This is probably the first time most of you will be moving away from home, and even for

those who were away for coaching - this will be your first experience in setting up your rooms

all by yourself. The rooms in campus are typically small to average in size and a little tight to

accommodate, a fact that often shocks/scares parents, but then it encourages two things

which will really benefit you in the long run :

1. Spending major chunks of time away from your room (except exam times ) 2. Adjusting and all associated terms with your room-mate (who, as you will realize,

might become one of the most important persons in your life)

From our experience, we bring to you a list of items - essentials and optionals. It may not be

exhaustive but has most of the things. To make it easier, we've colour-coded the items for you : a) Red - Definitely must get from home. b) Blue - You may bring these if you already have them. c) Green - Best purchased from Chennai. The rest are to your discretion.

Room necessities: (One cot, a table, a chair, a tube-light, a fan and a cupboard, all of fairly decent quality

are provided by the institute in every single room. 3 Cots, 2/3 Tables+Chairs, 2 cupboards, ample number of shelves, 2 Tubelights and 2 fans in

a double room)

1. Clothing + Raingear: Chennai is usually known for its humid summers, and rains. So, carry

more of light summer wear. Do your packing/shopping keeping in mind that clothes do not dry

quickly during the monsoons. Carry an umbrella and/or a raincoat and have them on you all the

time during the Monsoon months. There is no dress code in the institute but you are expected

to dress up decently. It's convenient to wear cargos or shorts for the rainy months. Apart from

that, you are free to wear what you want - T-shirts, jeans, shorts, shirts - whatever.

2. Footwear: A pair of slippers/floaters, a pair of sandals and a pair of covered shoes (you would

need to wear these to your labs) is recommended. Get footwear that you can use in the rain

- at least one pair that won’t become unusable if wet. Shoes specific to some sports might

be bought after coming here. Though, you may carry gum soled shoes and football studs if

you have a pair already.

3. Stationery: We advise you to skip carrying any. There are enough shops around. But if you

already have them, you might carry a Scientific Calculator (FX 991 MS/ES by Casio are the

ones most of your seniors use), Staplers (with pins), Punching machines, U-bend pins,

binder clips and a couple of folders. Workshop Tools, ED Instruments and Lab Coats that

you would need may be shared among batch-mates, borrowed from seniors, or bought here.

Though, if you have your Class XII Lab Coat at hand, bring it along.

4. Books: Though you won’t need all books that you used for JEE Preparations, but if you want,

get some standard ones like N.Piskunov, Atkins, JD Lee, etc. All the books you require

are available in the library.

4. Clotheslines, Hangers, Cloth hanging clips: There are ropes meant for hanging clothes

outside every room, but if you prefer using your rooms for drying clothers during monsoons

or hanging them in the balcony, carry (or buy from here) some clotheslines and

clothespins. Hangers aren’t provided in the rooms. Get along hangers

5. Bed sheets, mattresses (standard size) and pillows and pillow covers (extra set is

preferable as drying is a problem in rains), Curtains (optional), all of which are available at

Gurunath again :).

6. Bucket, Mug, Waste Paper Bin, Soap Cases: Buy them from either Gurunath, opposite to

the Narmada Hostel or the Shopping Complex on the Delhi Avenue Road.

7. Lock and keys (2/3 sets of keys as you’d be sharing the room) : Keep extra sets handy.

While travelling, you might want to lock your luggage as well.

8. Anti-insect sprays, bed-bug sprays, All Out, Odomos, Naphthalene Balls : It is

strongly suggested you keep these items with you, you will find them useful.

9. Spike guard, Multiplugs: You might need extension boards. Also, the power supply is

meant for 5 Ampere applications, so please do not carry any heavy electrical appliances like

Irons/ Heaters unless you have ensured that the current rating is not above 5A.

10. Broom: Rooms are your responsibility once you come here. You can however ask the

house-keeping staff of the hostels to clean the room for you by paying them some money.

11. Cycle: It is recommended that you buy a cycle as the campus is vast and it is easier to

commute if you have a cycle. It is advised that you buy a cycle outside the campus either in

Adyar or Velachery, although there might be a cycle sale outside the Office of the Hostel

Management (CCW). Ensure that you have a proper lock for your cycle, so that it doesnt

get stolen/lost.

12. Miscellaneous: Medicine kit (advised, you may not want to go to the IIT Hospital for

every little thing), soap, shampoo, handwash, detergent, brush, torch etc. Sports equipment,

if you play or are enthu enough (racquets, balls, proper shoes etc) and for music

enthusiasts, your own guitar, santoor, flute or tabla - anything.

13. Get along table lamps and table cloth if you want. They’ll prove useful. Not a must though !

The good thing about being in Chennai is that you can buy almost everything from here at

reasonable prices (if you know where to look). Don’t hesitate to ask seniors - their opinion is

invaluable at most times. So, don’t fret if you forget to carry something. Carry the basics so that

the first thing you don’t have to go shopping the moment you reach Chennai. Find the institute map on - http://ccwoffice.iitm.ac.in/map.html

Happy Settling In!