As girls, we all tend to over-pack, but it’s really important to remember that college dorms are absolutely tiny. No matter how great of a packer you are, I doubt you’ll be able to cram all of those back issues of your favorite magazines and those clothes you never wear into your dorm room. Too much stuff makes our small rooms seem even smaller and worse, perpetually disorganized. When packing for college, it’s crucial to pack selectively. Don’t fret though; HC is here to help you out with those tough packing decisions.
Pick: Photo albums from high school. You’ll be amazed by the number of times you whip this out when getting to know the girls on your floor. It’s a great way to share your life at home and bond. Plus, you’ll have tons of options for photos to frame and swap in throughout the year.
Skip: High school notes and textbooks. Your old notebooks were definitely a great reference to you in HS, but even if you’re retaking Calculus you don’t need them. They’ll just take up space. I promise, your new professors will have plenty to teach you.
Pick: Lots of underwear. Laundry days will come up quick without adequate supplies of undergarments. There’s really nothing worse than realizing you have to do laundry because you’re out of underwear the night before two exams.
Skip: T-shirts. You’ll get a million free t-shirts once you arrive at college. Your drawer will soon overflow with them, so leave those extras behind.
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Pick: A bus or subway pass. Your school’s transportation services can often get you discounts on public transportation. Bus passes are much cheaper than paying full fare each time you grab a ride. Check to see if you can order these before you arrive on campus, especially if you have a long (and potentially costly!) route from the airport to your school.
Skip: Your car. There’s a reason most college campuses don’t allow freshmen to bring cars! Get to know public transport. Bond with friends while waiting for that elusive bus that claims to come every hour but really doesn’t. Then, go buy yourself a new dress and pair of killer heels with all the money you saved from parking fees.
Pick: A Netflix Account. Netflix allows you to keep the DVDs you rent for as long as you like—perfect for a collegiette who can never quite guarantee when she’ll have downtime. Pop the DVDs in your laptop and then enjoy movies with your girls or date.
Skip: A TV. Most dorms have TVs in their common rooms. Don’t skip out on bonding with your floor-mates for every episode of Gossip Girl and Grey’s Anatomyby watching it solo. Plus, TVs can often rack up expensive fees, and you’ll have a lot less free time to watch TV than you might think.
Pick: A few semi-formal dresses. Fraternities and sororities, clubs and sports teams have tons of formals and date nights. Rather than scrambling to find a cute cocktail dress a day or two before the event, bring a couple from home.
Skip: Your fancy prom (or otherwise) dresses. Think short! Long prom dresses or super dressy ones just don’t fit the college scene. Also people get sloppy at these things and tend to spill.
Pick: An ID holder. You’ll need your student ID to enter buildings, print papers, attend sporting events, eat on campus, get into your room… Needless to say, you need something accessible to get it out often! Choose one with a plastic cover so your ID is visible without having to grab it out from a wallet.
Skip: A lanyard. They’re dorky and not as convenient as you might think.
Pick: An extra pair of bed sheets. A must! You don’t want to have to do laundry every week when you change your sheets. Strip your sheets and throw on the extra pair that’s fresh and ready. These will allow you to be hygienic without the hassle.
Skip: Extra decorative pillows. They’ll end up on the floor more than anything else. That twin extra-long bed is small enough already without having a few extra pillows taking up space.
Sources:
Christie Rotondo, SUNY Purchase College
Chelsea Tirrell, Hofstra University
Her Campus Contributing Writer, Rachel Dozier
http://www.lazyenvironmentalist.com/blog/green-home-and-design/which-is-the-best-water-filter-for-you-the-brita-pitcher-dispenser-or-faucet/
http://www.students-4-students.com/whattotake1.html