The Don't-Forget-'Em Essentials
- Quarters - possibly one of the highest-demand items on a college
campus. Grab a roll or two before you go. (Tip: if you run out, ask a fellow
student who works as a waiter/waitress.)
- Detergent and fabric softener - if you buy a big box because it's
cheaper in bulk, make sure you have a way to carry down a little bit at a time.
There's no need to carry 25 pounds of detergent down three flights of stairs
every time you need to wash your clothes.
- Laundry basket, hamper, or bag - Given that space is usually at a
premium for college students, this should double as a way to carry your clothes
from your room to the washing machines.
- Febreze - Speaking of that dirty laundry . . .
- Shower caddy - You'll most likely need to carry your shower items
(soap, shampoo, conditioner, razor, etc.) from your room and back.
- Shower shoes - The showers at school may not be as clean as the ones
you're used to. Make sure you have something to prevent catching (or stepping
in) anything nasty.
- Robe - Not everyone wants to walk from the shower to their room in
only a towel.
- First
aid kit - Something simple will do to help cover up and heal little
injuries here and there.
- Sewing kit - This may seem like a lifesaver when you're on your last
pair of clean socks . . . and your toe pokes through them.
- Small toolkit - These can be a little hard to find, but are worth the
effort. A basic toolkit with a small hammer, screwdriver (with different kinds
of tips), wrench, tape measure, and a few other essentials will come in
very handy during your time at school.
- Hangers - It's no fun to arrive at school with tons of clothes that
have to live on your bed or closet floor for the first few days.
- Cup, bowl, plate, fork, knife, and spoon - One set should work for
grabbing pizza late at night, sharing
the 2-liter soda your
RA bought during midterms week, and eating
healthy snacks while studying between meals.
- Can opener - There's just no way to get that can of soup open without
one, especially when it's really late and you're really hungry.
- Small items for clean-up
- Depending on what you prefer, this could be Clorox wipes, paper towels, a rag
or two, or a few sponges. But that cup of soda is inevitably going to spill.
- Keychain - While you can wait to get this until you arrive, make sure
it's on your list. Most students have a keychain that holds their keys and
student ID; get a sturdy one that will be hard to lose.
- Extra-long
sheets - Check with your school before buying sheets. Most college
residence halls have extra-long twin beds, which are a different size than
standard twin beds. You'll need a specific size of sheets to fit them.
- Flash/jump/thumb drive - Perfect for printing at the library, saving
your work when working with a group on someone else's computer, and bringing to
class for presentations.
- Laptop
lock - Make sure your laptop is as protected as possible, no matter how
safe
you feel.
- Power strip with surge protection - Residence hall rooms are
notorious for not having enough plugs. Make sure you can safely plug in what you
bring.
- Extension cords - With rooms being small enough already, the last
thing you need is to have to move things around just to reach an outlet.
- Printer paper - You just finished writing your essay, you're tired,
and you want to go to bed. Who wants to spend twenty minutes searching for
printer paper?
- Small fan - Most residence halls don't have air conditioning and can
get pretty hot during the summer. A tiny fan will do wonders for your room.
- Umbrella - If you're packing during a sunny day, this may totally
slip your mind. But you'll be grateful for it the first time it rains on campus.
- Fridge and microwave - Essentials for most college students. Make sure, though, that you coordinate with your roommate before bringing either of these. Additionally, make sure that whatever you bring doesn't exceed the limitations on what's allowed in your hall. (You can find out more about size and electricity limits by contacting your campus residence life office.)
Examples from the Don't-Bring-'Em List
- Candles - These are rarely allowed in residence halls, and even
on-campus apartments, because of the fire hazard. Even if you aren't going to
light them, they still may not be allowed.
- A fridge or microwave that exceeds the size and electricity limits for
your room or apartment
- Hot plate - These are also usually not permitted in on-campus
housing.
- Expensive equipment - You may think that bringing very high-quality stereo equipment may make you a popular student on your floor. That may be true, but doing so may also make you a target for theft.
Lastly, make sure you know how to keep all your stuff safe once you arrive. Who wants to spend all that time packing just tcollegelife.about.como have your things disappear?!
http://collegelife.about.com/od/beforeyouarrive/a/WhatToPack.htm
