Packing for college could seem either fun or daunting, but what it really is is an experiment: how much stuff do you need to survive and how much stuff do you need to thrive? The first time you “move out” will teach you a lot about yourself (are you a pack rat or do you like having space?). By my third year of school I was able to easily stuff all my clothes in two dresser drawers with some closet space for dresses and skirts. Books, however… I accumulated those, haha! I used my packing for college to notice clutter back home. I brought shampoos and shower gels that had been sitting around for ages that I could intentionally use up and finally get rid of – this cleared up space at home that I had been overlooking. This also, in turn, helped a ton when I finished school and needed to pack up to move out (and move into a tiny house!).
Before you start packing, make sure you know your school’s dormitory rules. For instance, my school didn’t allow crockpots or microwaves (I called and double-checked), but there was a microwave available on each floor and we were able to cook in our supervisor’s suite if she gave permission (which she often did!). Vacuums were not allowed (call me weird, but I had a purple vacuum from my parents and wanted to bring it), but I found a hand vac at Walmart that was small and did the job. I also learned that candles weren’t allowed, so eventually I got a wax melter. Just take a spoonful of any candle and toss it in! So nice. I love how scents contribute so much to atmosphere.
In other words, make sure you get a feel for what is available and only bring what you will be able to use!
Here’s my college packing list to get you started. Just add or remove from it as necessary:
- A week’s worth of outfits
This will depend on the space you will have and how much you want to do laundry. A week or two worked for me, but other friends brought more than that too. - Extra clothes (sweaters, jacket, formal, swimwear, vests, ties, hats)
Don’t forget a Christmas sweater! I didn’t even think of it my first year. It’s hard for some of us to think that far ahead in August, haha. But take note of special events and holidays that you will be at school during. I finally thought to bring a tiny tree and my seasonal earrings back later on. - Towel
I brought a big beach towel and would hang it to dry after every shower, so unless you shower twice a day or wouldn’t have room to hang it, this works really well! - Shoes (sport, casual, formal, winter)
For the girls – black flats are the bomb. Black flats and sneakers were all I needed, but I did bring a couple pairs of boots and some crocs too. - Tech
This includes phone, computer, chargers, a DVD player if your laptop doesn’t have one, a power strip, a coffee maker, a bed light, and a bed fan. I also brought an additional monitor for my computer (I used it for papers, but I heard the guys brought them for videogames… haha), a mini blender (did you know that they are great for making chocolate mousse and instant pudding?), and a lava lamp! - Mugs, plastic utensils, paper plates
These were nice for friends stopping by and having midnight-essay snacks! I loved having people over and hosting movie nights. It was nice to have some snacks on hand – but only if they could be sealed properly… you don’t want to deal with mice and they will come if there are crumbs. - Toiletries
Like I said, it was so nice to finally just use up shampoos and conditioners one at a time! Shower caddies are nice because you can leave all your toiletries in them and grab them all at once, though we used mine to serve cups of hot chocolate and coffee to security guards more than I needed it to tote soap. I will also admit that I’m not a make-up person (unless it’s for theatre! I love stage make-up!), so all I really had and needed in general was a razor, soaps for the shower, a tooth brush and paste, a hair brush, and deodorant. Whenever I had more to deal with than that, it was only because I was trying to use up stuff from home. I like keeping it simple. So simple that I could regularly wake up 15 minutes before class or chapel and not have to run to be on time! But to each their own. I’m just putting that out there… - Bible and Journal
I definitely recommend bringing a journal or two for your time in God’s Word! It’s worth it to switch up how you study and spend time with Him, to keep things fresh, so I liked using a tiny binder as a prayer and verse journal and a notebook I would bring to chapel to take notes in. - Binder full of scratch paper
I have found that binders are better than notebooks because you can go back and organize so easily! Just saying! - Rice/corn bag
I finally thought to sew and bring a corn bag to school by senior year! They are perfect for easing cramps and achy muscles, as well as heating up your bed before you get in! Very easy to make too. - Textbooks
Once you get into classes, start collecting your textbooks EARLY. Don’t wait until you’re there. A lot of schools have Facebook groups for textbook exchanges, so ask around about that and look for used books online. - Earplugs
NOT earbuds, earplugs. These are so, sooooo nice during tests and final exams. Even for studying in your room if you have a noisy roommate. Noise cancelling earbuds and headphones are nice too, but can’t be used during tests. - Extra pieces to personalize your space
I hope my photo for this post hasn’t scared you, haha! I called it my alcove. You might have seen on a previous post how sparse my first bed at school was. The picture posted today shows the happy space I had created to study in (and play ukulele in!) by my second year. I made some of the curtains from a bandanna collection I hadn’t done anything with in years and just kept adding on to the space from there. If you don’t have a space you’re comfortable in, assignments can seem a lot more difficult. Maybe your happy study space will be at a café with friends, that’s fine too! You’ll figure this one out when you get there.
I hope this helps! I’m sure you will have more to add, but I hope I’ve helped with the basics and maybe given you a few extra ideas. Why learn these things the hard way unless you can warn someone else, right?
Happy studies!
