Things You Should Purchase After Your First Semester at Langston

You have probably already scrolled through TikTok, Instagram, or other social media platforms looking for advice on what you need for your first year of college. While I’m sure a lot of it has been helpful, I want to share some things you’ll actually need and probably want to purchase to get the most out of being a college student.

Dorm Essentials

These are the items I consider non-negotiables for your dorm room:

• Portable rotating fan. This will save your peace of mind when you and your roommate can’t agree on the temperature, or when you simply like to sleep cold.
• Printer. The library is not open 24 hours, and neither is every campus building. A small printer in your room means no waiting in line, no worrying about your papers getting mixed up, and no late-night scrambles. My roommate’s printer saved me more than once.
• Shower shoes. Protect your feet from anything you don’t want to step on in shared showers. Non-negotiable.
• Shower caddy. Store all your soaps, lotions, and hair care in one portable caddy so everything travels with you to and from the bathroom easily.
• Shower filter. Langston’s water can be hard on your skin. A shower filter helps ensure the water you wash with daily is cleaner and less likely to cause breakouts.
• Comfortable pillows and a mattress topper. Sleep is everything. Don’t compromise it. A good mattress topper can make a dorm bed feel like home.
• Lanyard. Attach your student ID, dorm keys, car keys, and other small essentials so everything is in one place and easy to grab.
• Pepper spray and/or a Birdie alarm. Both are for your safety. Pepper spray is self-explanatory. A Birdie is a personal defense alarm — once activated, it flashes and emits a loud, continuous sound to alert people nearby if you feel unsafe or are in an uncomfortable situation.
• PO box. If you order a lot online or receive packages regularly, consider renting a PO box from the local post office for a secure, reliable delivery address.
• Storage unit. If you live out of state and bring a lot of belongings, a storage unit means you don’t have to haul everything home and back every semester.
• External hard drive. Store all your documents and papers here. If your computer crashes, you won’t lose everything.
• USB-C hub. Connects your laptop to HDMI, USB, SD card, and other devices. More useful than you’d think.
• Ironing board and iron. You never know who you’ll run into on campus — a professor, a recruiter, or someone from a job interview. Don’t show up in wrinkled clothes.
• Meal prep containers. If you’re in honors or scholars housing and like to cook, these are a must for keeping food organized and fresh.
• Beater shoes. Langston is full of red dirt. Don’t wear your nice shoes out every day. Bring a pair you aren’t afraid to get dirty, especially on rainy or snowy days.
• Weather-ready wardrobe. Oklahoma can get extremely hot and extremely windy, but you will experience all four seasons. Dress and prepare accordingly.
• For more dorm essentials, check out this blog.
  

Discounts

This one saves you money immediately. Discounts used to be reserved mostly for military members or senior citizens, but now there are a wide variety of deals specifically for college students. From fashion to technology to streaming subscriptions, you can find deals that only require your student email address to verify. When I was a student, I signed up for Apple Music and instead of paying the regular $10/month, my student email got me in for $5/month. Check out UNiDAYS to browse what deals are available; note that not all student discounts are listed there, so it pays to search individually as well.

Streaming Services

Check out student deals from Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime, Peacock, and more to see what offers they have available. Many of these platforms offer significantly reduced rates for verified students.

Academic Subscriptions

Grammarly is a tool you want to take full advantage of. Anytime you write a paper, whether it’s academic, personal, or creative, you can use it to proofread and check your grammar, punctuation, clarity, and tone. Think of it as an extra pair of eyes before you turn anything in.

If you’re more on the creative side, Adobe Creative Cloud offers a student subscription that gives you access to Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro for photo editing, video editing, and graphics.

Leisure Discounts

AMC Theatres offers discounted tickets when you show your student ID. Double-check your local location to confirm before you go. Student IDs can also get you discounts at college sports games and other campus events. If DoorDash delivers to your area, they offer a student DashPass — if you can afford it, it’s worth taking advantage of.

Technology

Both Dell and Apple offer reduced pricing for college students on select devices. Check their websites year-round for special offers and deals. Read more technology deals here.

I hope this guide helps you hit the ground running. College is full of small decisions that add up to a big experience. The right tools, the right deals, and a little preparation can go a long way toward making your time at Langston more comfortable, safe, and enjoyable. Take what applies to you, leave what doesn’t, and make it your own.