What am I forgetting? Will I need this? Does the school provide that? How will all of this fit in my car!? You’ll probably be a little stressed (or extremely stressed in my case), but it’ll all be worth it once you have a room at you can call your own.
To alleviate some of the stress of packing, we’ve put together a general list of things you’re going to need/want for your first year of school. Trust me, lists are lifesavers. So check it once, check it twice and, hopefully, your packing experience will be a little nicer because of it. And don’t worry if you do forget something (because you probably will) — Target and Walmart are just a short drive away from campus. So, don’t stress too much, and remember it’ll get easier every year.
BEDDING
- Foam topper or mattress pad
- Twin XL sheet set
- Comforter
- Pillows
- Pillowcases
- Throw blanket
- Bedside table/tray
- Bedside lamp (You’ll want to find a clip-on lamp if you decide to loft your bed.)
- Alarm clock
- Earplugs
- Sleep mask
ROOM
- Foldable chair
- Futon (If you have space for one — coordinate with your roommate.)
- Floor lamp
- String lights
- Air freshener (Ask your roommate if this is OK.)
- Area rug
- Bed risers (You’ll want these if you don’t plan on lofting your bed.)
- Adhesive hooks and strips (Command hooks are great!)
- Dry erase board or bulletin board
- Push pins/magnets/whiteboard markers
- Desk lamp
- Desk organizer (for pencils, pens, and loose pieces of paper)
- Posters and decorations
- Photos of family and friends
- Hangers
- Fan (Park Region is the only ¶À¼ÒºÚÁÏ residence hall with A/C.)
- Wall mirror/full-length mirror
- Trashcan
- Doorstop
- Storage containers
- Under-bed storage
LAUNDRY
- Laundry hamper or bag
- Laundry detergent
- Dryer sheets
- Stain
- Lint brush
- Portable stain remover pen (I always keep one in my backpack.)
- Small sewing kit
KITCHEN SUPPLIES
- Coffee maker (Keurigs are lifesavers on those early mornings.)
- Coffee filters (If you decide to bring a 10-12 cup maker.)
- Reusable water bottle
- Ramen cooker
- Utensils
- Plates and bowls
- Mugs
- Travel mug
- Bottle opener
- Can opener
- Chip clips
- Paper towels
- Tupperware
- Sealable plastic bags
- Dish towels
- Dishwashing soap
- Disinfecting wipes (These are great for wiping down surfaces in the room.)
- Sponge
- Mini handheld vacuum (¶À¼ÒºÚÁÏ provides basic cleaning supplies such as brooms, dustpans, and vacuums in the residence halls.)
- Trash bags
BATHROOM
- Shower caddy
- Shower shoes
- Towels (washcloths, hand towels, and bath towels)
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body wash
- Face
- Shaving cream
- Razor
- Deodorant
- Sunscreen
- Lotion
- Hair spray and other hair products
- Hair ties, clips, headbands
- Hairbrush/comb
- Bobby pins
- Blow dryer
- Straightener/curling iron
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Mouthwash
- Floss
- Toothbrush holder/cover
- Tweezers
- Contacts, solution, and case
- Eyeglasses and case
- Eyeglass cleaner
- Cotton balls
- Cotton swabs
- Tissues
- Nail clippers
MEDICAL/HEALTH
- Allergy medicine
- Aloe lotion for sunburns
- Vaseline
- Bandages
- Antibiotic ointment
- First aid kit
- Cold and flu medicine
- Cough drops
- Antacid
- Multivitamins
- Ibuprofen/Acetaminophen
- Tampons/pads
- Contraceptives
- Prescription medicine
- Prescription refill information
- Retainer/mouthguard
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
- Backpack (Make sure your laptop and books will fit!)
- Folders
- Notebooks
- Index cards (These are very useful when studying or giving presentations.)
- Sticky notes
- Binder
- Planner
- Pencils
- Pens
- Erasers
- Permanent markers
- Highlighters
- Pencil bag/case
- Scissors
- Stapler (Get a mini one for your backpack — you’ll be surprised how much you use it.)
- Extra staples
- Paper clips
- Calculator
- Ruler
- Tape
- Textbooks
TECH
- Laptop
- Laptop case
- Wireless mouse
- Flash drives
- Chargers (phone, laptop, camera, etc.)
- Portable charger
- Power strip
- HDMI cable (ethernet cables are provided in residence halls)
- Extension cords
- Headphones
- Speaker
- TV
- Extra batteries
DOCUMENTS
- Bank documents
- Credit card
- Debit card
- Checks
- Driver’s license
- Car registration and insurance information
- Copy of birth certificate
- Copy of Social Security card (You’ll need this to begin any on-campus jobs.)
- Passport
- Student ID
- Financial aid documents
- Health insurance cards
MISCELLANEOUS
- Bike
- Bike lock
- Books to read for fun
- Playing cards
- Art supplies
- Musical instruments
- Religious materials
- Flashlight
- Safety pins
- Suitcase/duffel bag
- Umbrella
- Yoga
- Sports equipment
- Journal (These are always fun to look back on!)
- Mini tool kit
- Stamps and envelopes
We hope this list helps with the packing process! Be sure to coordinate with your roommate as well, since you can share things like TVs, cleaning supplies, and dishes. Splitting up big items can make the process much easier.
Have fun, pack smart, and welcome to college!
Published August 2017