So You're Heading to College
- Christine
- Aug 10, 2015
- 4 min read
Congratulations! You’ve made a huge decision, and after years of hard work you’re finally heading to college. There are just a few things you need to do before you can finally head into the great unknown. Friends will be seen one last time, you’ll visit your family and as you say goodbye, they will slip $20 into your hand when your mom and dad aren’t looking, and you’ll need to pack up nearly everything you own, making it fit into just a few bags and bins. Packing is a daunting task, I’ll be the first to admit it. Where do you even begin? Some people wait until the night before, while others strategically plan, finding packing lists on the university’s website or Pinterest, laying everything out into neat piles, and checking and rechecking to make sure nothing is forgotten. Inevitably, something is always left behind, and depending on how far away you are, forgetting something could be a hassle. In this rendition of my Back to School Series, I’ll provide some tips and tricks on how to pack, as well as a list of commonly forgotten items.
So, everyone packs differently. I personally can’t wait until the last minute. I like to make lists and then lay everything out where I can see it. I also lay things out in categories. I’ll begin with clothing, and get that all packed up before moving onto something else. When packing clothing, try rolling your clothes, placing the biggest things on the bottom of your suitcase, like jeans and sweatshirts. Rolling your clothing makes it take up less space, and it also helps prevent it from wrinkling. Another thing I do is I wrap up anything breakable, such as coffee mugs, in t-shirts or sweatshirts to keep them safe during the move.
When packing clothes, you’ll want to plan accordingly. Don’t bring your entire summer wardrobe for the Fall semester unless you plan on going home frequently. Likewise, don’t bring all of your bulky winter sweaters and winter coat if you know you’ll be coming home for Fall break in early October.
Once you’ve packed all of your clothing, you’ll want to think about other things you will
want to make your dorm room feel like home. Decorations, photos, string lights, and some nice bedding will make your room feel less sterile and more like your own. Think about the things in your room that you enjoy seeing every day, whether it’s a poster of your favorite band or a photo of you and your best friend or significant other, if you like seeing it, take it with you. Another great way to add some personal flare to your room is to get some personalized letters (Hannah sells them on her Etsy) or a bulletin board to hang photos on. Look to Pinterest for ideas!
You’ll also need appliances and kitchen supplies while at school. Make sure to check your university’s housing page to see if a mini-fridge and microwave are provided. If they aren’t you’ll want to talk to your roommate about who will bring what. Same thing goes if you are a coffee drinker. Things like coffee pots and other appliances (desk lamps, dish drying rack, garbage can) don’t fit will into storage bins, so you may want to leave them off to the side, but in sight so you won’t forget about them. When it comes to kitchen supplies, you want to make sure you bring two of everything: cups, silverware, bowls, and plates. I highly recommend buying microwave safe bowls and plates, because melted plastic in your food is pretty unhealthy. If you like to cook or bake you’ll also want to invest in some pots and pans.
But enough about packing. Let’s talk about things that are commonly forgotten.
Scissors, tape, wall putty, and other office supplies
Oven mits, dish towels, and cooking utensils
Extra blankets (you never know how chilly your roommate will want the room)
TV Cable- without it, you’re not watching TV anytime soon
Laptop sleeve- you’ll want this to keep your computer safe when you take it from building to building
A lockbox. If you have important things you want to keep locked up, such as cash or you social security card, you’ll want to invest in a lockbox
Rain boots and umbrella. Because it’s no fun walking around in the rain without them
A flashdrive. Unless you bring a printer, you’ll want one of these to upload documents on a school computer
Something to do in your free time. Whether it’s a coloring book, knitting supplies, or movies, make sure to bring something you can do when you have a night off.
A book light. If you like to read, but your roommate likes to go to bed early, a book light definitely comes in handy.
A mini-vacuum cleaner. Dorm room floors get dirty quickly, so you want to make sure you have something to clean with.
Laundry and intimates bags. Make sure to get something sturdy, but also easily stored. Intimates bags help keep you from losing socks and underwear. It’s pretty embarrassing to see your undies sitting in the lost and found box.
Tips:
Wait until you get to school to buy groceries, body care products, and laundry detergent. These things are heavy and take up a lot of space. Spend some time with your parents before they leave by taking a trip to the local grocery store together.
Invest in storage! Over the door hooks, pop up storage bins, and scarf hangers all help to clear up space in your door room and keep it looking neat. I personally swear by 5 Below. They have great products that are incredibly inexpensive to deck out your dorm room. And their pop up storage bins are 2 for $5!
Commutate! There’s nothing more frustrating than having two microwaves or mini fridges. Dorm rooms are tiny, and you definitely don’t need two of what you could easily have one of.
Take advantage of space. Often times, beds are adjustable or can be lofted onto other pieces of furniture, giving you lots of under the bed storage space. Account for this when purchasing bins and other storage units. Three-drawer storage bins work nicely under beds, especially since a lot of dorms don’t offer ample drawer space. Hanging shoe racks also work nicely in closets.
Well, that’s all for this week! If you have any packing tips or tricks, leave them in the comments below, along with what items you couldn’t live without at school. Happy packing!
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