Where to find the necessities

One of the most daunting tasks facing incoming freshmen on their way to college is "the list." The easiest way to properly pack for a semester at college is to spend time making a list. Clothing, toiletries, textbooks and school supplies all need to be remembered and packed, lest they get left behind. 

The fact of the matter is no one can be expected to remember everything that is needed, especially freshmen who have never experienced dorm life. 

"I remember when I first moved in," sophomore government and politics major Andrew Deiner said. "I had to shove all my stuff into the car, and, in the end, I ended up forgetting some of what I needed anyway. It's much easier to just get some things when you get there." 

It might not be on move-in day, but at some point during the first week at school, many student will be hit by the sudden realization they left something crucial behind. 

Some items can be purchased on the campus at The Union Shop in the Stamp Student Union, the Commons Shop on South Campus or the North Campus Snack ‘n' Shop in Cambridge Community.

However, students may find items are overpriced or unavailable on the campus. For items like furniture, for example, one option is Ikea, located north of the university off of Route 1.

"These guys in my dorm last year had extra space in their room and wanted to buy furniture, so they went to Ikea," sophomore government and politics major Amanda Pleasant said. "It's close to campus and they have lots of stuff to choose from."

Other forgotten necessities may include toiletries and school supplies, which could be cheaper to purchase on Route 1 than from campus convenience stores or from the University Book Center. CVS brand toiletries and even over-the-counter medications come in a wider variety of sizes and cost considerably less than the same products do on the campus.

Notebooks, pens and pencils are also much less expensive than when purchased at the book center. Notebooks in particular can be found in CVS for nearly half the cost of a notebook in the UBC. CVS is located in the College Park Shopping Center.

If CVS just won't cut it, Target stores in Hyattsville and Greenbelt are accessible both by Metro and ShuttleUM.

"Target saved my life last year," sophomore government and politics major Logan Teisch said. "I was shocked at how much stuff I neglected to bring, and I was able to buy everything I needed at Target."

Target is also easy on the wallet, sophomore letters and sciences major Payal Patel added.

"The prices are great, and you'll definitely find what you need," he said.

Route 1 also features stores such as rock-bottom priced Rugged Warehouse for any clothing students may have forgotten and the mainstay Maryland Book Exchange for school books and Terp gear.

ga@umdbk.com