This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Bucknell chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.
To pack or not to pack–that is the question.
It’s that time of year again where we face the inevitable and practically impossible task of packing up the entirety of our belongings for the school year ahead. While you may have found that packing for a beach weekend, family vacation or camp was incredibly time consuming, packing for a new year at Bucknell is a completely different story.
Worried that you’re that kid who brought a U-Haul to move-in day? Stressed to impress on the first day of rush? Wondering what to bring abroad? HC Bucknell’s staff members have all been there before – so whether you’re an incoming freshman or about to start your second-to-last semester, we’ve covered what you should really bring back to the Buck this fall.
If you’re a freshman, bring:
- A cute sundress and wedges for Convocation
- A plain white t-shirt you can wear during Color Wars and shorts you don’t mind getting paint on!
- Channel your inner cowgirl: Bring a variety of checked flannels, quilted vests and riding or cowboy boots for the ultimate fall ensemble. Perfect for Country Fest, Super Saturdays and studying in the library!
- Frackets and shoes that you don’t mind throwing in bushes/mud/swapping/misplacing indefinitely. A good way to get rid of your ex-boyfriend’s varsity sweatshirt.
- Raincoat, rain boots and an umbrella: When it rains at Bucknell, it rains. Make sure to come to school equipped with plenty of ugly weather gear. Judy Mickanis will let you know when it’s safe to go outside again.
- Heavy winter jacket: It gets really cold at Bucknell. It’s smart to invest in a hooded parka or ski jacket!
- Crazy clothes for themed parties and registers: Bring a bin of old Halloween and sports dress-up days costumes. You never know when they’ll come in handy–and when they might save you a trip to Wal-Mart.
- Cookies or cupcakes to give your hall on move in day! Reaching out and making people feel welcome will not only help them feel less nervous, but will also calm your nerves and help you break the ice.
- Christmas lights because the fluorescent-light-cement-walls combo feels more like a prison than a dorm room. Use command hooks (see #10) to hang your lights around the corners of your room.
- Command hooks: These will become your best friends. They are incredibly versatile, so be creative when sticking them to your walls! For example, stick these hooks to the inside of your desk or wardrobe to hang jewelry, bags, computer cords or baseball hats.
- Plenty of under-bed storage because (guaranteed) the armoire units and drawers that you will find in your dorm rooms will not fit your entire wardrobe.
- A small duffle bag or overnight bag: You never know when your friend will invite you to her house for the weekend!
- Printed photos of family, friends and favorite places: Sometimes reminiscing on Facebook just doesn’t do the trick. Photos will warm the walls of your dorm room and are great icebreakers when your next-door neighbor comes to visit!
- A planner: The key to acing your first semester is all in how well you manage your time. Stay on top of your to-do list with a cute planner from Lily Pulitzer, Moleskine or Jonathan Adler!
- Your stuffed animal: It’s not childish; it’s a necessity for those first days/weeks/months away from home!
If you’re a sophomore, bring:
- Spandex shorts for Bid Night. When you make the cross from freshman to sophomore, say goodbye to regular jean shorts and embrace your inner spandex. These shorts will be perfect for every themed outfit, graphic tank and most importantly, Bid Night.
- Planned outfits for Recruitment: Pack four nice tops and bottoms or casual dresses for regular rounds and one nice dress for Pref Night. Pair your outfits with cute accessories and shoes! Come prepared and you’ll be sure to nix added stress.
- Silly costume items: Channel your inner Halloween fanatic and prepare yourself for every costume possible. Don’t be embarrassed to bring even your old Princess dress up clothes; you never know what theme can be thrown your way. Plus, you’ll save you a trip to Wal-Mart.
- Stock up on dresses: Formals come in numbers sophomore year. Come prepared with casual sundresses for Super Saturdays and fancier frocks for a spontaneous date party!
- A mini Keurig and a mini blender: You will use these appliances every morning, afternoon and night.
- A fan (or two) if your dorm room doesn’t have AC! Even though the fall is usually beautiful at Bucknell, the few weeks we have in August can be super hot and humid. Definitely invest in a fan if you’re living in Roberts, Larison or The Mods.
- Mousetraps and bug repellant if you’re living in The Mods. To prevent any uninvited guests from visiting, buy cleaning supplies to keep your living space, well, livable.
If you’re a junior, bring:
- A staple interview outfit: It’s never too early to dress to impress! Bring one J. Crew mini skirt or trousers and a few blouses to match for internship fairs. Don’t forget to keep your resume updated for last-minute interviews!
- Cute jewelry to mask the fact that you’re still wearing the same outfits from freshman year. Check out Piperlime and Sole Society for cute, affordable accessories!
- All of your letter shirts to give away!
- Anything Lulu Lemon: Bucknell girls love their Lulus too much. Use your junior year to broaden your horizon of yoga pants, biking shorts and sports bras. Who actually wears real clothes during the week, anyway?
- A journal: Every day leading up to your semester abroad, take the time to write. What do you want to get out of studying abroad? Where do you want to travel? What’s your bucket list? Don’t forget to pack your journal when you go abroad so you can continue your story!
- Cross-body bag: Buy a small, traveler-friendly bag for when you go abroad. Make sure that it has plenty of inside pockets and doesn’t have a removable strap. The more compact your bag is, the safer your belongings will be!
If you’re a senior, bring:
- Weis frequent shopper card: At this point, you’re either living off campus and need to do your own groceries OR eating at the Bison is just no longer appealing.
- A bottle opener: You’ll drink more wine this year than you’ve drunk in your entire life.
- A good interview outfit and a portfolio with your resume on resume paper: Unfortunately, you’re heading off into the real world in a few months, so this is the year of career fairs, impromptu interviews and Skype calls!
- Bar clothes: Pack cute, normal going-out outfits that you can wear to the bar. Themed outfits that you wear to mixers don’t count! A leather jacket (most likely picked up from your time abroad) tops off any bar outfit.
- Stationary: Take senior year to make sure you’re writing thank-you notes to the people you care about and the people who have helped you over the past four years. This can be parents, relatives, family friends, professors and even internship supervisors.
- Kitchen supplies and cookbooks: Learn to cook at least five solid dishes. The Caf becomes a distant memory halfway through first semester, and you’ll be left to fend for yourself.
- Real decorations: You now have a house or a Gateway and get to decorate it beyond your room! Bring wall decals, vases, and odds and ends to brighten up your new space. Plan out your design with your roommates beforehand so everyone is on the same page!
- Souvenirs: Don’t be afraid to get a little nostalgic when going through relics of your Bucknell past. Pack your freshman hall photo, a souvenir from Bid Night or your first House Party wristband.
- Your bucket list: Senioritis at Bucknell is even worse than it was in high school. So, when you’re avoiding studying for exams, writing papers and finishing projects, cross a few things off your list! The more you procrastinate, the more items you’ll check off before graduation!
So collegiates, whether you’re packing for the first time or the last, keep in mind that this year is going to be the best one yet. So, how are you going to make it even better? Like HC Bucknell on Facebook to stay updated on all of this fall’s articles, advice and Campus Cuties!