Bwog spies report that the first batch of West Coast Terrible 12s have arrived on campus, with the others following in the next day or so. Because we were all once first-years — and the 12s need all the help they can get — we’ve put together a list of Surprisingly Useful Last-Minute things to pick up on the way to school. Use the comment section to suggest your own (or argue with ours). The 12s will reward you lavishly with praise and appreciation. 

  • Stationery, even if it’s just a set of Post-It notes, you will make surprisingly good use of it
  • A pair of scissors
  • Stamps and envelopes
  • A Sharpie, or perhaps a set of several
  • For girls: A box — an old shoebox is fine — for all your jewelery. It will get dusty in desk/bureau drawers
  • Towels, bring more towels than you think you’ll need

  • Duct tape
  • Scotch tape
  • Gummy stuff for your walls
  • Stapler
  • Paper clips
  • Anything for attaching things to other things, actually
  • A big colorful cloth to use as a curtain, emergency sarong, hammock, or wall hanging
  • A heightened tolerance for group activities
  • Bottle opener
  • Check book (wallet insurance)
  • Ruler (to jam your window open)
  • Milk crate (for floppy magazines)
  • Phone charger x2 (unless you know how to work a Rolm)
  • Phone battery x2 (especially if you like to sleep out)
  • Tacks, not tape or blue tack (easier on moving day)
  • Backup hard drive (or else: “I can’t hang out, my computer broke.”)
  • Book stops (for shelf over bed safety, a Hartley problem)
  • Ear plugs
  • Long johns (when pants won’t suffice)
  • Eighties clothes (for temporary hipster approximation)
  • Real condoms (you’ll understand someday)
  • Galoshes (to protect your feet)
  • Picnic cloth (for splitting the spoils of cafeteria raids)
  • Gimmick (you are a unique, shining jewel)
  • Ethernet cable (make sure it is of suitable length, around 10 feet usually works)
  • A cable cable, if you want to watch TV
  • Exacto knife or sharp scissors, possible small hole puncher- for John Jay and Furnald people (keys)