Move-in is a stressful time for everyone. Saying goodbye to your friends and family, moving somewhere new, and packing all of your belongings so they'll fit into a tiny little rectangle that's technically classified as a room. Unfortunately, no matter how early in the summer you start packing, there's always something you're bound to forget. To help everyone (including past me) out, here is a list of 10 things you can't forget to bring with you to college.
1. Your phone charger
This one you're more likely to forget because you can't pack it until the morning you leave. It's so easy to fall into the everyday routine of unplugging our phones and leaving the house, but this time don't forget to take the charger with you!
2. Snacks to keep in your dorm room
Living at home for the past 18 years, I've gotten used to being able to get up and go to the kitchen whenever I want to. When you move to college, you no longer have that option because the dining hall may be closed or you may have limited swipes. Keep a dry snack like pretzels or chips in your room to satisfy those late-night cravings.
3. A good re-usable water bottle
Yes, there are water fountains everywhere and yes, you can get drinks in the dining hall, but all of those drinks are stationary and can't go with you wherever you go. Staying hydrated is important for your physical and mental health, so carrying a water bottle with you (that you can fill up and the fountains or in the dining hall!) ensures that you always have water with you when you need it.
4. Pajamas
This one sounds ridiculous, I know, but when you're so focused on making sure you have the perfect first day outfit and that you have all your toiletries in order, packing pajamas is easier to forget than you'd think (I would know). While if you forget a toothbrush, you can survive bad breath for a day and then run down to the campus general store, replacing a whole closet of pajamas is difficult and expensive especially if your school is a plane ride away from your house. Make sure to pack your pajamas so no one has to sleep in jeans.
5. Noise-cancelling headphones
Maybe you have a single dorm and maybe you have a quad but either way, you will hear noises in your dorm. The walls are thin and maybe your neighbors want to hear each others' gossip, but you might prefer the sound of your music. These will come in handy not only in your dorm but for those late-night library sessions.
6. Your retainers
Another one that seems a little strange at first, but when you're wearing something the night before you leave and have a usual habit of putting them in your case and walking away, it's not hard to leave that case behind on your bathroom sink. Retainers aren't just something you can run and pick up from the local Target, so make sure not to forget these.
7. Your comfort object
Be it a blanket, teddy bear, or something else, it's always nice to have something to squeeze at night when you're really missing home.
8. Sunscreen
Even if you're going to school in a colder climate than what you're used to, sunscreen is a must for those walks across campus at noon to get the class or the dining hall. You may not have used sunscreen daily at home, but when you're spending more of your day outside, it's important to consider your skin.
9. A pencil case full of supplies
You don't have your desk full of supplies anymore and you can't just run to the kitchen and grab an extra pen from the area by the phone, so make sure to pack not just a few pencils for class, but extra to keep on your desk for when you inevitably lose the ones in your pencil case.
