Back to School – Supplies and Dorm Gear

Here at NextStepU, we know that getting your school year started off on the right foot can make or break your year. Having the wrong supplies on the first day or showing up to your dorm without an alarm clock can feel like the worst possible start to your year, but these are things that can easily be avoided with a bit of planning.

We’ve taken some of the guesswork out of it all by searching out some amazing companies and products that are specifically for you!

Keeping things friendly with 99% natural, delicious and gorgeous products, Hello products offer a new take on oral care. The breath spray comes in four fun and tasty flavors: Supermint, Pink Grapefruit Mint, Mojito Mint and Sweet Cinnamint.
Available at: Duane Reade, Walgreens and select Target stores
Price: $2.79 - $4.99

Wellness Mats — The FitnessMat — is perfect for students who want to find the time to stay fit in a small space. The FitnessMat is easy to clean, will never curl or delaminate and provides unprecedented comfort and relief for your workout. We found that it also works great if you have a standing workspace for your computer.
Price: $149.95 - $239.95

Keep your dorm room organized with the Hang Up Room Organizer by Thirty-One Gifts. Available in three colors (grey, black and turquoise) it contains two small pockets, two large pockets, a PVC window, three clear ID slots, and it even comes with a dry-erase marker.
Available at: Find a Thirty-One Gifts consultant at www.thirtyonegifts.com
Price: $30

The DormCo College Necessities Kit has 11 dorm essentials you are sure to need for college all in one pack: a shower caddy, laundry bag, hot pot, bed post shelf, Ramen noodles, dorm scent, WashEZE, poster dot 'n' go, clip fan, 8-pack of wash cloths and a clip light. DormCo makes it easy, too, with $2.95 shipping on everything.
Price: $79.98

You are sure to have a lot to keep organized, why not do it in style? Fashionit notebook covers keep everything you need in one place and are available in a variety of designs: Spark of Fashion, Jungle Obsession, Double Chic and Simply Soft. A portion of the profits from every purchase is donated to SOS Children's Villages, which provides quality care giving to orphaned children.
Price: $15 or less

Knock Knock is a company known for its wit and humor when it comes to gifts and books.The “It's Gonna Be Okay” Guided Journal has playful prompts and witty quotations that are smart yet comforting. When it comes to planning your schedule, the Days of the Week Sticky Note Packets let you tackle organization the sane way: one day at a time.
Price: $12-$16

Scotch® Color & Pattern Duct Tape can customize your back-to-school gear with colors & patterns that make it easy to create stylish and fun projects in just minutes. Use it to create a unique notebook cover, add flair to college dorm rooms or decorate a bulletin board.
Price: $3.47 - $5.29
Available: Target, Office Depot, Kmart, Lowe's, Meijer, and BJ's.

Mead and FiveStar products offer school supplies that are built to last and cute to boot. These folders, locker organizers and binders make the start to the school year fun and fashionable. You've used them all throughout high school, so why not start college off right with a name you already know and trust?
Price: Varies by product
Available: Wherever office and school supplies are sold.

> Visit blog.nextstepu.com to see the infographics for these products. Join in on our Freebie Friday giveaways and you could win prizes from FiveStar, FashionIt, Thirty-One Gifts and Hello Products!