5 dorm-life scenarios that require an emergency kit

A comprehensive shopping list for college is always a useful tool — until you arrive at school and realize just how much you neglected to pack. To stay prepared, keep an emergency kit with dorm supplies geared toward making the most of a variety of situations.

Hanging Posters
You probably bought a couple posters for college to cover up those bare dorm walls, and you figured some regular tape would work to hang them. But regular tape, you’ll quickly find, won’t stick well, especially on cylinder-block walls. So bring some Glue Dots or dorm tape; they’re made for posters!

Closet Space
It’s not neuroscience; you’ll need hangers to hang your clothes. But what you perhaps didn’t anticipate is the small size of that closet. Hangers are great, but you’ll need some hanging shelves to bring much-needed surface space to your closet. That extra space is useful for extra clothes or even for storing school supplies and other dorm items.

Good Food
Any first-year tuition bill probably includes a meal plan, and if the food at your school is as appetizing as week-old sushi, you’ll need a means of taking meals into your own hands. So don’t go hungry. If you arrived at school and have only a meal plan to nurture you, bring some cooking appliances like the Rollie, a cool, electric cooking appliance that’s great for cooking eggs and other quick meals. And don’t forget Ramen noodles, that timeless college dietary staple! Bring a Rapid Ramen Cooker for an easier cooking.

Dorm Security Supplies
It can be the low point of your college career if you have some of your supplies stolen. The truth is, dorms are very communal environments where friends — and strangers — will always be passing through. It’s tough to be vigilant about keeping an eye on your supplies at all times, so save yourself the stress of always having to be on the lookout. Instead, bring a mini Go Vault dorm safe to lock up your wallet, phone, camera and other smaller items. For valuables like video game consoles and even your cool, new flat-screen TV, use a SPOT anchor cable to lock down larger valuables. Easy-to-steal electronics like iPads and other tablets can be secured in an anti-theft lockdown safe pouch.

Studying In The Dark?
If you’re one to stay up late studying and reading into the night, you’ll be in trouble if the library’s closed and your roommate’s already in bed. Pack a clip light to affix right on your dorm desk, bed, or textbook itself so you can have a reading light that won’t disturb your sound-asleep roommate. It’s a bright idea that will make nighttime studying more effective and roommate-friendly!

— By Keith Gillogly, for DormCo.com. Connect with DormCo on their Facebook page, Pinterest and Tumblr.

> Looking for more tips and tricks for your dorm and organization? Check out these great articles:
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