Going away to college = overpacking; stuffing your parent's car with the entire contents of your room, and yet somehow you unpack and realize that you don't have what you need. To avoid the packing conundrum this semester, follow this list of four things to definitely pack, and four things to leave at home.
Things to Leave at HOME
1. Any pair of shoes that aren't really, really comfortable
Your favorite pair of fancy flats, that are just a ~tiny~ bit too small? Leave them! Any shoe you can't stand to walk across campus and back in, you'll wear once, regret it, and never wear again.
2. The 300 pictures you packed in an album on top of the 100 you're going to hang up
Trust me on this one. No one was more homesick than me, but I didn't look at my photo album. For one, it made me more homesick; plus, these days pretty much everyone has a phone with picture saving capabilities, so there's no need to pack the print kind.
3. More than one (1) blanket
I am guilty of this one myself. I packed two, and then I got another one from my sorority. And how many do I use? One. The other ones just take up space, fall on the floor, and get dusty. Chill out on the pillows and blankets so you actually have space to sleep.
4. Anything for the fridge besides for water
All you need in your fridge is water. Pack a million water bottles (you're going to want them, I guarantee), but leave the milk and gatorade and assorted fruit at home. The dining hall exists for a reason. Plus, dorm fridges are way smaller than you think; if you pack a lot of food it's just not going to fit.
Things to Bring
1. CLEANING SUPPLIES
Seriously. Swiffer dusters, sponges, disinfecting wipes, a vacuum, etc. You're going to need them all. Dorm rooms are GROSS and no cleaning service that your college has will do them justice. If you don't want to live in your own filth, plan to clean once a week. Having the supplies on hand will only make it easier.
2. Command hooks
Nothing will save you more than command hooks. You can hang all your pictures/posters/pennants/whatever without putting holes in the walls. Plus, pack heavy-duty command hooks to use to hang clothes and bags for extra storage in your dorm.
3. A fish or plant
It seems silly, but nothing makes your dorm room feel more homey than a little creature sharing it with you. Beta fish are a good pick: they eat next to nothing and can live in pretty small bowls (just make sure they're covered because beta fish love jumping!) As for plants, succulents are pretty hard to kill, as they do better when you don't water them much.
4. A first aid kit
You'll never know when you're going to need one. Invest in a good one that has more than the basics; you'll need ibuprofen, cough medicine, Benadryl, splinter removers, rubbing alcohol, along with other things. Try this kit from amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/College-Student-First-Kit-Premium/dp/B01MYDUB4O/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1516821885&sr=8-6&keywords=college+first+aid+kit- I have it, and it's been invaluable.
