everyone is different and my wants and needs differ from your wants and needs. When I was packing, I found the most comprehensive packing lists on Reddit. It can be a good idea to look online, ask friends or family too. Packing lists from online shopping sites are rarely useful or realistic for most students and schools. Make sure you have everything you need to make your transition comfortable, but also realize that a dorm room is not the size of a house to be sure to not bring too much stuff. Extra chairs, dressers and even desks aren’t necessary as they come with the room. Make sure to check out NMU’s housing page to answer any questions you may have! Most of all, remember — Have fun designing your room and we can’t wait to see you in the fall!