You’ve got into uni… what should you bring?

Congratulations on your A-Level results and well done on getting your place at Warwick. I’m sure it is starting to feel real now as we get closer to fresher’s week. But one thing that may still be troubling you might be what you should bring with you to your student accommodation. Hopefully these tips can help!

One thing I realised that is a lifesaver in the kitchen is an air fryer. I remembered all the normal kitchen utensils like knives, forks, and plates but it took me a bit of time before I realised an air fryer would be a the best kitchen appliance for quick meals like chicken kievs or  easy carbs like air fried chips.

Alongside this, I also forgot a sieve. I found this especially annoying when I was batch cooking pasta and had to empty the boiling water out of my cooking pot using the lid, while also trying not to burn myself or lose pasta in the sink. A sieve would have made this process so much easier as pasta is a staple of student cooking. This kitchen utensil should stay near the top of your checklist.

I know that during my two years here, I have amassed so many fancy dress outfits

Moving to the bedroom, I think a bit of décor is needed. My room in first year was so plain that it was rather depressing, but I have to admit my second year room had so much more style to it. I filled it with lots of posters of all my favourite singers: Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, and Olivia Rodrigo. It added so much colour and taste to my room that it made it more bearable to live in and it was a great talking point when friends came over. For new freshers, there is a poster sale on campus, but it is rather infrequent and a bit expensive so maybe bring your own from home or buy some, like I did, off eBay.

In case you haven’t been pre-warned, at Warwick we do something called circling. Basically, we dress up in themed fancy dress and play drinking games with our sports clubs and societies. So, if you have any, bring your fancy dress costumes. I know that during my two years here, I have amassed so many fancy dress outfits including: a Teletubby costume and even an ice-cream branded Hawaiian shirt (it looks as awful as it sounds). A safe bet is to bring some football shirts with you if you have any, as for some reason this is a rather popular theme. Football shirts are versatile, so can be used for many different themes too.

We have Cannon Park just a stone’s throw away and Amazon does exist

Finally moving to the bathroom: something you should definitely bring is a bathroom mat. This is especially important if you are in one of the en-suite accommodations as it is rather beneficial to not get your bathroom wet every time you have a shower.

Alongside this, it is a great idea to have two laundry baskets – one for clean clothes and one for dirty. I know I was rather foolish and only bought one basket, so for the first year I was taking my clean clothes back from the laundry rooms in my suitcase. Which isn’t a big issue, but I would have much preferred a second basket.

And of course don’t forgot a drying rack. This is vital to dry all those clothes items that can’t be tumble dried. I actually didn’t get one for the first few weeks and was just using hangers and putting them in my cupboard (which is a rather bad idea, as the clothes start to smell musty and can contribute to mould growth). So, it is definitely a good idea to invest in a drying rack early on.

But if you do forget to bring something from home, don’t fret. We have Cannon Park just a stone throw away and Amazon does exist. I hope this article has helped ease some nerves and gave you a little more insight into some of the items you should be bringing with you to uni!