One of the most exciting parts of going to college is finally leaving the nest for the first time and moving out into your very own (probably not completely on your own but hey it’s not your parents’ house), spacious (please understand I’m using sarcasm) dorm. The process of packing for college can be a little overwhelming, but here’s a comprehensive list to hopefully make it just a little bit easier.
- Bedding
- Fitted Sheet
- Flat Sheet
- Comforter
- Pack an extra blanket, you never know when you’ll be extra cold or need a blanket for a tailgate/outdoor movie night, etc.
- Pillow (Maybe more than 1?)
- Clothes
- Shirts
- T-Shirts and Dress shirts
- Pants
- Jeans and Slacks alike
- Shorts
- This list changes a bit comparing on how far away from home you’re going.
- Dresses/Suit
- Casual and Formal
- Underwear/Socks
- Pack extra socks they’re so easy to lose in community laundry rooms. Seriously get plenty of socks.
- Bathrobe
- You never know when you’ll have a fire drill while you’re in the shower.
- Shoes
- Economize on this. Seriously, bring a limited number. I counted the number of shoes I had when I got ready to pack to go home for the summer and I’m not saying how many pairs I had because it’s pretty embarrassing.
- I’d recommend:
- Tennis shoes/sneakers, flats, athletic shoes if you run/workout, sandals/flip flops. semi-formal shoes, and dress heels/shoes. You can always buy more once you get there (if you’re going far away from home) shower shoes, slippers
- Jackets
- Casual 2-3
- A more dressy jacket, like a blazer 1-2
- Accessories
- Purses
- 1 or 2… seriously. A good basic black purse will do for any evening event.
- Scarves
- Etc.
- Purses
- Shirts
- Towels
- 6 big towels
- 2 Hand towels
- 3 Washcloths
- Shower Supplies
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- 2 in 1 is even better
- Body wash
- Face wash
- Any other soaps
- Skin/Nail/Hair Care-General Hygiene
- Lotion
- Deodorant/Antiperspirant
- Nail polish
- Nail polish Remover Pads
- Nail scissors/Clippers
- Hairbrush
- Parting Brush
- Dry Shampoo
- Hairspray
- Pomade/Mousse/Gel
- Hair Ties
- Bobby Pins
- Any other product you absolutely can not live without.
- School/Organization
- Backpack
- A GOOD QUALITY backpack that won't flake out on you when you have four textbooks in there. This is a splurge item, you need a quality backpack.
- School Supplies
- It’s really best to wait to buy most school supplies until after the first day of class, but go ahead and get some school supplies before you move in since what you don’t use now you can use next semester.
- Pens
- Multicolored ones are helpful for color-coding notes
- You remember what’s written in blue ink better than in black ink.
- Pencils
- You can generally get by with having a lot less pencils than pens, personally I prefer to write in pen. But I wouldn’t recommend taking math notes in pen in case you may have to erase.
- Mini-Stapler
- A mini is nice because if you forget to staple something before you turn it in, it fits nicely in your bag and you can just have convenient access to it.
- Printer
- If you can afford to splurge, a printer is a great thing to have because you never know when the library is going to be closed when you have to print a super important paper, or their printers are down, or whatever, so a printer a great thing to have.
- Pencil Bag
- Organization is your best friend
- Paper Clips
- Folder (2-3)
- I have one folder I put general papers in and then a couple that I use for certain classes.
- Textbooks! These are very important.
- PRO TIP: Chegg.com will save your life.
- Organization
- Planner
- MyStudyLife is a FANTASTIC (that's bold and in capital letters so you know I’m for real) FREE app that is super helpful for keeping track of all your classes, assignments, and tests. It’s just fabulous; I recommend to anyone, even if you’re in high school or grad school, really just any school age.
- Journal
- Journaling is hella therapeutic, and being able to look back on your college experience in riveting detail is an awesome graduation gift you can give yourself.
- Calendar
- The one on your phone works great but a wall calendar is cool too.
- Whiteboard
- A whiteboard on your door is awesome because you can let your roommate know where you are and help keep each other safe, or your friends or RA can write fun little messages on it for you.
- Storage Unit
- Anything with drawers. Dorm rooms typically have zilch storage space, so make more however possible.
- Card holder for your student ID.
- This seems like such a “first world problem thing” but trust me if you’re grabbing a to-go meal and late to class, it’ll save you from fumbling through your wallet trying to find it.
- Planner
- Backpack
- Tech
- *Printer
- Aforementioned
- Laptop
- Charger, Case, Bag, etc. Whatever comes with your laptop.
- I suggest investing in a padded case just in case your laptop falls out of your bag and onto a hard floor and you say “Nooooo” in a very low tone in slow motion. It’d be even worse if this were to happen in rain or hail on a concrete sidewalk. Save yourself the heartache now.
- Phone Charger
- I’d recommend a portable charger as well.
- Alarm Clock
- Your Mom is not there to wake you up anymore, find a way to get yourself up for class because you’re an adult now. You can do it. There’s tons of alarm apps out there if you’re a heavy sleeper.
- *Printer
- Miscellaneous
- Tape
- Scissors
- Mini-Fridge/Microwave
- SNACKS
- Microwave Meals/Ramen noodles
- The importance of food can not be underestimated.
- Decorations (Keep it simple so this room doesn’t feel cluttered, minimalism is your new college aesthetic)
- Command Hooks! TONS of Command Hooks/Stripes! You can not buy enough of these.
- Parking Pass
- You’d be surprised how many students forget this.
- Meal Plan
- Water bottle
- Pads/Sanitary Napkins/Tampons
- Tissues
- Toilet Paper
- Buy this in bulk.
- Ziploc Bags
- Trash Bags
- Re-use any plastic bags you get from stores when you go grocery, clothes, etc., shopping as trash bags and save money.
- Trashcan
- Shower Caddy
- Cleaning/Laundry/Eating Stuff
- Clorox Wipes
- Lysol
- Once someone in your dorm gets sick, it spreads like the plague. Disinfect, Disinfect, Disinfect!
- Paper Towels
- Multipurpose Cleaner
- Mini-Vacuum
- Or find the location of your dorm’s vacuum an R.A. usually has one.
- Febreeze
- Toilet Cleaner
- Toilet Brush
- Dish Soap
- Laundry Hamper/Basket/Bag
- Laundry Detergent/Pods
- Dryer Sheets
- The best way to stay ahead of laundry is to pick certain days of the week to do it. Early in the morning and mid-afternoon laundry rooms are usually less crowded.
- Paper Plates
- Plastic Cutlery
- Cups
- Dusting Spray/Duster
- Medical Supplies
- Tylenol
- Really any painkiller that works for you.
- Benadryl
- Pepto Bismol
- Excedrin (if you suffer from migraines)
- Vitamins
- DayQuil/NightQuil
- Anything for a sinus infection.
- Anti-Itch Cream
- Antibiotic Ointment
- Band-aids
- Aloe Vera
- Sore Throat Lozenges/Cough Drops
- Heating Pad
- Ice Pack
- Vitamin C
- Regular Prescribed Medication
- I know this seems like a lot, but it’s always better to be prepared.
- Tylenol
- Fun! College isn’t all work and no play!
- Movies
- Books
- Photos from home.
- A lot of people make super cute collages for their wall.
General Tips: Do your research. Dorm room dimensions are often online if you haven’t actually been inside your dorm room yet. If possible, take pictures. Start packing early and decide what you can live without or buy once you get to college. Buy a mattress cover. It will make your bed more comfy and protect you from ungodly, disgusting critters that may be in your mattress. Stay ahead of your laundry and your dishes. The more routines and structure you can make for yourself the happier and more self-sufficient you’ll be! Stay tuned for an article of general college survival tips.
I sincerely hope this helps you with the daunting task of packing for college. If there’s anything you think I missed, put it in the comments below!
The minimum wage is not a living wage.
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