Like many college students, you’ve probably never lived on your own. So, where are you even supposed to begin when it comes to packing? This is no weeklong vacation, so this time overpacking may work to your advantage this time.
Whether you’re moving into an apartment or a college dorm, your packing list is generally the same barring furniture. If you are moving in with roommates, if you can, getting in touch with them before move-in day can make this a less stressful experience.
One of the best things you can do before moving in with your new roommates is to find out what everyone else is bringing, this way, you don’t end up with four blenders and no dish towels. As you prepare for your big move, we broke down the top essential items you need to pack for college life.
School Supplies:
- Pens and pencils
- Highlighters
- Notebooks
- Stapler and staples
- Folders
- Binders
- Paper clips
- Tape
- Scissors
- Erasers
- Ruler
- Backpack or book bag
- Index cards
- Sticky notes
- Planner
Electronics
- Laptop and laptop case
- Ethernet cord
- Headphones
- Cell phone
- Extension cord and power strip
- Chargers for phone and computer
- Batteries
- Mouse and mousepad
- USB storage devices
Between music and podcast downloads to listen to while you study or walk to class and mobile apps, your electronic device’s storage will certainly be overwhelmed. That’s why it’s a good idea to invest in an online photo manager, where you can save your college memories without worrying about your storage capacity.
Photo storage device ibi collects your pictures and videos from your phone, computer, social media, and the cloud and organizes them into one space. You then decide who you want to share these memories with. Ibi gives you 1 terabyte of storage—which means you can store over 250,000 images and 100 hours of video.
Toiletries
- Pain relievers
- Vitamins
- Cold and cough medicines
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Dental floss
- Deodorant
- Mouthwash
- Soap
- Shower caddy
- Shower shoes
- Sunscreen
- Chapstick
- Bandages
- Antibiotic ointment
- Antidiarrheal medicine
- Comb or brush
- Nail file
- Nail clippers
- Tweezers
- Razor and shaving cream
- Lotion
- Towels
Household Items
- Dishtowels
- Cutlery
- Travel mug
- Coffee mug
- Food storage containers
- Dish soap
- Sponges
- Bowl and plate
- Cups
- Reusable water bottle
- Can opener
- Bottle opener
- Water filter
Room Essentials
- Laundry basket
- Laundry detergent
- Air freshener
- Desk lamp
- Bedside lamp
- Alarm clock
- Mini fridge
- Microwave
- Clothes hangers
- Storage bins
- Small toolkit
- Small sewing kit
- Lint brush
- Small vacuum
- Iron
- Small ironing board
- A trash can and trash bags
- Bulletin board and push pins
- Fan
- Portable heater
- Picture hangers
- Poster tape
- Area rug
Bedding
- Bedsheets
- Pillows and pillowcases
- Mattress pad
- Hygienic mattress protector
- Bedspread or comforter
- At least two blankets
Clothing
- Underwear
- Socks
- Pants
- Sweats
- Shirts
- Two business casual outfits
- Two outfits for going out
- Pajamas
- Bathrobe
- Jackets
- Coats
- Boots
- Rain boots
- Gym shoes
- One pair of dress shoes
- One swimsuit
- Umbrella
- Sunglasses
- Hats
Miscellaneous
- Wallet
- Debit card and/or credit card
- Cash
- Contact information for family, friends, and doctors
- Personal ID
- Student ID
- Health insurance card
- Curtains
- Mirror
- Journal
- Calendar
- Posters and pictures
It is always a good idea to have cash on hand when you are walking around campus. Additionally, plenty of venues on and off school grounds will offer discounted prices to shows like movie screenings, concerts, and musicals. You can find deals on Dear Evan Hansen Tickets and other shows at a box office or even online through digital ticketing platforms like TodayTix. Look into student rush programs to see if you can find last-minute affordable prices on shows.
If you’re a broke college student, you don’t have to deprive yourself of fun and culture. Do some digging to find student discounts for events. The best way to find about these deals is by subscribing to platforms offering event tickets or by downloading the business’s mobile apps.