Things to Pack:
A Wii or a Nintendo Switch
Whether you got a Switch for Christmas a few years ago or you can find the old dusty Wii Console bought by your parents in 2008, you should pack a medium to play Mario Kart.This may be a strange first item, but there are benefits of being the friend who owns the Wii. Not everyone loves video games. Not everyone is good at video games. But everyone knows how to play Mario Kart. Inviting the residents of your section in for a game can be a good ice breaker, and you can include multiple players so your whole hallway can join in on the fun! The only issue is that converters and cables may be needed to hook up to a TV ... but this is a great way to make friends with the computer science majors in your dorm.
Surge Protector
Staying in the technology realm, a surge protector is a great addition to your dorm room shopping list. Like an extension cord, a surge protector provides many more outlets to maximize the items that need to be plugged in. The difference is that a surge protector prevents your devices from getting damaged due to spikes in voltage. As a volunteer firefighter in my local town, I would venture to say that dorm rooms are essentially just big flammable boxes. Don’t be the kid who thinks it's no biggie to plug a mini fridge into an extension cord.
A Second Monitor
Though it may take up extra space on your desk, having a second monitor will come in handy in many unexpected ways. I have saved a lot of time in note taking, essay writing and coding by plugging my laptop into a second monitor and doubling my screen visibility. This is a great item to plug into a surge protector.
Umbrella
That walk from your dorm to DeBart won't get any shorter, and South Bend will not get any less cloudy. You might not remember it every time. You might not have a hand to carry it when you arc already juggling a Hagerty coffee and a phone. But there will be a select few days where you're glad you're not the one sitting soaking wet in Duncan. This does not save you from the ridiculous amount of puddles on this campus, though ... there is no getting around those.
Shoe Rack
Unless you're my roommate, who has enough space to throw her shoes in a drawer, you should probably invest in a shoe rack. Nothing too big — even something that hangs over a door will do. It is just nice to have a place to keep everything from your shower shoes to your snow boots organized.
Mittens
Don’t laugh. When you want to prepare for the big snowball fight on the first snofall of the year, you’ll thank me.
Fan
Whether you are a lucky gentleman in Graham Family Hall staying cool as a cucumber, or a Lyonite sweltering in the August heat, everyone needs a fan. Regardless of AC, the air in dorm rooms will always become a bit stale. An open window, a fan to circulate the air and some Fcbrczc will go a long way.
Things to Leave at Home:
Brita Water Filter
You will start the year off strong, constantly refilling the Brita, but eventually you will grow too lazy and it will start to collect dust. Every floor of every dorm has a water refilling station with filtered water. It won't be the tastiest water you have ever had — the New Yorker in me will attest to that — but at least it is sometimes cold.
Clothing Drying Rack
I would strongly discourage leaving clothing items you wish to air dry in the laundry room overnight. Even though it is against the university's Catholic values, someone will eventually steal your stuff. 'That being said, it’s unnecessary to go out and buy a whole rack to hang this damp clothing in your dorm. A few extra hangers and a few creative ideas on how to hang them on your lofted bed should do the trick.
T-shirts
Within the first week of living at Notre Dame you will be handed probably around four free t-shirts. They might not be the most stylish things you have put on your body, but you can replace these with your old t-shirts that you have slept in for years. Otherwise you can just pull it out of the back corner of your closet that you stuffed it into when you move out next spring.