What to Pack and What Not to Pack for College

by Neil Patrick O’Donnell

Have the whole trip planned, do you?  How many suitcases are you bringing?  Are you planning multiple trips?  How are you going to get everything home at the end of the year?

It never ceases to amaze me what students bring to college on move in day.  Gigantic refrigerators, huge stereo systems, dressers and recliners are common “essentials” seen jammed into elevators and hallways mid-August across campus.

Have you actually seen how large (or rather how small) dorm rooms are?

Packing for college is not so simple a task that you can ignore careful planning.  Below is a list of suggestions that will make the trip useful rather than useless.

• Visit dorms rooms ahead of time to gauge size, or at the very least contact the college’s Residence Life Office and ask for dimensions of your assigned dorm room.  It’s not uncommon to see large televisions sitting in a common room because the monster, flat-screen can’t fit through the student’s room door.

• Find out what is allowed and what is not.  Pets, major appliances and watt-sucking stereo systems may be banned. Or, there may be a limited amount of outlets that are in each room requiring students to be selective in what they bring.  Remember, in most instances, a student is going to have roommates.

• Speaking of roommates, try to contact them in advance and find out what they are bringing.  With a limited amount of space, it makes sense to divide responsibilities; one student can bring a small fridge and the other can bring the microwave.  (Some colleges supply fridges and/or microwaves in some dorms, so check first.)

• As for appliances, see what is available already in the dorms.  Common rooms often contain stoves, refrigerators and microwave ovens, sparing students the need to provide their own.  That said, you might want a small fridge in your room so you can keep your Pepsi and milk from disappearing.

• Bring your own toilet paper. Yes, I know the school provides this necessity.  However, their cheap, industrial brand is no match for Cottonelle, nor is TP restocked immediately – don’t tempt fate here (you’ve been warned).  While we’re at it, contact the college’s bookstore; find out how much it is to buy TP, toothpaste, notebooks, pens and additional basics.  College bookstores significantly raise prices.  Making room in the car for a stash of the basics or finding and stopping at a Target or WalMart near campus could save a student hundreds of dollars.

• Bring two sets of sheets, a comfortable blanket, a good pillow, a dependable alarm clock, three rolls of quarters, a book light, pictures of family and friends, a camera and a portable radio.  Also bring an assortment of books that includes some of your favorite stories; this will be a lifesaver on stressful and/or boring days when you need a pick-me-up or distraction.

This list is a good start in preparing for a trek to college, but additional necessities will surface that are particular to a specific college.  Check your college’s web site to find their packing recommendations. How do you fully prepare for the trek?  Ask friends and family mistakes they made when packing for college, and accept the fact that you are going to forget something.