Things to Bring to College

FX Answers

Mattress pad and bedding (Don’t forget to check the size of the bed)
Under-the-bed storage
Curtains if your dorm does not provide window coverage
Laundry bag and detergent
Extension cords, surge protectors and cables for any electronic devices you bring
Earbuds in case you need to block out any noise while studying or relaxing
Mini-fridge and/or microwave depending on what is allowed and what is provided
Plate, bowl, cup and silverware
A BPA-free water bottle – less expensive and better for the planet than buying tons of disposable water bottles
Dish detergent and sponge
Clothes that are appropriate for the climate where your school is
Umbrella and a raincoat
Workout gear
Shower caddy and toiletries
Shower shoes for the bathroom
Something that reminds you of home

For a detailed list of items to bring, check out this Off-to-College Checklist. Be sure to coordinate with your roommate so you’re not doubling up on certain room items!

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in the US among people aged 10-14 ¹

Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in the US among people aged 15-24 ²

51% of youth (6-17) get treatment each year for a mental health condition ³

15.6 teenage girls for every 1,000 will give birth to a baby before they are 20 years old. ⁴

Only 6% of high school students get tested for STDs ⁵

1/3 of high school students who were currently sexually active used effective hormonal birth control the last time they had sex with an opposite-sex partner ⁶

Nearly 30% of female students currently drank alcohol and nearly 20% currently used marijuana.⁷

2.14 million middle and high school students currently vape ⁸

Over 80% of women and men both report having experienced their first rape under the age of 25. ⁹

Almost 40% of high school students have reported using marijuana at least once. ¹⁰

83.88% of 12- to 17-year-olds have reported using marijuana within the last month. ¹¹

One in four women first experienced intimate partner violence before the age of 18. ¹²

5.9 million teens have reported to drink at least once in the past month. ¹³

In 2022, there were 1,573 motor-vehicle deaths from underage drinks ¹⁴

About 1 in 10 children live in a home with a parent who has a drinking problem ¹⁵

Only 65 percent of teens consistently wear seat belts when driving or as a passenger. ¹⁶

The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16- to 19-year-olds than any other age group. ¹⁷

49% of the youth report having less than 3 friends in 2022 ¹⁸

^{2.7 million youth report experiencing severe major depression}¹⁹

Over 3.3 million teens will be graduating from high school in the year 2023-2024 ²⁰

The average social media screen time for teens is 7 hours and 22 minutes per day ²¹