Sending Them Off to College? Some Scoop on What to Pack.

We write about this topic pretty much every year and yet it never gets old since there’s a new crop of first-timers every year.  Some past posts are:

15 Things to be sure to take to college. Or buy when you get there 

The Dorm Room Must Haves for Heading Off to College

If you’re packing for college, you know this:

The days sometimes take forever, but the years just fly by.

For first year students, the minor necessities that our summer interns tell us are most important in a dorm room include:

• Command hooks
• Tacks
• Extra lighting
• Vacuum and/or hand held
• Extra storage space, bed caddy, etc.
• Closet shoe rack
• Small fan
• Adapter cable/ cable cord
• Extension cord
• Brita water filter
• A great water bottle/thermos
• Snacks/basket for the snacks
• Alarm clock in addition to your phone
• Speaker for music
• TV
• Trash can
• Garbage bags (big and waste basket size)
• Ziploc bags
• Duct tape
• TP (a couple rolls)
• Paper towels (a couple rolls)
• Clorox wipes
• Extra folding seat for guests or folding step stool
• Twin blow up mattress for guests (if there’s room to store it)
• Loft the bed or use Bed Lifts to provide more storage with under bed storage options
• Bike with bike lock
• Overnight bag for quick trips

Needs and wants are different for everyone, but here are some items to think about when packing for college.

Toiletries:

• -Qtips
• Ear Plugs/ Eye mask
• -Nail clippers
• -Cotton balls/ pads
• -First aid kit
• -Sunscreen/ chapstick
• -Shower shoes
• -Shower Caddy

Bedding and Bath:

• Towels/Hand towels/ washcloths
• Twin XL sheets (at least two sets)
• Mattress cover (look for bedbug proof)
• Mattress topper (foam for comfort)
• XL Twin Mattress pad

For School Work:

• -Laptop
• -Backpack
• -Desk lamp
• -Scissors
• -Stapler
• -Notebooks/ loose leaf paper
• -Pens/ pencils/ highlighters
• -Index cards (Great for studying!!!)
• Calendar/ Planner

Here are two Dorm Room Videos from Chapel Hill!

If you’ve sent yours off to college and have some tips or items we missed, or if you remember your own dorm days, please comment to share your ideas below!