The Ultimate Packing Guide for College Freshmen
(This article was written by Emily Lichius, a Content Creation Intern for Portage Learning. She is a resident assistant attending Eastern University near Philadelphia.)
Let’s be real: Moving requires a ton of work. Dorm life poses specific challenges with roommates and limited space, so having exactly what you need is essential. Outside of basics like toiletries, clothes, and school supplies, it can be tough knowing what to take.
I’ve experienced this myself, and I’ve seen it play out over and over again with other college freshmen. I’m a Resident Assistant in my junior year of college who’s spent a lot of time packing for my dorm. So, to help you avoid some of the mistakes I and others have made, I’ve compiled a list of necessary items for your room, and some other things you should leave behind.
Plan With Your Roommate
Before you make big-ticket purchases like a mini fridge, microwave, or TV, contact your roommate first to discuss sharing them. A simple phone call can save you a lot of dorm space — and lots of money, too.
Appliances/ Electronics
o Electric kettle: Having a quick and easy way to boil water is great for tea and ramen — staples for all college students. In fact, kettles can be a welcome alternative to a microwave because they are more affordable and take up less space.
o Coffee machine: If you intend to drink lots of coffee during study sessions, don’t spend your money on expensive café drinks every day. Investing in a small Keurig or coffee maker can save you money and reduce waste on one-use cups.
o Lamps: Your dorm probably includes one or two overhead lights, but they aren’t necessarily reliable. Having your own floor or desk lamp provides softer lighting for late-night studying. I recommend collapsible, paper lamps because they take up so little space when packing.
o Fans: Even if your residence hall includes air conditioning, it’s best to bring a personal fan just in case. Dorms typically turn on heating and air conditioning building wide, and if the weather changes or something needs maintenance, you have no control over your room’s temperature. Trust me on this one. Fans are especially useful for older buildings with no air conditioning.
o Power strips: Your dorm probably will not have as many outlets as you need, so power strips are life savers. I suggest power strips that include USB ports for extra convenience.
Cleaning, Laundry, and Bathroom
o Shower caddy: These are useful for communal bathrooms, and you’ll want one that drains well and dries quickly.
o Shower shoes: Any kind of rubber flip flops or slides will help you brave communal showers.
o Bathrobe: Consider bringing a bathrobe to cover up in case you are far from the bathroom.
o Paper towels/wipes: Extremely versatile and keeps your small living space tidy. A must have.
o Compact vacuum cleaner: Many double as dust busters and take up very little space. They also tend to run cheaper than a standard vacuum cleaner.
o Laundry sheets or pods: To make trips to the laundry room as light as possible, try detergent sheets. These dissolvable sheets come in small boxes that tote around easier than a jug of liquid detergent. Tide pods also are a convenient option.
Furniture
o Mattress topper: Dorm mattresses are notoriously stiff and uncomfortable, and at college it’s important to get your rest. A two-inch mattress topper should do the trick.
o Area rugs: No matter what flooring your dorm has, an area rug will vastly improve the look and feel of your room. If you’re like me and attend a school with winter weather, rugs keep your feet off the freezing hardwood or tile floors.
o Extra Storage: Most likely your dorm includes a bed, a desk, and a set of drawers for your clothes. But where does everything else go? Having bins or storage units under your bed keeps your room clean and organized. Small carts or side tables allow easy access to your everyday products.
o Comfy seating: If you intend to study in your room, have friends over, or simply want something better than a chair the school provides, there are many options for upgraded seating. For larger rooms, you can take an extra-small chair or beanbag. Otherwise, bed rest pillows or extra seat cushions elevate the furniture you already have and save space in the process.
Other Items to Pack
o Command strips: Buy these in bulk if you can. Command strips can be used to hang up any wall décor, mirrors, or hooks while abiding by residence life policy.
o Wax melters/ diffusers: Candles are often considered a fire hazard and aren’t allowed in most dorms. But if you still want your room to smell nice, you might consider wax melters, plug-ins, and oil diffusers. I prefer wax melters because they still have that warm candle smell.
o Rain gear: Because you’ll walk most places to get around campus, rain-friendly shoes and an umbrella are must-have items for college students. Getting soaked while heading to class is no fun.
o A filtered pitcher: Any kind of filtered water pitcher saves you from spending more on plastic water bottles. Just make sure it fits comfortably in your mini fridge.
o Tote bags: Tote bags have a variety of uses, and it’s a good idea to keep a couple on you in a pinch. I use mine for extracurricular activities, grocery shopping, and packing.
o Sewing kit: With basic mending skills, a small set of needles and thread can help you maintain your clothes. And you can save some money by fixing a broken button or a hole occasionally.
o Indoor shoes: Slippers, slides, or other casual shoes are excellent for walking around your residence hall — especially for small tasks like doing laundry, taking out trash, or visiting a friend.
Be Reasonable with Yourself
As a general guideline, college packing should include your most-used items from home, but not everything you own. To save space, try minimizing in these key areas:
o Clothes: You don’t have to keep your entire wardrobe at school for the whole year. If you go home during breaks, those would be appropriate times to switch out your closet from summer to winter and vise versa. Avoid clothes you don’t wear consistently or own only for specific occasions.
o Printer: Some students love having their own printers, but these machines are bulky and expensive. In a growing age of education software and online courses, many professors no longer ask for physical copies of assignments. Save yourself the hassle and don’t purchase one unless you really need it.
o Hobbies/books: Going to college can seem like the perfect time to pick up new hobbies, but wait until you experience a semester or two of school before dedicating space in your dorm to recreational activities. You might find that school and other commitments take up more time than you previously thought. I keep only my watercolor supplies at school because they take up minimal space and I actually use them (as opposed to my other hobbies. )
o Dishes: Entire sets of reusable dishes and silverware aren’t necessary. Most likely they will sit collecting dust on a shelf or pile up in your room until you’re forced to wash them. By sticking to one or two plates, forks, bowls, etc., you minimize wasted space.
o Decorative items: Due to the limited counter space in your dorm, décor items that sit on shelves take up too much space. If you want your room to feel nicely decorated, focus on wall decorations and hanging lights that utilize your space efficiently.
Interested in Doing Your Best at College?
Dorm living is just one part of the college experience. If you’re interested in focusing on your major, sport, or other extracurriculars while on campus, consider taking your prerequisites online! Portage Learning offers a wide variety of self-directed, online courses accessible to you anytime, from anywhere. Our courses transfer credits to more than 2,000 schools across the nation. After registering for a Portage course, you have six months to finish your first graded assignment, and then one year to complete the course after starting. Explore our courses today to see what’s right for you!
