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(LAST UPDATED: JUNE 3, 2014)

As summer begins, I know most of you high school graduates will make the most of this break to have fun
and spend more time with friends that won't be joining you at the same colleges this coming fall. But don't forget to
prepare for your moving out of home!
By now, most of you will have been notified by the school you plan on attending, and many will have sent
you a mini checklist of what to bring with you. They're usually good on basic essentials, but a downside is that it is
easy to forget other things you might need.
(Some of these items on the list may not be necessary, depending on what your school provides for you and
your environment. So check with your school and also narrow this checklist down to YOUR needs. It's always fun
to have new thingsespecially when you're going off to live away from your family, but it is important to remember
that you shouldn't spend money needlessly! Also remember, you may be sharing your dorm room with someone
elsespace is limited even if you choose to live in a single!)
(Instead of buying them beforehand, some of these things you may able to buy once you get to
school.)
Without further ado, the list!
1. Your everyday clothes (tops, bottoms, sweaters, sweatshirts, button-downs, belts, blazers,
coats, jackets, etc) and accessories (but don't bring too much!!! sunglasses, hats, gloves,
watches, purses, bookbags, etc).
(Also remember to take temperature into account. Some of you will be living further
away from home than others and may not get a chance to go back as often to pick
up a few things. So prepare for hotter temperatures and colder ones!!! e.g.
perhaps bring one thin jacket and one thick one; also, will it SNOW where you're
going to school?)
2. Footwear (everyday shoes, boots, rainboots, flip-flops, slippers, etc)
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Tip: A pair of flip-flops for the shower may be a good idea in case you ever find
yourself questioning whether the shower floor is dirty. (It is.)
3. UNDERWEAR, including other assorted undergarments (e.g. bras. Have much more than
just one pair, obviously.)
4. Socks (thick and/or thin)
5. Pajamas/nighttime wear
6. Comfortable clothes (for when you're studying outside the dormladies, the college-girl
meme about northface jackets, leggings, and sheepskin boots exists FOR A REASON.)
7. Robe/bathrobe (Good for all occasionsafter showers, when it's cold and a simple sweater
doesn't cut it, shitty early-morning fire alarms...)
8. Sportswear (You may plan on going to the gym at a certain point), maybe a set
of swimwear
9. Clothes to wear to parties, one good formal-wear outfit (just in case!)
10. One sturdy umbrella (or two!)
11. Clothes hangers or shelf hanging organizers
12. Laundry hamper or basket (In my experience, a smaller hamper might make your do
laundry more oftenbut that plan might backfireI have some friends who piled dirty
clothes on the floor instead...)
13. Laundry detergent + dryer sheets. A stain remover pen may prove to be useful (I
personally didn't need one).
Tip: LEARN HOW TO DO YOUR LAUNDRY BEFORE YOU GO TO SCHOOL!
(Also, some washers/dryers in dorms take loose change whereas others use a
specific dorm-issued pay card. Check with your school first. Yes, you need to pay to
clean your clothes in most cases.)
1. Shower caddy/basket (Due to limited spaceand to save timestudents usually bring little
baskets containing shower essentials (AND DORM KEYS!!!) in them; just grab and go!)
2. Body wash (In my experience, soap bars aren't as efficient to use as liquid soaps due to
limited space) and a loufa if you so choose.
3. Shampoo and conditioner (or two in one!)
4. Face washes/products
5. Makeup essentials
6. Lotions, moisturizers, sunscreen
7. Hair thingies (comb, hairbrush, hair bands, bobby pins, etc)
8. Hair products and appliances (razors, gel/hairspray, blow dryer, curling/flat-iron, etc)
9. Towels (for bath, face, and/or hands; I recommend having more than just onealso, do your
laundry!!!)
10. Nail clippers, q-tips, chapstick
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11. Tweezers (you don't pluck your eyebrows? well, what if you get a splinter?)
12. Flip-flops (mentioned above; great barrier between you and that nasty-ass shower floor)
13. Toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, floss
14. Razors, shaving cream (or just use body wash if not for your face)
15. Deodorant, perfume/cologne
16. For females: Sanitary napkins (pads, tampons)
17. Any medications you have to (or may have to take) includes whatever prescription Rx
you take on a regular basis as well as medication you make need to take when you fall ill
(e.g. cough syrup, painkillers, antihistamines, etc).
18. First aid essentials (bandages, hand sanitizers, thermometer, antibacterial cream, ice pack,
cough drops, calamine lotions, anti-itch cream, pain-relieving cream, etc).
1. Laptop and charger (A handful of my friends also brought a backup laptop battery) and
maybe a carrying case
2. Mobile phone and charger
3. Headphones/earphones
4. Portable USB drive memory stick thing
5. Extension cord(s), power strip (the thing used to plug in multiple other devices to power
thempreferably one with a surge protector)
6. Installation discs (be open to the possibility of unforeseen laptop klsdfl;kasdfk;ladjfadff
things)
7. Batteries (AA and AAA)
8. Ethernet cord (in case your school's wireless connection is shit)
9. Desk lamp (ceiling light may be inadequate or you may be up studying late when as your
roommate sleeps) and extra light bulbs for it.
10. Portable fan or heater
11. All the cords and wires necessary for your devices to work (seriously!!!)
12. Laptop lock (95% of people I know didn't have this, but there were a few thefts around
campus in my first year) or a safe place to hide your laptop when you're out.
13. Printer, plus paper and ink cartridges
14. Mini-fridge, microwave, full-length mirror (school may provide the mirror)
Tip: Discuss with your future roommate(s) beforehand on what you want to share.
Having two mini-fridges and two microwaves = WASTE OF SPACE.
1. Cheap planner or hang-able monthly calendar (it's easy to forget when you have an exam
or a paper due!)
2. Bookbag (backpack, tote bag, whatever)
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3. Trash can (your school may provide thesemine did)
4. Tissues
5. Pens and pencils (including a no. 2 pencil for scantron exams), erasers, other writing
utensils
6. Index cards (for presentations or when you need to make flashcards to study)
7. Ruler
8. Post-It Notes (for studying or reminding yourself of things)
9. Calculator (noteif you're taking math or science classes, some professors do ban
graphing calculators for exams. just in case, bring or borrow a scientific calculator too.)
10. Stamps and envelopes
11. Notebooks, binders, loose leaf paper to take notes on (your laptop WILL run out of
batterydragging your laptop around all the time is also a pain in the ass)
12. Printer paper
13. Stapler, staples, hole puncher, paper clips, rubber bands
14. Highlighters (try not to highlight your whole textbook, okay?)
15. Scotch tape, duct tapes, whatever-you-need tape
16. Scissors
17. A cheap cord phone (what if your cell phone doesn't work in an emergency?)
18. Small drawer, folder, or tiny bucket (to keep your stationary, etc in one place and
organized.)
1. Laundry hamper, hangers, hanging shelf organizers (already mentioned)
2. Bed sheets, pillowcases (more than one set if you're going to do laundryalso some dusty
and dirty visiting friend may or may not plop themselves on your bed before you can say
"NOOOOO!")
3. Blankets (thick or thinagain, think of your school's climate and weather, as well as the
changing seasons!)
4. Pillows (For your bed, maybe for your chairdorm chairs usually aren't comfortable after a
certain period of time.)
5. Mattress pad (Not the mattress itselfthat's provided. I mean memory foam mattress pads
or those way cheaper egg carton-y foam mattress pads. I can only think of three people I
knew who brought these kinds of mattress toppers they said it made sleeping "so much
better." But you don't really need them.)
6. Earplugs (be prepared for snoring roommates)
7. Plastic storage containers (that you can hide under your bed or in your closetclutter is
bad, you can trip on clutter).
8. Ziploc bags (to store anything and everything)
9. Alarm clock (your phone might suffice, but more often than not, I found myself turning off all
five of my alarms and going back to sleep. Put your alarm somewhere where youll have to
get up and stop itand take your roommate into consideration!)
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10. A screwdriver with assorted heads (you may be able to get on for cheap at a hardware
storemay also come in handy after your first year)
11. White board or bulletin board (a big-enough white board is perfect for studying!)
12. Flashlight (for those stupid power outagesremember to check the batteries occasionally;
they may corrode)
13. Nightlight (hey, sometimes you gotta get up in the middle of the night to pee, yeah?)
14. Anything to decorate your room with! (If you're going to put a collage of photos up, I
recommend putting them on a posterboard first; it makes taking the collage down at the end
of the year so much easier).
Look, I get that y'all pay for meal plans and such, but what if it's 3 AM, you're still
studying, and in which case the dining hall is closed?! Be prepared by having snacks
and instant food!
1. Napkins (wipe your face and your table, bub.)
2. Two or three canned soups (only if you have access to a microwavee.g. chicken noodle,
clam chowder, etc). DO NOT FORGET that you need a microwavable bowl and plate for
these, and potentially a can opener.
3. Electric kettle (if you ever want hot water)
4. Tea, instant coffee, etc. (also, bring a mug)
5. Eating utensils (well, you're not going to eat hot instant food with your fingers, are you?)
6. Water purifier/filter or bottled water (do you really trust your school's tap water?)
7. Snacks (that you can eat in class or munch on when studying, e.g. fruit, crackers, trail mix,
yogurt, juice, popcorn, chocolate, etc.)
8. Instant food (cup noodles, instant ramen, EasyMac, microwave dinnersbut only if you
have a microwave and a mini-fridge with a freezer space)
Tip: Take what you can (get away with) from the dining halls/commons. Don't be obvious
about it.
1. Vacuum cleaner or broom and dustpan (your school most likely provides thesecheck
beforehand)
2. Trash bags (your school most likely provides these)
3. Bug spray (mosquito repellent, ant killer, etcdecide for yourself)
4. Paper towels
5. Lysol/Clorox/not-namebrand wipes (to wipe down your table or drawers before you put
your clothes in)
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**(This list below was compiled based on my own experience or experiences of people around me
I am not a professional.)
1. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF (for some of you, mum and dad aren't there to tell you to eat
more healthy or drink more waterit's up to you to remind yourself to eat relatively well. If
you take medication on a regular basis, remember to do it.)
2. Know your limits (whether it be boundaries when meeting new people, where you and your
roommate stand on certain issues, how much you can take while maintaining your sanity
e.g. alcohol.)
3. Get enough sleep (particularly before examsyou are NOT ONLY there to
socialize. Tuition is expensive!)
4. If you need help, GET IT (this applies to both your school life and your personal life. If you
feel like you're slipping in school, find someone who can help yougo to your professor's
office hours, for instance. If you have some troubles in your personal life, get in touch with
your school's Health Center and perhaps they can help you find a therapist, etc.)
5. "NO." (If you are not good at saying "no," LEARN TO DO IT. It's easy to get lost and spread
yourself too thin, particularly since this is a new experience for everyone, but give yourself
some down time. Try new things throughout the course of your college lifenot everything
needs to be experienced during your first quarter or semester at school.)
6. Be familiar with your surroundings (explore your campus, know where you are, know
where the emergency exits and phones are.)
7. Roommates (Communication is key. Also, try to talk to your roommate to figure out what
each may bring to share. If, after you move in, you find that you have a consistent problem
with your roommate, communicate with them before you bring this problem to the R.A.'s
attention. Some issues are more easily solved than you think.)
8. DON'T FORGET YOUR KEYS (It's better to take your keys with you when you shower, even
if your roommate's in the room. What if they need to head out? An opportunist may snatch
your stuff if you leave the door unlocked.) and LOCK THE DOORS AND WINDOWS
BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
9. Is a fraternity/sorority right for you? (Think about it. Fraternities and sororities are NOT for
everyone and you should not feel pressured to join one. If you do decide you want to
undergo pledging, perhaps it's better to wait until later the year or even in your second year
to do so. Wait until you KNOW HOW TO MANAGE YOUR TIMEI know a few people who
pledged during the first semester/quarter of their first year and had to drop out of school
because they couldn't keep their grades in check.)
10. Check out student organizations or clubs (Who knows? Maybe you'll find something you
like.)
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11. Again, KNOW YOUR LIMITSespecially when it comes to ALCOHOL (I don't advocate
underage drinking, but I know it's going to happen regardless. Some of you will go into
college never having tried alcohol before, and that doesn't automatically give you a pass to
go crazy. Watch your own backif it's your first time drinking, know that it takes a certain
amount of time for alcohol to hit your system. Don't assume that just because it doesn't hit
you immediately that it doesn't affect you. And NEVER leave your drink unattendedEVER.
Blacking out is not fun, and yes, you can die from alcohol poisoning. TAKE CARE OF
YOURSELF. STAY SAFE.)
12. Schedule an appointment with your academic/department advisor(s) (Their job is to
help you succeed in college. If you have any questions as to how to plan out your schedule
in order to graduate on time or work around your job, etc, don't hesistate to speak to them.
Don't wait until you fail a class or something. They can also help you declare your major
which you generally don't have to do in your first year; check with your school.)
13. Manage your time wisely. (Make a study schedule and stick to it. Give yourself some
breaks too or else you'll find yourself not retaining information. Study groups can be great
toowith the right people. Don't study with anyone who just wants to leech off of your
information, or anyone who is a distraction.)
14. Don't study where you know you'll be interrupted (e.g. your dorm. Find places around
campus where you can studykeep in mind that the campus libraries will be PACKED when
finals week arrives. Your dorm may not be a good place to study, depending on the people
who live in your building and your relationship with them. Keep in mind that people may
knock on your door every other dayand possibly multiple times per dayasking you if you
want to go "do something fun." Learn to say no"fun time" is for when you don't have to
study.)
15. Don't procrastinate! (You've all heard of the stories about pulling all-nighters to finish a
paper or study for an examand it's bound to happen to you at least once every semester.
Make sure you find the time to study every day and NOT just a few days or the day before an
examespecially if you're taking math or science courses. If you're taking a writing-intensive
course or two (or five), keep in mind that you may have multiple essays due within one week.
Use your time wisely.)
16. Buying textbooks (Textbooks at your college bookstore are almost always 200%
overpriced. Unless this is a manual that has been created by your professor, buy your
textbooks elsewhere. Some students on-campus may be open to selling you their textbooks
for cheap; otherwise, look online!)
+Slugbooks.com: good website that compares prices of books from different
websites. Save yourself some money!
+Amazon.com, Half.com: websites to buy old or new textbooks.
+Chegg.com: Instead of buying, you can try renting your textbooks. If you only need
a textbook for a semester or a quarter, you should look into this. For example, a new
textbook may cost $200 to buy, but only $30+ to rent. Conversely, a used textbook
may be the same price
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Tip: In some cases, "international editions" of textbooks are very similar, if not the
same, as U.S. editions. They are usually cheaper than U.S. editions (partly because
they seem to be paperback), so look into those and determine for yourself if they are
right for you. Used textbooks are cheap tooalso, if you want to buy an earlier
edition, talk to your professor first. Page numbers may be vastly different and
professors assign page numbers for homework or weekly reading.
17. Manage your finances (some of you will need to take out loans. It's okay to have fun, but
be smart about your finances! Maybe keep a detailed notebook about how much you spend
and how you is within your budget during a certain period of time.)
18. Don't be a pretentious asshat. (This is pretty self-explanatory.)
19. CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF (Throw out the trash before it starts to smell or pests show
up, etc. Also, you are not your roommate's housekeeper. If you have a problem with their
mess, talk to them. If it doesn't improve, consider talking to your R.A.)
20. Remember to call home every once in a while (Look, most of you have parents/guardians
who love you and miss you. So call home, okay? Make sure you let your parents know
you're doing okay. If they ramble a little bit, it's because they miss you, so suck it up and just
listenunless you really need to study.)
21. Have fun! :) Congratulations on graduating high school and I hope your next few years in
college will be wonderful!