You Asked: “What should I pack for the next 8 months in residence at Queen’s? What do I need to bring for first year? What can I leave behind at home?”
We Answered: If you haven’t thought about these questions ad nauseum, you are a rare breed of chill.
Thankfully, with a strong pre college packing list and a few last minute trips to the Kingston Walmart or the Shoppers Drug Mart, you’ll be set up for 8 months of dorm living success. Remember, almost anything you forget you can buy in Kingston – and most people arrive with far more than they really need. If you arrived with only flip flops for the shower and a surge protector you’d survive just fine.
Read on for our ultimate Queen’s residence packing list:
For the shower:
- Shower shoes or thongs: the showers get disgusting
- Bucket or bath tote: to lug your shower stuff around
- Towels: pack lots as you will not be doing your laundry as often as you think
- Bathrobe: for the mad dash back and forth to the shower
- Toiletries: don’t buy them in bulk containers, as you have to lug them around a lot, but buy a good supply before arriving at Queen’s, as it’s annoying to come without the basics.
For your room:
- Sheets, a pillow, and warm comforter: your bed will double as your couch.
- A fan: it’s hot and humid in Kingston.
- Mirror: your room doesn’t come with a full length one.
- A huge laundry bag or basket: trust me, you’ll do your laundry less than you think.
- Loonies and quarters: for the washers and dryers.
- Laundry soap / Dryer sheets
- Coat hangers
- A surge protector: or a powerbar with extra outlets
- An alarm clock: a loud one, preferably with a small snooze button
- Storage containers: get ones that fit under the bed
What clothes to pack:
- Winter boots: Make sure they are waterproof
- Warm Coat: I had a decent one, but it’s worth investing in a great one
- Normal set of clothes for a year: the crowd is generally fairly pretty (aka lots of Sevens Jeans and lululemon pants) but pack what you have and what makes you feel comfortable.
- Formal clothes: there are lots of opportunities to dress up big at Queen’s
- Bathing suit: when summer hits it’s great to tan by the beach, or play beach volleyball outide of Gord Brock
- Gym stuff: At the PEC they have a washing service and I highly suggest you bite the bullet and do it. It will make you more likely to go to the gym, and less likely to where the same smelly unwashed socks five gym days in a row.
Other items I wish I’d packed:
- Febreeze: I cannot stress this item enough. You will use it on your clothes, dirty dishes, roomate, everything.
- Dishes: you don’t need much, maybe just a bowl, spoon, fork, knife, and a cup.
- Medicine: stock up before you come to Queen’s, while the health services is awesome, it’s still annoying to have to buy it when you can just steal it from home.
- Food: trust me, the 2am munchies will hit. Beg your parents for a Costco run and stock up on ready made food, the kitchens in rez are fairly small and gross, so avoid cooking at all costs.
- Kettle: for late night hot cocoa, soups, oatmeal etc.
- Thermal Mug: to fill up with coffee at the CoGro
- Nalgene bottle: to fill up with juice or water in the caf and lug it around all day
- Condoms: don’t assume everyone is sexually active at Queen’s, but those who are better get it on with a rubber. As ‘clean’ as everyone seems at Queen’s, stds are all over the place. So buy them big, in bulk, whatever, just have them on hand.
Desk / Study Supplies:
- Computer: I’d suggest a laptop, as you can take notes in class, bring it to the library, and it’s easy to move in upper years. Also, theft is VERY low at Queen’s. I’d like to say it’s because it’s such a safe campus, and it is, but in reality, everyone is just too rich to steal. Read more about this subject here.
- Printer: don’t buy a piece of crap , they end up costing more than they are worth when you have to buy $100 ink refills. Invest in a decent one or simply email your assignments to yourself and print them off at the PC&C. It’s cheaper and more social. (ps: the guys working there are notoriously cute)
- Pens, notepads, stapler
- A big bulletin board: or get a dry erase board & markers
Banking:
- It best to set up an account with TD Canada Trust. There are TD Green machines all over campus as well as a major banking location downtown on Princess Street. If you bank with another company, now’s the time to switch – it’s worth it to save the debit fees.
Other things you can live without, but might want to buy:
- Coffee maker / Bodum
- Iron
- Wall tacks or masking tape
- Slippers: for wandering around the rez halls at night
- Plants and decorations
- A fridge: I had one and never used it. They rent them at the beginning of the year and are disgusting and crappy. For like 20 bucks more you can buy a decent one and then sell it in second year.
- Stereo, tv, dvd player: you’ll be the most popular kid on the floor
- Brita filter: to keep in your fridge
Things that you DON’T need:
- A phone phone: your phone, voicemail, answering machine etc. is included in your room. You’ll likely just use your cell any way.
- A lamp: you are provided with an overhead light and one lamp, bring more if you need it or are easily depressed
- Your hamster: they aren’t allowed.
- Hot plates or toasters: again, not allowed. I did know a guy on my floor who had a deep fryer and no one found out, but I figure that’s probably banned too.
- Garbage can: one is in your room
- Candles: romance does not involve your curtains going up in flames
What your room already comes with:
- bed with mattress and pillow (this is a single bed, except in Leggett and Watts Hall they have extra long double beds)
- dresser
- desk
- bulletin board
- bookshelf
- desk lamp
- chair (usually fairly ghetto)
- mirror (not floor length usually)
- telephone and data connection
Last but not least, just remember, you aren’t moving to the total boonies. If you forget something you can get it in Kingston, and if you are coming from out of province or country, it’s worth it to arrive a day early, head out to the burbs, do some shopping there and then take a taxi back to rez.
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