Packing for College: The Forgotten Necessities
1. Pictures and Mementos from Home – This is an obvious one, but it should be top on your list. When you’re away from home with all new people, you’ll want some comforts from home. Make a collage of your favorite pictures on poster board or bring your beloved stuffed animal.
2. Egg Crate Mattress – College mattresses are a unique form of torture. If you don’t bring an egg crate with you, you’ll find yourself at the nearest Target the first morning. So save yourself the trouble and get one now.
3. Shower Shoes – Public showers are the second form of torture. I’m sure I don’t need to get into why you wouldn’t want to shower barefoot. Just use your imagination and buy some cheap flip-flops.
4. Clothes Hangers – At home, I’m sure you had a nicely stocked closet. At school, you’re an adult and need to bring your own stuff. If you want to hang your clothes, you need to remember to pack hangers.
5. Small Duffel Bag – While you’ll use cardboard boxes to move, make sure to bring a duffel bag (and possibly sleeping bag) with you. This way you’ll be ready for a surprise overnight trip with friends or the last-minute decision to visit home.
6. Power Strip with Surge Protector – Dorms don’t have all the conveniences of home, and you may need to hook up every electronic device you’ve ever owned to just one or two wall outlets. A power strip will keep you from burning your new home to the ground. And make sure it has a surge protector feature. Dorms are notorious for losing power from heavy storms, strong winds, squirrel attacks, and occasionally even bright sunshine. Since you’ll probably keep your computer on 24/7, this is a way to keep from destroying your most important piece of technology.
7. Non-Greasy Sticky Tack – Cinderblock does not make for easy thumbtacking. And most schools with real walls don’t allow holes in them anyway. The best way for you to hang posters and pictures without destroying property (which you’ll have to pay for at move-out) is using the gummy stuff. But make sure it’s not greasy!! The last thing you want is a wall with pit-stains.
8. Laundry Basket and/or Hamper – Guess what? You have to do your own laundry now! Make sure you have something to keep and carry it around in. And don’t forget detergent.
9. Plastic Crates and Boxes – Dorms don’t offer the latest in storage technology. Invest in some plastic drawer sets, under-the-bed boxes, and stackable crates. In a cramped space made for one and used by two or more, you will need the space to store random items that can otherwise create a mess. And trust me; I’ve done the whole messy dorm thing.
10. DVD Player and/or VCR with Your Favorite Movies – I don’t think this needs explanation. You and your roommate can bond over Office Space and mint Oreos.
11. Mini-Fridge and Microwave – Again, mostly self-explanatory. Even if you have a meal plan, you’ll want to keep some stuff of your own. If the dorm has no A/C, you’ll appreciate a supply of water bottles. And microwave popcorn makes a great dinner in a pinch.
12. Desk Lamp – Even if your dorm room has overhead lighting, a desk lamp is a good way to be nice to your roommate. Picture this: it’s 2:30am and he or she is trying to sleep. You’re starting a paper that’s due in six hours (shame on you!). A small desk lamp will let you work without making a new enemy.
13. Batteries – You’ll probably forget them. But you will need them.
14. Thumb or Flash Drive – If you don’t have one, I’d suggest buying one. A Flash Drive is a portable memory stick that plugs into the USB port on your computer and can hold a decent amount of information (like Word Documents, JPEG’s, and MP3’s). They’re small and not too expensive, and it’s an easy way to move from computer to computer (from your dorm to the library lab, let’s say) without having to continually email yourself the file. Plus they can fit on your keychain!
