Five Things You’d Never Thought You’d Need for College

            Packing for college is no small feat, and everyone around you is trying to give you lists and lists of things you need to bring - Penn State, your mom, Bed Bath and Beyond, even Cheryl! Everyone is trying to help, but I am going to give you the inside scoop regarding what things you really need. Some of these items are things you would simply look over on one of the several packing lists you receive, but trust me you need this stuff. Aside from the basics, these somewhat unique items will ensure a smooth transition into your freshman year in the Happiest of Valleys!

                  1.     Clorox Wipes

Before going to college, no one really considers what happens when you drop a jar of queso cheese in your dorm room, and there’s a huge mound of goo on your floor (yes, this did actually happen to me). Cleaning products are absolutely necessary, and Clorox wipes can do it all. Aside from messy spills, wipes are great for cleaning up dust that accumulates almost instantly on every surface of your room or getting the mud off of shoes. The bleach wipes will sterilize all the germy surfaces and also leave your room smelling fresh and clean.

                  2.     Surge Protector / Power Strip

This is the long stick with a bunch of plugs on it for those that are unclear! Each dorm room has a maximum of two outlets per person, and trust me four plugs will not be enough. When your phone and laptop constantly need to be charged and you need to straighten your hair and have your desk lamp on, all at the same time, the power strip will become your friend. These are relatively inexpensive and will allow you to multitask throughout the day. Dorm rooms are all about maximizing the little that you are given, and surge protectors do just that!

                  3.     A Professional Outfit

Luckily, WEPO requires this, but I wanted to reemphasize its importance. Aside from the obvious career fair, I wore my business attire probably about ten times. Whether it was for an interview, information session, or project presentation, I was always dressed professionally and appropriately in my business skirt and blazer. You will soon see that at each of these types of events, someone will wear something that is more suited for a nightclub, and trust me you and everyone else will notice. No one wants to be embarrassed like that, so err on the side of tasteful, not trendy.

                  4.     Sneakers/Comfortable Walking Shoes

This may seem like an obvious suggestion, but I have always been focused on style more so than functionality. I had no idea that when I got to State I would be walking unbelievably far for some of my classes. This is especially true of those of you who are living in East. You will absolutely be walking milesss a day, so your cute strappy sandals with zero arch support will make your first two weeks of classes miserable. Do yourself a favor and wear shoes that support your feet while your legs adjust to all the walking. I was a varsity athlete in high school, and my body had to adapt to the huge increase in walking. My sore feet and blisters did not make the transition smooth.

                   5.     NON Graphing Calculator

Every single freshman engineering student rolls up to their first week of classes with their big, shiny, fancy graphing calculator thinking they are all ready to go. Then you quickly realize two things - college hates calculators and if they do crack and let you use one, it’s not going to be the one you brought. You need to buy a nonprogrammable calculator, something like the Texas Instruments 30X. This is basically the calculator you used in 8^th grade algebra. I realized I needed this after my second day of classes and ran to the bookstore to pick one up. The next day they sold out. So be thinking about this as you get ready for school and in the meantime, start practicing your mental math!

You’ve made the single best decision of your life by coming to Penn State and choosing engineering, and I hope that these pointers make your transition to college and PSU the easiest it can be! Prior planning prevents poor performance, so think ahead when it comes to the items above and have a fantastic freshman year! WE ARE so looking forward to meeting you!

Rachel Farnin is a sophomore in Bioengineering, and she is a Rover for WEPO '14!