Back to school time is coming fast, and for a lot of us that means moving into dorms!! My first year I brought all the wrong things, so here are some tips and a lil packing list to help you guys figure out what you need and what you don’t.
tip #1
You don’t need as much as you think you need. Throw out those bed bath and beyond packing lists because they’re only trying to take all your money. If you don’t use it when you’re at home, you won’t use it at school.
tip #2
Think through a typical school day – what do you do? What do you need?
tip #3
Pack in things that will be staying in your dorm as much as possible – laundry baskets, trunks, those plastic drawers, etc. It’s way easier than carrying down 500 boxes to the recycling bin.
tip #4
Don’t shove too much into one bin, especially if there’s no elevator. Keep it light!
tip #5
See if there are things you can wait and buy there – snacks, school supplies, etc to save room in your car. But drive an extra half an hour instead of going to the Target right by campus that’s inevitably packed and sold out of everything.
tip #6
Pack cleaning supplies last so you can clean everything (especially your bed!!) before you start unpacking.
tip #7
Bring some snacks and a bottle of water for moving day, and dress comfy. It will inevitably be 100 degrees and you + your fam will get hangry fast.
A comfy mattress pad!! Dorm mattresses are brutal. Mine was around $25 from bed bath and beyond and was just as comfy as the expensive tempuredic ones
An extra set of (cheap) twin xl sheets for laundry day
An easy to clean duvet/quilt (twin is fine)
Double check on bedding sizes! Twin xl is standard, but it may be different at your school.
Extra blankets for movies nights/when friends stay over
A sturdy shower caddy! I got one for $5 and had to replace it by fall break
A robe for the walk to and from the bathroom
Shower shoes!!!!! Dorm bathrooms are nasty
Towels (3) and bath cloths (however often you use them)
Whatever soaps/shampoos/etc you use
Stock up on pads/tampons/hand soap before your parents leave so you don’t have to walk to the store when you need it
Don’t buy notebooks until after the first day of class! Some may be better suited for laptop notes, and for some you may not take notes at all.
A bulletin board is a lifesaver!!
A small white board (not hung up on the wall) is nice for making notes/working on problems without wasting paper
Have those random things on hand that you never think about until you need them: tape (masking, duct!!!!, scotch), tape measure, etc
Bring lots of lil drawer organizer/pen cups to organize
Pack all of your favorite pens/journals/sticky notes, but leave a few at home for when you’re studying on break
Research your school’s weather and pack accordingly, ofc
Pack lots that’s easy to layer (old buildings have temperamental heating)
Comfy shoes are so important!! You’ll be walking everywhere
Leave most winter clothing at home to pick up on break, but bring a coat and sweater in case there’s some early cold weather
Same goes for spring semester! Packing shorts in January seems weird, but you’ll be glad
Pack an outfit or two for nice events/interviews
Bring all the clothes that make you feel great and confident, and leave the rest at home
Some cozy clothes for lazy days/camping out at the library
Rain boots and a rain coat! I never used them before, but rainy days are 10x worse when you have to walk to class
Try not to over pack – you’ll be getting new clothes (especially free t shirts) and dorm storage is limited
Bring a floor lamp! Dorm lighting is so depressing, you’ll want one in addition to your desk lamp.
Duct tape!! Seriously you’ll use it all the time
A sleeping bag is great to have on hand; you’ll use it more than you think (weekend trips, for friends who stay over, etc)
Some cleaning supplies: clorox wipes, a broom, etc
HDMI cord for watching pirated movies on your tv
Medicine – pain killers, cold/stomach/allergy medicine, cough drops, etc
A small duffle bag, plus a toiletry case for weekend trips
Your insurance card!!! + other important papers in case of emergency
Tupperware for sneaking food out of the dining hall
here are a few things commonly listed on packing lists that you’ll never use.
A bed skirt – so many suggested it, but there’s no need
A fan – most dorms have a/c units, and if it turns out to be too hot it’s easier to go out and buy one for $10 than to store one you don’t use
Printer – you’ll most likely get free printing money to use at the library
A laundry drying rack – you have bed posts for a reason
Travel sized toiletries – just bring the full size. You live there, after all
Bed risers – you’ll most likely have an adjustable bed already
Step ladder – I cannot think of a reason you would need this (other than move in day) when a chair would not suffice
Iron/ironing board – I promise ironing will not cross your mind, and if you really need to just throw it in the dryer with a wet bath cloth. The extra space will be worth the fifty cents.
Pots/pans – you’ll rarely be cooking if you have a meal plan, and if you are most schools allow you to rent them for the night
This is far from an exhaustive list, but it should help you get an idea of what you need and what you don’t! Be sure to check out your school’s housing website to find the details of your dorm before you leave. Good luck and happy packing!
