The Millennial's Guide to Packing for College

And so after years of attending elementary, junior and senior high school, the long wait is over.

You’re finally now off to college!

But before you get all excited about the bright academic future waiting for you, take a moment to assess yourself. Are you all prepped up for the big move?

Packing your things up for college is, without a doubt, a daunting task to accomplish. Like, how can your entire life fit into bags and boxes? Well, the answer is… It can’t.

Remember, you’re not going away to another country or forever, you’ll just be miles away from home. So bringing almost all of your possessions won’t be necessary. You really only need a few things and not your entire closet.

Not sure about what to bring? Not a problem! We got you covered!

Here’s a comprehensive checklist of what you should bring for the big move.

Clothing Needs

Again, it’s clothing needs, which means you only have to pack what you need. Most likely, you’ll know which of your clothes you’ll need to pack. But just in case that you’re a bit unsure, here are the basics:

Clothes/Coat hangers (to hang polos or dresses, or other formal-ish clothes)
Everyday clothes (to wear to school or in your dorm)
Underwear (duh)
Pajamas (to get comfy at night)
Formal/Professional outfits (for formal school events)
Semi-formal clothes (for social gatherings)
Seasonal garments and accessories (especially for summer and winter)
Bathing suits (in case you go to the beach or attend a pool party)
Gym bag and clothes (if you decide to get fit in college)
Costumes (for themed parties)
Shoes (that go with the clothes you’ll bring, of course)

Dorm Room Items

You should be aware that a majority, if not all, of college dorm rooms are already furnished with all you need–a desk, chair, bed, table, etc. So generally, you don’t really have to go all out in providing furniture and fixtures in your dorm room. But don’t forget to confirm first if it’s really furnished. Otherwise, you’ll end up living at a bare place. Nonetheless, make sure to pack these things:

Comforter
Mattress protector
Pillows and pillowcases
Duvet
Linens and sheets
Wastebasket

Kitchen Supplies

Check what your college dorm kitchen already has, or if there even is one. Most do have a lot of kitchen supplies, but here are some of the more useful ones:

Plates and bowls
Utensils
Mugs
Reusable food containers
Can opener
Water filter
Travel mug
Bottle opener

Bathroom Items

It’s always better to choose a dorm with a private bathroom inside your room, but if you’ll be sharing a communal one, trust us, you should never forget to bring your own things:

Toothbrush
Toothbrush holder
Towels (for face, hands, and body)
Shower shoes

Laundry Needs

Yep, you’ll be doing your laundry. Still excited to move away for college? Of course, you are. Let’s get that spirit kicking! Anyway, don’t forget to bring these things:

Drying rack
Sewing kit (you’ll never know when you’ll need it, and you’ll regret you didn’t bring one)
Quarters (always make sure to have your spare change)
Mini iron and ironing board

Toiletries and Medical supplies

While we will never know what may happen in the future, it’s best to be prepared just in case of emergencies, especially medical ones. Include these in your stuff:

Allergy medicine
Aspirin or other pain relievers
Antiseptic wipes
Multivitamins
First aid kit
Supplements
Bandages
Condoms
Birth control pills
Insect repellent
Menstrual pain medication
Retainer/mouthguard
Personal prescription medicine
Sunscreen
Nail clippers
Tampons/sanitary pads
Razor
Comb/brush
Contacts, solution, and case
Hair ties
Cosmetics
Bobby pins

Recreational Stuff

We’re quite a bit sure you’ll never forget the items listed here, but well, just in case:

Cellphone and charger
Laptop and charger
Cable organizer
Headphones
Speakers
Extension cords
External hard drive
Camera
Cable adapters
Ethernet cable, HDMI cable

Important Documents

Never leave your house without taking these documents that will surely be super important for your move to college. Organize them together in a water-proof, secure file or folder. Also, don’t forget to make photocopies of the most essential ones.

Copy of birth certificate
Student ID
Financial aid documents
Bank documents
Credit/debit card
Copy of Social Security card
Passport
Driver’s license
Health/dental insurance cards

You wouldn’t want to have to call your parents from them to bring these to you. Although, of course, they can always mail you what you forget. Make sure to tell your parents to ask the shipping company of what and what not to mail to you.

Every company will have different rules, so it’s best if they get a great college moving company to bring you the stuff you weren’t able to bring with you overnight.

Academic Essentials

There’s a huge possibility that you’ll be buying most of your academic needs after you move. But here are some of the things you should have first:

Textbooks
Highlighters
Pens and pencils
Index cards
Sticky tape
Sticky notes
Stapler and staples
Planner
Paper clips

Miscellaneous Stuff

These are some things that you may want to bring if you have the extra space, but not totally required to do so:

Safety pins
Umbrella
Handheld vacuum
Photos of family/friends
Wall mirror/full-length mirror
Throw blankets/cushions for decoration
Toolkit
Fairy lights for decoration
Beach towel
Books, magazines, and novels
Sports equipment
Fake plants for decoration
Bulletin board/dry-erase board

Going away to college is a mix of various emotions, as well as the things you need to do before the first day. Things to do like packing your essential stuff. The key is to list them all down (the items above, specifically), and check it twice, since you don’t want to forget one, whether you’re moving nearby to another city or heading overseas.

And if you need help with the boxes and shipping, don’t hesitate to call in the professionals! All that’s left to think about is, are you ready for the first day of freshman year?

Good luck!