Aug. 5, 2005, Findlay, Ohio – Getting ready to go to college means going shopping for all those items needed to make a new residence hall room feel like home.

According to Brian Treece, director of housing and Greek life at The University of Findlay, many new students overestimate how much will fit in a residence hall room. “A number of freshmen come to campus with a lot of extra stuff that their parents end up having to take back home because there isn’t space in their new residence hall room,” Treece explained. “Many students have never had to share a room, so they don’t figure in the amount of stuff that their new roommate will bring into the room as well.”

Treece offered a few suggestions for students who are getting ready to go to college. “Call your roommate ahead of time to find out what he or she is bringing. You don’t need two televisions and microwaves. Also, find out what your college allows in the residence halls. Most colleges will have a list of suggested items on their website,” Treece said.

Emily Gordon, a junior pre-veterinary medicine major at UF, added that many students bring too many clothes with them to college. “There is limited drawer and closet space, so bringing an entire wardrobe usually doesn’t work out too well. I recommend only bringing the clothes you need for the fall and winter for the first semester,” Gordon said. Gordon also advised that a couple of essential items for a residence hall room include a fan to put in the window, flip flops that can be worn in the bathroom and a cell phone.

Jeremy Smith, who is a resident assistant for The University of Findlay, said that students use anything from pictures to Christmas lights to decorate their residence hall rooms, but the most unique thing he has seen is newspapers. “Last year some guys on my floor covered their walls with newspapers,” Smith said.

Freshmen at The University of Findlay arrive on campus Friday, Aug. 26. Classes begin on Monday, Aug. 29.

For more information, contact Charlene Hankinson, Office of Public Information, 419-434-4515.