It’s early August and in many areas of the country college campuses are clogged with moving vans and smaller vehicles, professors are returning from their summer off, and the fall semester at many Universities and colleges is just beginning.

Amidst all the talk about academics and college athletics is a decision that faces many new and returning students this semester—how to maximize the amount of space in dorm rooms that Universities and colleges offer.

In the Bay Area of San Francisco, California, 7 On Your Side (a team associated with an ABC affiliate) teamed up with Consumer Reports to list three crucial small appliance additions to your dorm room. The items selected were based not only on utility but also on how well they maximized space. Dorm rooms are small. No full-sized double-decker refrigerators here.

Here are the top three small appliances crucial for dorm room success.

1. The Compact Refrigerator. Known colloquially as the “mini-fridge,” these compact refrigerators serve the importance of storing food—healthy or otherwise—for convenience when the dining halls are closed. Think 2 a.m. snacks or meals after a night out on the town. Many are not energy efficient and only three out of the 26 tested by Consumer Reports made the cut. They’re all from the company Frigidaire and prices start at $200. The good news is they keep food fresh while conserving the much-needed space in a dorm room.

2. Microwave. College students are not known for their thick pocketbooks and microwaves provide the option of heating up frozen foods that are both tasty and cost-effective. Hot Pockets. Lean Cuisines. Lentils and Teriyaki sauce. Whatever your preference is, having something to warm up your food is nearly as crucial as the compact refrigerator. 7 On Your Side lists a $150 model Kenmore as a great buy and Consumer Reports rated a GE model at $210 a best buy as well.

3. Coffee-maker. These splendid devices take up scant space and offer the possibilities of an endless stream of caffeine, necessary for a late night studying, or a perk up in the morning, or for an afternoon jump. They are also less costly than Starbucks and other local coffee shops, which sometimes run up to $2 for a cup of unflavored coffee. 7 On Your Side lists Mr. Coffee’s drip coffeemakers, which start around $40, as a strong purchase because, among other reasons, they consistently heat up to the perfect temperature.

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