When I moved into my college dorm as a freshman, I remember wishing there was a simple way to send friends and family a list of everything I still needed — similar to the registries people create for weddings and baby showers.
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people → move → weddings
Between bedding, storage, laundry supplies, toiletries and all the little things I didn’t realize I’d need until move-in day, the shopping added up quickly.
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shopping → realize → day
I wanted a way to make a cohesive list that everyone could shop while avoiding bad communication that resulted in duplicates and deficits.
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that → want → duplicates
Since then, I’ve led the back-to-school shopping for my family.
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I → lead → family
I handled my own college shopping and helped my brother, who’s now a senior in college, with his move in.
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who → handle → move
Next up is my sister, who’s a senior in high school, and I’m already thinking about what she’ll need when it’s her turn to move into a dorm.
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it → ’ → dorm
This time, though, I’m making a registry.
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I → make → registry
A dorm registry can serve two purposes: It keeps your college shopping organized in one place, and it gives friends and family who want to support you an easy way to buy something you’ll actually use.
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you → serve → something
Most if not all retailers keep track of what requests have been fulfilled so there won’t be any duplicate purchases and, depending on the retailer, you may also be able to have items shipped or picked up at a store near your college, which can be particularly helpful if you’re moving far from home or need to fly to school.
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you → keep → school
As someone who worked for her campus Residential Life office throughout all four years of college and helped support countless move ins and move outs, I know which dorm essentials students actually use (and which ones they probably don’t need).
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they → work → ones
So below, I’ve rounded up places where you can create a dorm registry or shareable wishlist, along with the essentials I’d recommend adding before move-in day.
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I → round → day
Where can you make a dorm registry?
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you → make → registry
Not every retailer offers a dedicated dorm registry, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make one.
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you → offer → one
Many stores offer shareable wishlists that accomplish essentially the same thing: You can add the dorm essentials you need, send the list to friends and family and keep everything organized in one place.
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you → offer → place
Below are the retailers I recommend for creating a dorm registry or wishlist, including options that offer shipping or pickup near campus.
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that → recommend → campus
Note that all these retailers require an account, but the wishlist creation tools are free.
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tools → note → account
Amazon doesn’t have a registry specifically for dorm rooms, but you can create a Gift List or Wish List and use it like one.
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you → have → one
To make a Gift List, go to Amazon’s Registry & Gifting page, select “Create” and choose the occasion you’re celebrating; you can also create a List through “Account & Lists” or directly from a product page.
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you → make → page
Once it’s set up, add dorm essentials as you shop.
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you → set → essentials
How friends and family shop it:
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friends → shop → it
You can make an Amazon Gift List public and searchable or keep it shareable and send the link directly to who you want to have it.
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you → make → it
Amazon also tracks purchases, which helps prevent loved ones from buying the same items.
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which → track → items
You can assign a shipping address to an Amazon List, which makes this particularly useful if you want gifts sent to the address you’ll use while at college or mail room once your mailing ID is assigned.
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ID → assign → college
Items can be sent directly to your home address which is nice if you want to have safely, securely packaged boxes ready to go for move-in day.
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boxes → send → day
Target is one of my favorite options for this because it actually offers a College Wish List specifically designed for school planning.
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it → offer → planning
You can create one on Target.com or in the Target app, then add products online or by scanning items in a Target store.
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You → create → store
Target also offers college-focused checklists to help you figure out what you might be missing.
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you → offer → what
How friends and family shop it:
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friends → shop → it
You can send friends and family a direct link — including a customized URL — or make your list searchable on target.com and in Target stores.
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list → send → stores
When someone buys an item directly through the list, Target updates it to help keep track of what’s already been purchased.
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what → buy → track
This is where I think Target really shines for college students.
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Target → think → students
Gifts can be shipped to the address attached to your list, and shoppers can also purchase registry and wishlist items online for order pickup.
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shoppers → ship → pickup
Target also offers drive-up pickup and same day delivery, depending on the order and location.
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Target → offer → order
For dorm shopping, I’d recommend creating a Walmart Wishlist.
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I → recommend → Wishlist
Walmart says its former “Any Occasion” registries are now wishlists, which can be created on walmart.com or in the Walmart app by going to lists under the “My Items” tab, and then “Create a Wishlist.
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which → say → Wishlist
” You can add products online, through the app or even in store by scanning a product’s barcode.
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You → add → barcode
How friends and family shop it:
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friends → shop → it
Once you’ve created your wishlist, you can share it via a copied URL, email or social media.
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you → create → URL
Unlike Walmart’s traditional gift registries, wishlists aren’t searchable by friends and family, so you’ll need to send them the link.
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you → need → link
Gift givers can purchase products, mark them as purchased and
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givers → purchase → them
…and 132 more, not listed.
The Aporia
