I usually try to have a travel-related post toward the end of the week, but I figured summer is starting to wind down and a lot of folks will be heading off to college soon. Whether it is you, your child, your brother/sister, cousin, friend...whatever, you are probably impacted by this huge change. I am here to help!
I miss college so much some days, but I do not miss moving in and out. I know dorms have come a way since I was a resident in one, but that still doesn't mean it is easy. One of the best parts about working on a college campus is staying up to date with current trends, changes, difficulties, etc. I like to think my students keep me informed; hopefully, that helps me better prepare you.
This edition of the Off to College Guide is to assist with packing. Being away from home for a whole school year is a challenge when it comes to packing. Sure, you will be going home for weekends sometimes and holidays, but do you really want to be dragging your belongings back and forth? No, you want to get it right the first time.
Disclaimer: I am an over-packer. Always have been, always will be. The bright side: I am usually prepared for most anything. If you click the image below, it should take you to the full size which is an 8.5x11 printable. I will expand on my choices below the image.
For the Room
What I mentioned:
Everything on this list is pretty self explanatory, but I will clear up some of the potentially questionable items.
Most dorms have tile floors and you will eventually get tired of having cold feet so I highly recommend getting a throw rug. If that isn't your style, at least get a rug for right inside your door so you can wipe your feet off. Trust me, tile floors show everything...you won't regret this purchase.
I know some people are reading the plates/utensils/cups and wondering why you need them because you have a meal plan. If you live in a cooler climate, are you really going to want to venture out in a blizzard just to go to the dining hall? If you are sick, do you really feel like being around people just to get food? No. You should have some food in your room (in rubbermaid bins so you do not get rodents or insects) just in case. This leads to ziplocs (for leftovers, unless you want to toss it) and paper towels for messes.
If you make it through your entire college career without ever having your dorm/campus lose power, I will be surprised. Don't fret, there are backup/emergency lighting in the main areas, but it will not help much in your room. A flashlight is a necessity...no doubt about it.
Even if you live in a climate controlled dorm (I didn't have that luxury -- it had no AC and the heat was controlled centrally, not by room), there will likely be an event where it is broken. If your luck is anything like mine, this will happen on the hottest week of the year. I would personally want to have a fan just in case. This could also help drown out noise when trying to sleep with a noisy neighbor being too loud across the hall.
What I didn't mention:
You really should try to get in touch with your roomie before you move it. It is silly for you both to bring shared items for the room (tv, vacuum, etc). Also, many universities allow you to "rent" microfridges for the year. It is best to coordinate this with your roomie if you plan to share, but if you are both renting your own that is fine too (just make sure you both actually are). If you do not have that option, one of you can provide a fridge and the other a microwave. Communication is key here. There is no point in having doubles or none at all because of lack of communication.
I tried not to put too many cleaning products on here because I know most college students prefer not to clean. I do recommend multi-purpose wipes, however. They can clean the windows, fridge, microwave, tv, a mess on the floor...that is the whole point in multi-purpose.
Bed risers. I know they are weird, but they do give you additional storage underneath your bed. I went freshman year without bed risers and then decided I couldn't live without them. A purchase that you will not regret.
School Supplies
I know it can be a painful thought for those penny-pinching parents (and I understand), but a computer is necessary for a college student. I only made it a few weeks at school without a computer before I realized there was no way I was going to make it through without one. It doesn't have to be the most expensive model, it just has to have the capability to connect to the internet and Microsoft Office. Technically, it doesn't even need Microsoft Office (it is a little pricey) because some schools have downloads on reserve (check with the university library) or they can use Google Drive instead (which means they will NEVER lose a paper because it saves automatically with each keystroke).
Unlike a computer, a printer (and ink) isn't necessary but I do still recommend it. Many of my students come to the library to print, but it was not something I ever got into the habit of doing. I liked the convenience of printing my paper and heading right to class. If I ran out of ink, I printed in the library or a computer lab until I could replace, but I was late to class once (which I NEVER did -- I skipped sometimes, everyone does, but it is rude to walk in late and I did not do it if I woke up late) because the printing line was so long.
I know electronic cords for laptop, printer, phone charger, whatever, seems like a simple thing to remember but I did forget my power cord one year. It was a serious DUH moment when I figured it out. Ever since that year, it is always on my packing list whenever I take my laptop anywhere, to this very day.
Most everything else is self explanatory, except for maybe books. The reason this is listed is not because I think there is a whole lot of pleasure reading happening in college. I tried to purchase as many books as I could (using cheapesttextbooks.com) prior to going back to school. It is more fiscally responsible to try to purchase used online than from the school bookstore.
Personal Care Items + Clothing & Accessories
These are both straightforward lists. And I apologize, I know this list is geared toward females (I honestly have no idea what males may/may not take anywhere, let alone college).
Medicine. I am not talking take a fully stocked narcotics drugstore. I am talking aspirin, allergy medication, and especially benadryl. You are experiencing new things in college and you never know if you may be allergic to one of them...it certainly wouldn't hurt to have benadryl on hand (an avoided trip to the ER is considered a win...the campus clinic is a much better approach).
Along the same line, neosporin & bandaids are a must. You will get hurt; you will need them. If you slip on ice and fall, you will want them. If some idiot on a bike knocks you off the sidewalk, you will want them. If a late night stumble home doesn't fair so well for you, you will want them. If none of this happens to you, I think you should re-do your college career. No, seriously...if none of this happens to you it will happen to someone you know and then you can save the day.
I know the clothes list is long, but it is better to be prepared (in my opinion, anyway). I know you looked at suit & swimsuit and said I am crazy. 1) A communication class is required. This means you are required to give a speech in front of your class at least once, but probably more. Many professors require professional attire; mine required a suit (two actually, one for a speech and one for an etiquette dinner. yes, I'm serious). 2) Most schools have a pool. Some schools have classes that allow you to take fitness classes utilizing the pool (swimming, kayaking, etc).
Please, I beg you, remember an umbrella. It will rain, probably pour, at least a few times. Don't go sloshing around drenched...use an umbrella.
If you are living in a dorm with a community (per floor) shower, you HAVE TO HAVE shower shoes. This is non-negotiable. Unless you want fungus, do it. If you have a private bathroom (lucky you), you should be fine as long as you and/or your roommate clean the shower regularly (more than once per semester).
What to pack in:
I assume you are shoving your clothes in luggage or bags? That is fine as long as they are nestable. Just remember that dorms are small and storage is limited, so unless you are sending them home with your parents you are going to want items that you can hide away.
I highly suggest packing as many items as you can in rubbermaid bins. It is easy for stacking and easy to carry. Also, you are probably going to want to keep one or two in your room (for food or as a hamper/laundry basket). The rest of them can stack and hide in the closet or go home with your parental units.
I hope that you found this list helpful, even if it is a bit overwhelming. If you have any questions that I didn't touch on above, do not hesitate to leave a comment or email me at lifeissodelish@gmail.com!
Check back next week to learn some unpacking tips & tricks to make your move-in day more manageable.
I miss college so much some days, but I do not miss moving in and out. I know dorms have come a way since I was a resident in one, but that still doesn't mean it is easy. One of the best parts about working on a college campus is staying up to date with current trends, changes, difficulties, etc. I like to think my students keep me informed; hopefully, that helps me better prepare you.
This edition of the Off to College Guide is to assist with packing. Being away from home for a whole school year is a challenge when it comes to packing. Sure, you will be going home for weekends sometimes and holidays, but do you really want to be dragging your belongings back and forth? No, you want to get it right the first time.
Disclaimer: I am an over-packer. Always have been, always will be. The bright side: I am usually prepared for most anything. If you click the image below, it should take you to the full size which is an 8.5x11 printable. I will expand on my choices below the image.
For the Room
What I mentioned:
Everything on this list is pretty self explanatory, but I will clear up some of the potentially questionable items.
Most dorms have tile floors and you will eventually get tired of having cold feet so I highly recommend getting a throw rug. If that isn't your style, at least get a rug for right inside your door so you can wipe your feet off. Trust me, tile floors show everything...you won't regret this purchase.
I know some people are reading the plates/utensils/cups and wondering why you need them because you have a meal plan. If you live in a cooler climate, are you really going to want to venture out in a blizzard just to go to the dining hall? If you are sick, do you really feel like being around people just to get food? No. You should have some food in your room (in rubbermaid bins so you do not get rodents or insects) just in case. This leads to ziplocs (for leftovers, unless you want to toss it) and paper towels for messes.
If you make it through your entire college career without ever having your dorm/campus lose power, I will be surprised. Don't fret, there are backup/emergency lighting in the main areas, but it will not help much in your room. A flashlight is a necessity...no doubt about it.
Even if you live in a climate controlled dorm (I didn't have that luxury -- it had no AC and the heat was controlled centrally, not by room), there will likely be an event where it is broken. If your luck is anything like mine, this will happen on the hottest week of the year. I would personally want to have a fan just in case. This could also help drown out noise when trying to sleep with a noisy neighbor being too loud across the hall.
What I didn't mention:
You really should try to get in touch with your roomie before you move it. It is silly for you both to bring shared items for the room (tv, vacuum, etc). Also, many universities allow you to "rent" microfridges for the year. It is best to coordinate this with your roomie if you plan to share, but if you are both renting your own that is fine too (just make sure you both actually are). If you do not have that option, one of you can provide a fridge and the other a microwave. Communication is key here. There is no point in having doubles or none at all because of lack of communication.
I tried not to put too many cleaning products on here because I know most college students prefer not to clean. I do recommend multi-purpose wipes, however. They can clean the windows, fridge, microwave, tv, a mess on the floor...that is the whole point in multi-purpose.
Bed risers. I know they are weird, but they do give you additional storage underneath your bed. I went freshman year without bed risers and then decided I couldn't live without them. A purchase that you will not regret.
School Supplies
I know it can be a painful thought for those penny-pinching parents (and I understand), but a computer is necessary for a college student. I only made it a few weeks at school without a computer before I realized there was no way I was going to make it through without one. It doesn't have to be the most expensive model, it just has to have the capability to connect to the internet and Microsoft Office. Technically, it doesn't even need Microsoft Office (it is a little pricey) because some schools have downloads on reserve (check with the university library) or they can use Google Drive instead (which means they will NEVER lose a paper because it saves automatically with each keystroke).
Unlike a computer, a printer (and ink) isn't necessary but I do still recommend it. Many of my students come to the library to print, but it was not something I ever got into the habit of doing. I liked the convenience of printing my paper and heading right to class. If I ran out of ink, I printed in the library or a computer lab until I could replace, but I was late to class once (which I NEVER did -- I skipped sometimes, everyone does, but it is rude to walk in late and I did not do it if I woke up late) because the printing line was so long.
I know electronic cords for laptop, printer, phone charger, whatever, seems like a simple thing to remember but I did forget my power cord one year. It was a serious DUH moment when I figured it out. Ever since that year, it is always on my packing list whenever I take my laptop anywhere, to this very day.
Most everything else is self explanatory, except for maybe books. The reason this is listed is not because I think there is a whole lot of pleasure reading happening in college. I tried to purchase as many books as I could (using cheapesttextbooks.com) prior to going back to school. It is more fiscally responsible to try to purchase used online than from the school bookstore.
Personal Care Items + Clothing & Accessories
These are both straightforward lists. And I apologize, I know this list is geared toward females (I honestly have no idea what males may/may not take anywhere, let alone college).
Medicine. I am not talking take a fully stocked narcotics drugstore. I am talking aspirin, allergy medication, and especially benadryl. You are experiencing new things in college and you never know if you may be allergic to one of them...it certainly wouldn't hurt to have benadryl on hand (an avoided trip to the ER is considered a win...the campus clinic is a much better approach).
Along the same line, neosporin & bandaids are a must. You will get hurt; you will need them. If you slip on ice and fall, you will want them. If some idiot on a bike knocks you off the sidewalk, you will want them. If a late night stumble home doesn't fair so well for you, you will want them. If none of this happens to you, I think you should re-do your college career. No, seriously...if none of this happens to you it will happen to someone you know and then you can save the day.
I know the clothes list is long, but it is better to be prepared (in my opinion, anyway). I know you looked at suit & swimsuit and said I am crazy. 1) A communication class is required. This means you are required to give a speech in front of your class at least once, but probably more. Many professors require professional attire; mine required a suit (two actually, one for a speech and one for an etiquette dinner. yes, I'm serious). 2) Most schools have a pool. Some schools have classes that allow you to take fitness classes utilizing the pool (swimming, kayaking, etc).
Please, I beg you, remember an umbrella. It will rain, probably pour, at least a few times. Don't go sloshing around drenched...use an umbrella.
If you are living in a dorm with a community (per floor) shower, you HAVE TO HAVE shower shoes. This is non-negotiable. Unless you want fungus, do it. If you have a private bathroom (lucky you), you should be fine as long as you and/or your roommate clean the shower regularly (more than once per semester).
What to pack in:
I assume you are shoving your clothes in luggage or bags? That is fine as long as they are nestable. Just remember that dorms are small and storage is limited, so unless you are sending them home with your parents you are going to want items that you can hide away.
I highly suggest packing as many items as you can in rubbermaid bins. It is easy for stacking and easy to carry. Also, you are probably going to want to keep one or two in your room (for food or as a hamper/laundry basket). The rest of them can stack and hide in the closet or go home with your parental units.
I hope that you found this list helpful, even if it is a bit overwhelming. If you have any questions that I didn't touch on above, do not hesitate to leave a comment or email me at lifeissodelish@gmail.com!
Check back next week to learn some unpacking tips & tricks to make your move-in day more manageable.
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