Moving in to college is the beginning of the next chapter of our lives. It is filled with new exciting experiences and challenges. As move in approaches, it is important to prepare for all the items that may be needed for your dorm. You’ve come across the right resource where I have put together a list of all the essentials you need for a smooth transition to your new home!
Bedding and Linens
As you settle in to your new room, you will want a comfortable bed you can comfortably sleep on. Make sure to bring a mattress topper to put on top of the mattress already provided for extra cushioning. Additionally, bring some sheets, fun throw pillows, and cute stuffed animals to give your room a sense of home!
Kitchen/Snacks
If you have a shared kitchen space in your living space, bring pots and pans to whip up your favorite meals. Definitely invest in a microwave and mini fridge for your room if it is not already provided by your university. These appliances will be life changing and super convenient to have. To ensure that you are prepared for eating in your dorm bring cups, plates, bowls, and utensils.
And let’s not forget about snacks! With all the walking around campus and studying you’ll be doing, your stomach will growl. It’s a smart move to pack your favorite snacks to keep you fueled throughout the day. Stock up on granola bars and other lightweight snacks that you can easily toss into your backpack for energy between classes.
Cleaning Supplies
Keeping your dorm clean is essential to staying both healthy and organized throughout the school year. Pack disinfecting wipes, paper towels, all purpose spray, a portable vacuum, and trash bags. These supplies will help you stay tidy at all times!
Room Decorations
I highly recommend decorating your living space to make it feel more at home. Bring posters, decorative lights, pictures, other wall art.
Electronics/Study Materials
Your laptop will become your most important tool for class and studying. It is a place where you can access all your course materials and homework assignments. Definitely invest in one that can last you for a while. Additionally, bring good headphones for watching lectures videos. A tablet is not needed, though I recommend it as it can replace notebooks and is greatly compatible with your laptop. Additionally, purchase basic essentials such as pens, pencils, highlighters, and a notebook for class. If your major is math heavy, also bring a functioning calculator.
Clothing/Laundry
Pack clothes for each season of the year and various occasions. You will need comfy clothes but also clothing for going out. Bring hangers to keep your clothing organized.
For laundry, bring a laundry hamper, detergent, dryer sheets, fabric softener, and other items such as stain removers in case of accidents.
Storage
Good storage equipment is vital in staying organized in a tight living space. Consider bringing storage bins, under bed storage, shelves, and a rolling cart to place snacks and other essentials in.
Maintaining Good Hygiene
To feel your best, maintain good hygiene. Shower regularly even though it gets super busy. Some essentials to pack include shampoo and conditioner, body wash, shaving gel, razors, face wash, toothpaste and a toothbrush. Bring a shower caddy and shower germs to avoid germs if you have to use a communal shower. Definitely bring styling products and other essential toiletries you may need.
Packing for college is overwhelming, so hopefully this list simplified it for you. Definitely post any comments or concerns you may have below!
When you mentioned how your stomach will growl from all the walking around campus you will be doing, I really related to that. I never really realized how much I took driving and taking the bus to school for granted. The walks are not too bad but if you have 3 or 4 classes in the day, it can add up and start to be annoying. These walks (as of right now because its been like 80 degrees and humid out) make me very sweaty. This makes me shower about 3 times a day and it gets a bit annoying at times because I feel like showering on campus is much less convenient than showering at home. A good shower caddy and shower routine is definitely important so it is great that you mentioned that. I wonder how the walks will be during the winter?
I will definitely be reading more blog posts, especially with this big life change we are all going through right now. Thank you for making this process a little easier with helpful and simple tips and tricks. This is also so helpful for parents and other family members to take some of the stress off of their shoulders for this big move, too.
Hey after reading this and going through the actual process, I can definitely say this post is 100% true. The essentials like snacks and hygiene, especially as a girl is very important for college! We are so used to being at home and our things being there, so moving out to a new place might make us forget things and some things is essential to always have! Overall I think this is a good blog post for incoming college students, and they will find this very resourceful!
It’s so fun reading this as the semester winds down! I love fun bedding and brought up festive pillows to get into the holiday spirit. I love the bulletin boards in Simmons and feel like decorating them and the walls really makes the dorm feel like home. A good shower caddy is definitely a necessity to make sure it can hold everything and take the daily walk down the hallway to the bathrooms. It’s also great to have your favorite comfort snacks in the dorm to make it feel more like home too.