Packing for College: From Planning to Moving into Your New Dorm Room

Packing for college is something you should start thinking about as soon as you enroll at a particular school. This planning should be an ongoing process during the spring and summer months leading up to your move-in day. Remember, whether your college is two hours or two days from home, you're moving your life from one location to another. Preparing for college can be hectic and you might not remember everything you need to pack. By constantly thinking about your move, you're more likely to bring everything you need to school.

Review Your College's Guidelines
There's no sense in bringing a fridge that doesn't meet the code set by your college's residence or housing office. Adhere to all guidelines closely. Because an appliance with the wrong wiring or wattage could be a safety hazard for a dorm, universities are rather strict about these things, and will impose fines or other penalties for violating the guidelines. Also, most housing offices will provide you the room dimensions and a basic layout to assist you in your planning.

Organize Your Haves from Your Needs
Use Microsoft Excel or a similar program to create a simple table with four columns and lots of rows. Mark the first column "Item"; the second, "Have"; the third, "Need"; and the fourth, "Notes". Fill in the items you want to take with you first, then check off whether you have it or need to get it. Pull out those guidelines and dimensions from your school's housing office and plug in notes where necessary. Be sure to save this file, and re-visit it regularly (I suggest keeping a paper copy in the car or in your book bag for you to add items to as you think of them).

Take Up to Three Comfort Items
Before you get into the nitty-gritty details of which alarm clock or mini-fridge to buy, think about the three items you must have in order to be happy. This could be the woobie blanket you've had since you were a baby, a book or DVD that has special meaning or maybe something to remind you of home, like a photo album. Don't cut the simple things like these that make you happy, no matter how trivial they seem. You'll be thankful you brought them on your first rainy day at school. And yes, I did bring my woobie blanket to college.

Talk to Your Roommate
Most of you will have the opportunity to talk with your roommate prior to coming to campus. Talk about which appliances or other items each of you plans to bring (this is also a great way to get to know each other). Don't bring your TV if your roomie plans on bringing a better one; he won't have to buy a fridge if you've already secured one. Sharing the burden of bringing these items will help both of you feel invested in the dorm room.

Pack Clothes for One Season or Semester at a Time
Unless you are fortunate enough to go to school in Hawaii, you'll need to make sure you're your wardrobe matches the season. This can be tricky, given that most dorm room closets are rather small. Besides, there's no need to have your bathing suit in the winter or your parka in the spring. Think about how often you'll be coming home for a visit. Take advantage of breaks and holidays to bring new or replacement items from home. Bring fall clothes when you first come to campus, pick up some winter clothes during Thanksgiving and bring some summer clothes back with you from Spring Break.