Things we need for uni?

[Killer]

Hi

Im going to liverpool this september if i get the grades which hopefully i should. I've started to get some things together already as im going on holiday soon and wont be back until a few days before uni begins so wont have time wen i get back. Can people who are already at liverpool list some of the main things we shud be packing and main stuff we're going to need for the start of uni? that will really help as im quite clueless at the moment :S

thanks!!

[Killer]

Just what i was looking for:

from : http://www.realuni.com/index.php?page=whattotaketohalls

HOW MUCH TO TAKE

No doubt you've got a lot of stuff in your bedroom. How much are you going to take with you?
Remember, unless you've seen the hall you're going to move into on an open day, you won't know how big the room will be.
You can only take as much stuff as will fit in your car.
A fully-loaded averaged sized car is as much as you should take. My mum took me to Uni in an old Metro that was stuffed full. This was about right for me, though others that could fit in a bit more did (probably wise).

Don't over-do it though. Unless you've got a Mini or a Porsche, there's no point in hiring a white van to bring all your stuff. A car load's worth should be right for your room size. You'll also acquire a lot of stuff over the term, which can prove difficult when it comes to taking it home again!

What to Take

Firstly, you need to separate what you're going to take into two categories; what you really need and what would be nice if there was room.

Once you've filled the car with what you have to take, you can decide what else you would like to take.

What you really need

Let's start with the basics. Print this off and use as a checklist if you want. Also, if you find we've missed anything you think is vital, email us from the contact page.

Bedding

1 or 2 pillows
Quilt
Underblanket (between mattress and sheet)
2 sets of bed covers

Clothes

lots of them
take enough to not have to do washing often
lots of socks is essential, as they go missing from laundry
DJ/tuxedo/posh frock and posh shoes for formal dinners
Party/Clubbing wear
Sports Equipment (football boots etc)
School Uniform for School Disco

Wash Stuff

toothbrush and toothpaste
soap/showergel
all your makeup/beauty products
Flip Flops
take lots of soap and get a soap dish, otherwise you'll drop it on the way to the shower and the soap will get fluffy.

Kitchen Stuff

many sets of cheap cutlery, as they go missing very easily.
2 dinner plates and 2 bowls
2 mugs
2 pint glasses
2 saucepans - 1 large and 1 medium/small
1 frying pan - preferably non stick
1 big oven tray - good for lots of chips
1 wooden spoon for stirring
1 colander for pasta draining (don't try using the saucepan lid)
1 chopping board
1 sharp knife
Washing up liquid and sponge thing
TIP: tea towel and oven glove - take these and make sure you keep them safe. Otherwise these will become communal and get ruined really quickly.

TIP: take 2 packs of those sponge things for washing dishes. They will get messy really quickly, so it's good to change round often.

Work Stuff

backpack or bag of some sort
folders for work
polypocket things
well-stocked pencil case
remember scissors, holepunch, ruler, rubber, pencil sharpener, stapler, pritstick and blutack, and pins
Plenty of biros
Loads of dividers for your folders
Calculator, even if you're doing English

TIP: Keeping all your work organised is the secret of doing well: Make sure you have a folder for each subject.

TIP: Get the folders at the start of term, and keep it organised from the start. Even if you don't do any work in the evening to start with, make sure you've got all the notes, and in the right order.

TIP: If you have loads of courses at the same time, have 1 folder that you take to classes with the current work in it for every subject, and 1 (more likely 10) bigger folder(s) at home for each subject that has all the other work in it. This way, your work will be kept neat and uncrumpled, and you won't have to carry loads of stuff to Uni everyday. As the folder gets full, move some of the old stuff out and into the folders in your room. This way you only have to carry the stuff you need to University.

Stuff That Would Be Nice To Have

Computer, Hi-Fi, TV, Playstation and other electrical goods

From now on it's up to you. All these things are expensive, and most heavy and big. Make sure you get insurance for the expensive stuff.

1) TV

It helps fill those boring moments, not that you'll have many. It also helps to bring people into your room. Check whether you need to buy a license - they cost a lot of money.

2) Playstation

Fun, but you should have better things to be doing with your time. It'll get people into your room, especially with good multiplayer games, but then you need a TV as well...

3) Computer

Most people consider this vital, and I'm one of them. Let's look at the pros and cons.
For - you can play dvd's on it as well
For - you can play cd's on it so you don't need to bring your hi-fi
For - you might have internet access
For - you might actually need it for work too.
Against - it'll take up your entire desk.
For - what else do you need your desk for?
Against - if it's not a laptop, they're heavy and difficult to carry up the stairs and will take up all of your car.

Laptop vs Desktop.

If you're going to get a laptop, you don't have to buy the best one there is - as long as it has DVD and a CD writer you should be fine. You can then take the laptop into college and to the library should you need to.

If you're going to get a laptop, make sure you get one of those chainy things to lock it to your radiator to stop it getting nicked, and definitely get it insured.

Seriously, a normal computer will take up the whole room and your entire car. Best to get a laptop and then you can get loads of other stuff in.

4) Hi-Fi

I always needed some sort of music or radio, and quickly went mad without it. My stereo at home was huge, so I got a computer and started using that to play my CD's. Also, I had one of those radio-in-an-alarm-clock combo things too, so I was sorted!

Once again, hi-fis are one of these things that are big and heavy and will take up the whole car. If your computer will play CD's I suggest you do it that way.

TIP: If your going to use your computer to play your CD's, why not rip all your CD's on to the computer using something like Windows Media Player, so that your songs are mp3. This means there's less to carry and less to get nicked. Anyway, how often are you going to look in the sleeves???

The Rest

The rest of what you take is optional, but here's a list of things you will probably need.

alarm clock
watch
radio
desk lamp x 3 - You may need several of these as old student halls have a reputation of being quite dark. You shouldn't be paying for the electric anyway, so who cares? Get those cheapy ones from a well-known Swedish furniture manufacturer that cost about a fiver.
Sports equipment - you'll probably feel the need to start playing loads of sport once you get to university. Make sure you've got your football boots.
Rollerblades if you've got them.
Frisbees are good too.
Washing powder
Bin Bags
Laundry bag
Sleeping bag if you've got one.
Towels
Posters
First Aid Kit - plasters, aspirin, antiseptic cream, cotton wool
Mobile phone and charger - necessity for phoning home.
Tin Foil - use it to cover grill pans before putting chips etc on. This way the foil catches all the oil, and you don't have to wash the pan up. Sorted!
Umbrella
Washing Up Liquid
Camera - record your freshers week cos it will be wicked!!!
Condoms - maybe get them when your there so you don't have to explain to mum why you've got them.
Clothes Hangers
Kettle

Maybe don't bother with..

Drums
Video Players
Expensive Bikes - Bikes can be a good idea, but unless you've got one of those rack things for your car you won't fit it in so buy a cheap one there. Don't think about bringing your £1000 Downhill Mountain Bike either - bikes are top of the "likely to get nicked" list.
Ironing Board - The hall should have one but it will probably be crap. Best not to take one though as they are huge and really awkward to fit in the car.
Clothes Airer - You'll have driers for washing, and there should be airers there too. Get one at Uni if you really need one. Drying washing in your room makes it smell funny too (the room).
Toaster - It'll set off the smoke alarm in your room, and then you'll be in trouble. Use the one in the kitchen!
Blow-Up Chairs - You probably won't have enough room to put it up.

[Eponine_hugo]

Wow - thanx for that!!!

[Vixter]

right, havent read all that jazz, bvut ive had 4 years at uni now, so i think ive got an idea....firstly, are you catered or self catered?

[Eponine_hugo]

Dunno yet - put down for both.....

[butty]

With reference to the above list:

cutlery is best obtained from the dining room that way you dont mind when someone nicks it/lets it go green. ditto pint pots.

cups are a must

fridge would be nice but as necessary as a full tea set

plates/bowls can be nicked but prob best to buy thoes

paracetamol

coffee

plant is nice

teddy

money

coathangers

dressing gown

desk lamp

that;s about it

oh yeh and liver function

[Simon]

Simon's top five necessary items for university:

1) a desire to succeed
2) a desire to have fun
3) a desire to meet new people and to care for them beyond getting drunk with them for all of freshers' week. Not the best basis for a friendship.
4) a desire to start a new sport
5) a desire to be a good doctor one day

A clean pair of undies might well be handy too, as would a toothbrush. I've no idea what condoms would be used for. I thought they were just for water-proofing boling tubes in personal and social education at school.

Oh well.

[Bambi]

Hair straighteners! I don't know any girl at uni that doesn't have them, a few blokes have them too!

One of my friends has an inflatable couch and chair which are fun but not what you'd call a necessity.

[Vixter]

Ok, if you're catered, dont bother with an extensive crockery range - a plate a bowl and a mug, spoon fork knife should suffice. Maybe a pan if you like beans.

Take a rug or mat - will make getting out of bed for your 9am lectures that much easier if you dont have to put your feet on a cold hard floor.

Aspirin, plasters, paracetamol, ibuprofen, condoms, savlon, sore throat lozanges, lemsip - probably all will be used in freshers week.

computer.

You dont need insurance in D+R and proibably the rest of halls as it is included in the hall fee.

just off the top of my head that is.....will consider more when im on holiday.

Do think of me in rainy Prague :s

[eltombarno52]

Does anyone if we need a stethescope or sphygmomanometer or lab coat? I heard from some med schools that you need them for your first year. Anyone got an idea?

Tom