Things To Bring
Fan:You might want a box fan to prop in your window and a smaller one for circulating in the middle of your room. Charlottesville is usually only miserably hot during the end of August and the first week or so of September. Remember the dorms are sans air conditioning!
Quarters for Laundry OR Money for your Cavalier Advantage ID Card:You may have to use them in the machines and the change machines don't always work. It is usually easier to deposit money periodically onto your Cavalier Advantage Account that is accessed through your ID card (which you will carry with you EVERYWHERE first year). You can use it to pay for laundry, to make photocopies, or even for paying vending machines. Fifty to one hundred dollars should be enough.
Detergent and Fabric Softener:Some Moms like to send their children prepared for bomb shelter condition...
Extra Long Twin Sheets:Housing should have already told you this, but this is a reminder. A regular top sheet is okay, but the fitted sheet has to be extra long to fit the dorm mattresses.
A knife, fork, spoon, a plastic cup, coffee mug, and one good bowl:You will order takeout at inhuman hours and you will need something to eat it with. Man cannot survive on the dining hall alone. Can opener may be handy, too.
Sewing Kit:Buttons can fall off of any shirt, and only at the worst times.
Dry Erase Message Board:It's the look all the dorm doors will sport. Especially helpful to get that message that Mom called.
Poster Gum:To keep you posters up on the wall without ruining the walls and having to pay for new paint. No nails allowed.
Carpet:That floor gets mighty cold, and dust balls can roll like tumbleweeds in a matter of weeks. Dust busters are a lovely compliment.
Loft/Futon:If space looks like it will be an issue, these are the two basic space savers.
Milk Crates /Rubbermaid Bins/ Yaffa Blocks/other random plastic shelving or drawers:If you have some at home, they are great for storing things, especially under the bed.
Key Chain/Lanyard:You will have several keys to keep track of so you need something on which to put them. Keys are expensive and inconvenient to replace (if you lose your key, you have to pay for everyone affected to get a new one, and new locks to be put on!). You might get a key chain that will hold your ID also, or one that your can clip to your clothes.
Rain Gear:Rain happens...bring a jacket and shoes to walk in the rain. An umbrella is also useful.
A dressy set of clothes:This means a blue blazer and time for the guys and a dress or skirt and blouse for the gals. There are all sorts of events where looking nice be needed/important: to be a true wahoo @ football games, fraternity and sorority rush events, project presentations, etc.
Shower shoes for the bathroom (flip-flops):There will be at least eight people sharing your bathroom. A bathrobe is usually nice for girls when random guys stop by at the worst times...sometimes a towel doesn't quite do it.
Extra Lighting:The dorm rooms are often poorly lit, it is a good idea to bring some extra lights if you want to see at night. Halogen lights would be great, but they are not allowed in University housing for safety reasons. Housing Division suggests that you use a Cool Brite Lamp instead (halogen lookalike), which are PHENOMENAL and can make a huge difference when you need to stay up late working. A desk lap is usually also helpful and even a bedside clip lamp if you're going all out.
As an engineering student, you will be required to construct several projects in your first year here. Although creativity and ingenuity can go a long way, it is a big help to have a few basic tools to build a project. The following is a list of tools which could be of use on some projects. Remember, tools take up space in an already crowded room so keep it under control. You will be amazed what you can beg or borrow form other Rodman Scholars. It is also surprising how many times an Echols Scholar will need your help to use a hammer. Bringing tools is definitely optional, and it adds to the romance of a project if you are working with limited resources, so don't sweat it if you don't wish to bring any.
* Hammer
* Screwdrivers (phillips and flathead)
* SOLDERING IRON (1/2 of the S & D II projects required one!)
* Tape Measure
* Nails and Screws
* Sandpaper/File
* Utility or X-acto Knife
* Multipurpose Glue
* Duct Tape and Electrical or Masking Tape
If you decide to bring a bicycle, which can be invaluable in place of a car, you should bring the appropriate wrenches for basic repairs and a bike pump if possible. A sturdy lock is also a MUST, as stolen bikes are not unheard of.
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