While you may worry whether you need a few things or a U-haul truck, there are some things you will need for your first semester while others can stay home. By only bringing a few essentials you can have everything you need to be comfortable without crowding your roommate.
Remember your school supplies. In all the hubbub of moving you may forget something simple like pens, notebooks even your textbooks. To avoid this, make sure you have everything you need for class packed in a backpack before anything else. You can also have your textbooks shipped to your address at school so they will be waiting for you when you get there. In your backpack you should also have your laptop and all the wires and other electronics you will need in the backpack with the rest of your school stuff. This way you'll be prepared for the first day of class without having to rush back home or to the store.
The next thing you should pack is a suitcase of summer clothes. While you'll want a few pairs of jeans, a light jacket and one or two sweaters, the majority of the time you will be at school your first semester it will be warm. Many new students bring all of their winter clothes, forgetting that Thanksgiving break will give them plenty of time to bring their winter clothes back to school before winter break.
Bedding is what will make you comfortable when you move to college. Your room is a place where you relax and recharge and a place you will definitely appreciate when you get to school. My freshman year I forgot my pillows and decided I could use my t-shirts for a few nights. I started my first week of class with a sore neck and wrinkly shirts. To avoid this, make sure you have sheets, a comforter and a pillow or two, and you'll feel right at home. If you're living in a dorm you may need extra long sheets but it is nice to have pillows and a comforter from home because it is cheaper and may keep away the homesickness.
Once you have your school supplies, clothes and bedding packed away you'll want to begin packing smaller things that you will need at your new place. Things that you use in the shower like shampoo, towels and soap are easily forgotten when packing and become pricey when you are buying them at a nearby drugstore. To avoid this, buy your toiletries at home where you know where you can get them for less and put them all in the same box. If you're living in a dorm put them in your shower caddie right away so it is ready to go when you are.
Finally there is food. You won't want to bring a week's worth of groceries but fruit, pretzels and breakfast bars are a good to munch on while you're studying. By having a few things to eat in your room you'll be able to stay focused after class to go over your notes and do homework.
With these things in mind you'll be able to be comfortable your freshman year without cluttering your room or making your roommate uncomfortable. By keeping your room simple it will also be much easier for you to move out at the end of the year. Instead of taking possibly 3 or 4 hours to get out of your dorm at the end of the year it will only take 1 or 2 hours before heading home. This will relieve stress throughout the whole year so you have more time for studying and becoming acclimated to college.
Molly Sams - Molly Sams is a professional writing student at Kutztown University. She has worked on a student newspaper and wishes to continue ...
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