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When your roommate and all of your college friends buy the same products as you, don’t be surprised.

I am a contributor and former editor who has been writing for BuzzFeed Shopping since 2017, with a focus on beauty, travel, and practical products, and in addition to writing, am in the process of getting my master’s in speech-language pathology.

Promising review: "I bought this for my son’s dorm room, and I never thought I’d be praising a bedside shelf, but here I am. It’s well-made, easy to mount, and not overpriced for what it is. He now has somewhere to put his water bottle, phone, tablet, a book (wishful thinking), or whatever else he wants. It’s far better than worrying about him knocking things off or rolling on top of it while he’s sleeping. And, of course, it’s way more convenient than climbing up and down his ladder to retrieve items. I also have to note that because his bed is high-lofted, the shelf isn't in the way, so he doesn't constantly have to walk around/avoid it. Great buy!" —KatH

Get it from Amazon for $33.99+ (available in two colors and two sizes).

Promising reviews: "It’s much more spacious than it looks. It’s very sleek and stylish. I use it as my work bag and find that it looks professional and has enough space for all of my stuff. I carry a laptop, a pencil case, two books, a makeup bag, a water bottle, a wallet, a lotion, a phone and laptop charger, and other small miscellaneous objects. Still plenty of space. And when you carry it, it doesn’t feel bulky or cumbersome." —Su

"Purchased for my daughter, who is an attorney. She said she really likes it and has gotten many compliments on it from her peers." —J Cliett

Get it from Amazon for $32.99+ (available in six styles). 

Promising review: "This works as described and handles the load that my daughter needs. She uses it for her laptop, iPhone, AirPods, curling iron, and light. The cord is plenty long to go behind the desk. I would buy this again and definitely recommend it for a college dorm room." —K. Nelson

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in four cord lengths and two colors).

Promising review: "Bought this for when I went to college and used it every single day. It clipped to my bed frame, made night reading easy, and the different-colored lights were also nice. My roommate also bought one so we could use these as our primary light source in our small dorm room. I've had this lamp for about seven years now. Definitely worth the money and is currently in my office as a desk lamp!" —David

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in three colors).

Promising review: "The most beautiful and functional planner. The pages are so lovely and high-quality, and I really appreciate the timetable and weekly schedule pages to plan my days. I'm a law student, so I have a lot of work to keep up with! It is very slim, not bulky at all, and has everything I need. Would highly recommend.” —Mikey

Get it from Papier for $36 (available in four colors and either "academic year" style or "mid-year planner" style).

Promising review: "Perfect for your college student, especially dorm life. It’s comfortable and keeps the laptop's heat off their laps while they lie in bed doing their assignments. Easy to use, perfect size to have a mouse, and not too heavy!" —Ashley Trayal

Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available with or without a wrist rest and nine colors/prints).

Promising review: "Living in a dorm my first year of college, I knew I wasn’t going to have access to filtered water through a refrigerator, so I had to find another way so as not to buy plastic water bottles all the time and carry the case across campus from my car. I purchased a Brita bottle before school started and ended up using it so much I bought a second so I could always have one filled and waiting for me in the fridge." —Erika

Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in two sizes and four colors).

Promising review: "I got this for my dorm, and it’s a great vanity mirror. It’s not too big and has different magnifications, which are helpful. The lights are so bright, and there’s a storage tray on the bottom, which I love. I use it every day and highly recommend it." —Vanessa Babcock

Get it from Amazon for $28.49+ (available in six colors).

You can also use them for pictures, books, and Funko Pop characters!

Promising review: "The shelves are exactly as pictured. They are perfect for displaying vinyl. They were easy to hang. They are able to hold larger records. Red (Taylor’s Version) is four vinyls, and it is no problem for the shelf. They have held for about two months without any issue so far." —Ty

Get a pack of six from Amazon for $13.99 (also available in an eight-pack, 12-pack, and 20-pack).

The starter kit includes 15 3"x3" sticky notes, a pen, a towel, and a carrying case.

Promising review: "Great idea. I use a lot of Post-it notes. I like that I can now stop throwing them away. So far, I can easily erase what I write on them and then reuse them. They stick to about anything. I have not had to clean the adhesive yet, but according to the instructions, it is simple to wash it off. I am really liking these so far. Great value, too." —Andy Rebman

The USB receiver is what helps this keyboard-and-mouse duo work wirelessly (no Bluetooth needed). Simply insert it into your computer to connect!

Promising review: "I absolutely love this keyboard! It connects to your Mac or PC via a USB-C port and runs on AA batteries. The keys really do feel like a typewriter, and I get all the nostalgia and fun of typing on a mechanical keyboard. 10/10." —Katherine Dinh

Get it from Amazon for $32.99+ (available in 11 colors).

Pssst...if you're looking for a compact version (i.e., without the numeric keypad), Amazon has that, too! Check it out for $29.99+ (available in nine colors).

Promising review: "Sent this with my daughter to college, and she not only uses it like a safe but a stepstool for her lofted bed in her dorm room. A real winner, especially for the money and durability/weight capacity!" —Kristine L Schwope

Get it from Amazon for $23.74+ (available in four sizes and five colors).

Promising review: "It's just so nice not to have to get out a big pot to make spaghetti. The consistency of the spaghetti is a little different from what you get when you cook it in a pot, but other than that, this item is perfect, and I love everything about it. If you're in a dorm, I think this would be a perfect thing if you really want to have spaghetti." —charlie landes

Promising review: "Bought this for my daughter who likes to cook ramen in her dorm room. She says it works very well! She had been purchasing ramen in the styrofoam cups and adding hot water. This cooks so much better, she says. Plus, there is no cup to throw away, so better for the environment too." —Jo VM

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in nine colors; also available in a cup size and multi-packs).

Pair it with a pack of Momofuko restaurant-quality ramen noodles to really level up your late-night snacking experience.

Promising review: "We have all wished for more toppings in our instant ramen, so I had to try it. I used about two servings because I wanted to go big. Not only was it a ton when it rehydrated, but I think it added a great flavor with all the veggies. Totally what my noodles needed!" —medford howell

Get it from Amazon for $26.99 (and check out more flavors here). 

Promising review: "My son switched to digital learning this year, and we wanted to set up an area just for his schooling. Our space is very limited, so we wanted to use it a bit more. After we found the perfect desk, we started looking for pegboards. This was perfect for his pencils, tools, headphones, mouse, and other school tools. Installing it was super easy, and he was able to adjust the shelves to his liking." —The Tiki

Get it from Amazon for $47.99+ (available in two sizes and two colors).

Promising review: "We bought this for my daughter heading off to college, and she loves it! It is soft and comfy, and is perfect for her dorm bed." —Jennifer H.

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in two sizes and nine colors).

Promising review: "I bought them for my dorm room. They are really nice, and now my room is way more cozy than it was before. I would always buy them again. To hang them up, I bought little sticky hooks. It works perfectly." —Tessa

"The lights are a beautiful touch to the look we were going for while redoing my daughter's bedroom. We have strung them across her ceiling and clipped pictures of her friends along the strings of lights. Her bedroom is truly beautiful and a comfy space for her to relax and chat with her friends. I love the lights and picture clips, and so does she!" —Laura L. Acx

Get 17-ft. LED lights with 50 clear clips from Amazon for $11.98.

Promising review: "Cannot recommend enough if you're in a dorm. My roommate is kind of noisy at night, making it difficult for me to fall asleep. I am a light sleeper, and these have improved my sleep quality. I don't wake up at random times during the night because they are making noise. Do try all the sizes on. I had a couple of times where they fell off while sleeping, but once you know your size and insert them well, they don't bother at all." —Mia

Get them from Amazon for $24.95 (available in four colors).

Promising review: "Amazon purchase! Fits my dorm comforter perfectly! The quality is extremely soft and easy to wash!" —annie

Get a set from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in sizes Twin/Twin XL–Cal King and 32 colors).

Here's a great twin XL comforter to put in the duvet!

Promising review: "I just received my duvet. I am so in love with how soft and fresh the opposite side feels. It’s so beautiful and comfortable. I definitely recommend it if anyone is looking for a good duvet. It’s a pretty thick material as well. I love how it has the ties in the middle, not just the corners. It makes it easy to attach your comforter so that it stays on the inside." —Elizabeth

Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in 16 colors and twin XL–California King). 

Promising review: "Purchased this for my daughter when she went away to college, and she said that it’s been very helpful in carrying her laundry to/from the dorm laundry room. It seems durable and has held up for a few months so far. Also convenient because it can fold flat for storage, so it won’t take up too much space in a small dorm room." —Hawaii customer

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in 12 colors/prints).

Promising review: "Not sure why I didn't buy this in the first place!! With this lamp, the candle's scent is stronger and lingers longer! At the moment, it's on my kitchen counter, and I can smell the candle all the way up in my bedroom!" —stephanie

Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in eight styles). 

Promising reviews: "Going on a big trip soon, and I bought this for travel. I am super obsessed with the quality and how light/soft it is. It's the perfect size for my laptop and acts as a cushion for other things in my backpack. It can be slightly tricky to open; I just slide one finger in and then expand my hand to open it, but it has a magnetic-like closure. Love the color too, it's simple." —mandella cesena

"I’m obsessed! It’s the cutest laptop case ever! It’s so soft and fluffy, like a pillow, but still slim enough to fit in my tote bag. I've never seen a laptop case like this before! Perfect for when I have to walk in the rain with my laptop in hand." —Adrienne

Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in two sizes and 11 colors). 

Promising review: "I purchased this for my son's dorm room. It was a big hit! Pros: very comfortable with good support." —Sapphire

Get it from Wayfair for $62.84+ (available in eight colors).

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.