Freshman year dorm shopping checklist

The bed bath and beyond checklist sucks. Don’t waste $.

Don’t go to bed bath and beyond and get their list of all the stuff you will have to buy, even if your parents are going to buy it all. It’s fine to go to bed bath and beyond, but don’t use their list.

My mom wasted money on some of this stuff. Only things you’ll use: bed sheets, mattress topper (maybe — I didn’t use mine, many students do), some sort of set of plastic drawers, hangers, batteries, shower caddy, towels, ethernet cable (maybe — every few months the wifi gets spotty or slow, ethernet is always fast), power board/power strip, laundry basket + detergent (though you can just use a large bag, too).

Things from the bed bath and beyond list that are not used by most students:

• cleaning supplies (other than maybe tissues, a thing of clorox wipes, and some laundry pods)
• knives/forks/etc
• tupperware for food storage
• anything more than 2 sets of sheets (you just need bottom sheet, pillow cover, and a comforter — the box sets are pretty good)
• desk lamp (probably)
• ziploc bags
• umbrella
• shoe storage (for most guys)
• mirror
• too many storage boxes (just get those stacking plastic drawers)
• flashlight
• tool kit
• lock box/safe
• wastebasket
• iron — maybe worth it. someone in your dorm will have one, though
• towel rack

Alternatively, sign up for Amazon Prime (it’s fucking great), get the free student trial, and order everything there. Use this address format:

Student First and Last Name — SUNet ID [sunet ID is the username you picked for your Stanford email]

459 Lagunita Drive (Address 1)

FedEx Office Tresidder — P.O. Box # (Address 2)

Stanford, CA 94305 (City, State, & ZIP)

Example:

Jane Stanford — jstanford

459 Lagunita Drive

FedEx Office Tresidder — P.O. Box #1234

Stanford, CA 94305

Where should I buy a bike?

Consider ordering one on Amazon.

The campus bike store is pretty expensive, though that said it’s also really convenient and they set you up with anti-theft stuff which is useful. You can buy a bike on Amazon and have them add the anti-theft stuff, I believe.

They will try and upsell you on the $80 support package. It’s not worth it.

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