I recommend bringing clothes for fall. You can switch them out as the seasons change, or accumulate even more clothes like I did. Personally, I didn't think the weather was ever too cold but pack for your weather tolerance. 

These were pretty useful even before COVID. My roommate and I used them to wipe the dust off of our desks, ladders, etc. occasionally. 

While it’s perfectly acceptable to mainly use cash, the only way you’re going to be able to do your laundry is with a card. 

You’re definitely going to need one of these. The lighting in your room isn’t good enough at night, especially if you have the loft bed. This is one of the items that I forgot to purchase before coming to UCI.

There are only so many outlets in the room so I ended up using 2 myself. I recommend finding ones that have an on and off switch so you can turn off lights if you have any hanging in your room.

It can get quite hot in Irvine so, I would recommend one fan per room since there’s no AC in the dorms. I recommend the Vornado Air Circulator Fan from Costco (I would link it but I can’t find it on the website). Personally, I haven’t had a single good experience with a tower fan, so I wanted to give another type a try. The best part of this fan is that it actually circulates the air and cools you down.

I think that we should just have some on us at all times, especially since COVID hit. 

The type of hanger you use is purely up to your preference. I decided to use non-slip velvet hangers. I was tired of my clothes slipping off of the plastic ones I had at home, so I wanted to try something different for my dorm closet.

I used Tide Pods, but anything really works. I think it’s better to have one of the compact types. It’s easier to throw in a couple pods with your laundry than to measure your detergent. 

You have to put your dirty clothes somewhere. I stumbled upon a hamper with wheels while looking around for laundry baskets, and instantly knew I wanted this one. These are especially great if you don’t live on the same floor as the laundry room.

You would think this was obvious, but I honestly forgot. I had to use a cr*ppy cheap pillow from Target for the first month. 

Pretty much everyone has a reusable water bottle. There’s plenty of refill stations around campus, including one in your hall. I don’t really think the brand matters as long as you’re happy with the one you get. Seeing the damage plastic does to this planet was enough to convince me to get one of these. #sustainability

Make sure you get these in size Twin XL.

It is likely best to discuss with your roommates and assess how many shoes you plan to bring. I had quite a few pairs, so I got one that hung on my closet door.

Personally, I recommend the mesh shower caddies over the plastic ones, since they are made out of more flexible material and seem to allow your toiletries to dry faster

I recommend that you bring at least 2 so you can switch every so often.

This is nice to have to put electronics and whatever else you want in at the end of the night. 

Since I'm water is my only drink of choice, I tend to be what one calls a water snob. I've never liked SoCal water so I knew I wanted a filter when I chose to go to college here. I got mine from Costco along with the many refills you can get but you can find this anywhere.

There are multiple white boards in your hall so the likelihood of you using them at least once is high. I used these when working on math problems I struggled to figure out on paper since the number of attempts you've made bears no consequence.

I love instant cameras. I think they’re a great tool to capture memories. Yes, your phone works fine, but something about having an instant picture feels different. For beginners, I highly recommend Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 9 or 11. They’re consistent and the film is cheaper. You can really find these anywhere, but I think Amazon usually has the best deals if you care about the price. 

If you have delicates, I think you should get a bag for them when doing laundry as a layer of protection from the rest of your clothes.

This is more of a luxury than a necessity. I thought that this made the bed more comfortable, but one of my roommates slept without one and she was fine. Again, make sure you get it in Twin XL. I got mine from Macy’s for a fairly reasonable price, but I’m pretty sure that’s long gone. Just keep an eye out for a good deal.

Again, this is more of a luxury than a necessity. I lucked out because one of my roommates kindly offered to share the mini-fridge she brought from home. It’s nice to be able to keep your food in the room and you’re much less likely to run into your hallmates’ nasty expired food. It’s also nice to refrigerate your Brita to further rid the water of the odd taste. 

I enjoy taking pictures, and like to display some of my better shots. I used a combination of Costco 4x6 prints and my vast (and continuously growing) collection of instant pictures.

This was one of my photo displaying options that fit the aesthetic I was trying to go for.

These were littered around my desk. I think they're cute and I sometimes shook the ones that held my instant pictures when I was bored. It's a great way to display your instant and printed photos.

Every room has a wall where you can stick pins in. I think it’s good to have these whether you want to decorate the wall with pictures and other memorabilia or save important cards and papers. I would recommend a specific set, but I think you should go with whichever fits your preferences or theme.

Reusable plates, bowls, and silverware were nice for leftovers, especially when your takeout container isn't microwave friendly. You can get some nicer quality ones to use when you move out of the dorms. I bought mine from the UTC Target.

You’re going to need these. Trust me. These are something you can also purchase in Irvine. I just put these in the bottom drawer of my desk. They’re good for while you study or to toss in your backpack when you go to campus for class or to change study spots. 

It was really nice to have these to keep my snacks sealed over rubber bands because I didn’t have to worry about them possibly breaking every time I used them.

I think they’re just good to have just in case. I’m not one to use these to take notes using sticky notes (especially now that I’ve switched to digital note taking). However, I used these to pin notes to my bulletin board, to bookmark important papers, and very occasionally to leave notes on my roommates’ desks. 

I love lights, too. So much so that I started with two sets in my corner of the room (we had a weird triple layout). I ended up taking down one of the sets because the warm and cool tones clashed. From that I say, if you get multiple strands, make sure they’re the same tone. Personally, I like the Target’s Room Essentials lights. They tend to be pretty affordable and good quality.

There are several nearby beaches and there’s a pool at the ARC. You never know when you might use it. This is also coming from someone who swam year-round for ten years of her life.

It rains in SoCal. Rarely, but it still happens and I’d say it’s better to be safe than sorry. You can literally find these anywhere, but I bought mine from Costco. No surprises there I assume.