A-level results came out a couple of weeks ago and a whole new lot of freshers will now be getting ready for university. I thought I'd take advantage of this super exciting time to do a little blog series in the lead up to the start of freshers week, which will hopefully be useful to some of you new university students out there!

Packing for university is an excitement and stress that I know all too well. It's so difficult to have to look around your room and sort out what you want to take with you, and what to leave behind. I'm sure there's tons of lists out there telling you what to take (check out my best friend's list here), so instead I just want to give you a short list of a few random little bits and pieces that are easy to forget about, but still extremely useful!

1. A doorstop

Alright, maybe you've heard about this one already, but a doorstop is seriously useful! Prop your door open as you're moving in and it'll be a lot easier for you to strike up a conversation with your new flatmates. As term goes on, you'll be grateful for the doorstop as it makes it so much easier to move between rooms in your flat! Just be aware though - some universities don't allow doorstops due to fire hazards, so make sure to check before you go breaking any rules. Another thing to remember is that doors in halls are usually pretty heavy, so make sure to get a really strong, durable door stop that'll keep your door firmly open.

2. Spare passport photos

Something you might not usually think of, but it's really helpful to have some spare passport photos lying around as you'll need them for odd bits and bobs like your new student card, a railcard if you get one (more about that later!) or perhaps some forms that you need to fill out. You can easily get passport photos done cheaply in places like shopping malls or the airport.

3. A drying rack

There isn't normally much space in university halls for hanging clothes and such, and you'll have to pay a lot of money to use the tumble dryer (I'd rather spend my £4 on food!), so a small drying rack is a great thing to have for after you've done your washing. You can buy them from any supermarket-type place - I got mine from wilko's - and lots prop up against the radiator to make drying clothes even quicker.

4. Extra money

Freshers week is expensive, there's no denying it. Between spending money on society memberships, stocking up on any essentials you may have forgotten to bring from home and partying your way through the week (if you're that way inclined), you're going to need a bit more money than you would normally need for your average week.

5. Photos

I'm not going to lie to you guys, university dorm rooms can be pretty bland. Make sure you've got a few photos developed to stick on your walls or pinboard and brighten up the place.

6. A tin of biscuits/chocolates

This one isn't completely necessary, but a great thing to have while you're moving in. It's a lot easier to socialise with new flatmates if you've got a bit of nice food to offer them! Go knock on the flat next door as well, offer them a biscuit and get chatting. Everybody loves food, so this one's a no-brainer. Those chocolates will be great for calming your nerves later, too.

7. Pack of cards

A pack of cards are essential for bonding with flatmates - they provide a multitude of fun. It's such an obvious thing to have but often gets forgotten, so make sure you've got some.

8. Fancy dress

University is full of fancy dress parties of absolutely every variety, so try to take as many fancy dress items as you can fit in your luggage! Seems a bit random, but you won't regret it when you've got a Where's Wally or Harry Potter themed fancy dress party at some point in freshers week.

9. Student railcard

This one's a little pricier, but definitely worth the investment if you haven't already got one. You're going to be travelling across the country to and from uni multiple times a year, so railcards can save you a lot of money. As far as I remember, it's £75 for a student railcard (age 16-25) which should last 3 years, perfect for the length of your degree, and gets you 1/3 off the price of normal train journeys.

10. Extension leads

And last but not least, it's easy to forget that there may not be many plug sockets in your new uni room, or at least not enough to reach your desk or bedside. Extension leads are easy to store, and super useful for all of your electronics.

There's obviously tons more things you'll need, but this is just a quick summary of a few useful things that would be easy to forget! Leave me a comment below if you've got any more suggestions, or need any university packing advice!