Entertainment Fashion & Style Easy Last-Minute College Halloween Costumes Share PINTEREST Email Print Dan Dalton/Caiaimage/Getty Images Entertainment Accessories Tops & Sweaters Dresses Skirts Jeans Pants Outerwear Lingerie & Swimwear Do It Yourself Shoes Skincare Advice Makeup Hair Fragrance Tattoos and Body Piercings Kids and Teens Bumps & Babies Learn More By Kelci Lynn Lucier Education Expert M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration, Harvard University B.A. in English and Comparative Literary Studies, Occidental College Kelci Lynn Lucier has worked in higher education for over a decade. She is the author of "College Stress Solutions" and features on many media outlets. our editorial process Kelci Lynn Lucier Updated January 15, 2020 Halloween is a highlight of the fall semester on any college campus. It's your chance to take a break, have fun with friends, and get a little weird. What if you didn't have time to plan your Halloween costume? If you're like most college students who have too much stress and not enough time, you probably waited until the last minute to figure out what to be for Halloween. Luckily, there are several great ideas that are quick, easy, and cheap (or free). They simply require a little imagination. Dress up as Your Roommate No matter what your roommate is into, take their signature look and amplified it (with kindness, of course). This is even better if you both go together while dressed as each other. Simply borrow your roommate's clothes and an accessory or two, vamp it up a bit, and off you go. Ladies, is your roommate into bags? Grab several of her faves and head out. Guys, does your roommate always wear sports shirts? Put on several and show them off during the evening, maybe even rotating them as the night goes on. It should go without saying that you'll need your roommate's permission. It's also a good idea to be sensitive to hurting any feelings because you don't want to damage your relationship. But if you're both into it, it can be a fast costume fix. Get to the Thrift Store Head down to the local thrift store and piece together a quick costume. They have all kinds of great finds and it's even better around Halloween. Grab some funky, retro, or fancy clothes, it really doesn't matter and the more creative you get, the better. You can even pick up a few options without worrying about spending too much. Keep in mind, too, that you don't necessarily need to have an idea before you get to the store. Going in with an open mind might be the best way to approach things. That way, if you see something that looks interesting, you'll be more likely to let your creativity flow. Go as a Group If you're going out with a group of friends, work together to find a costume. You can dress like the cast from a recent movie, a group of flight attendants and pilots, or the members of today's hottest band. Any of these costumes are easy to put together. It's often a matter of adapting clothes you already have or running to the thrift store for a few special pieces. Since you're going as a group, you won't need as many accessories as you would if you were responsible for your own attire. Dress as a College Movie Character You may not have thought about it, but you have an entire room full of props for a college student. Vamp it up and go as a college-aged character from a movie. It can be a classic (Bluto, anyone?) or whatever is hot at the moment. Either way, it's an easy fix if you don't have a costume and takes just a few minutes to put together. Can't think of a character to go as? Have fun with the college student look. Give yourself the stressed out, "up all night studying look" with messy hair, a backward shirt, mismatched shoes, or whatever. Get weird, have fun, and see what you come up with.