Trust me, it's ridiculously easy to overpack for college. Really, who can blame you for it? It's a completely new environment than you're used to, a foreign space that you have to make your home for months on end. Of course you're going to want to bring items that make you feel at home and comfortable, and you obviously want to have all the things you need to be prepared for the year. I'm here to tell you about the 5 seemingly simple necessities that are crucial (whether you believe it now or not) to pack with you for your first year of college.
Some Frat Shoes
Shoes Sneakers GIF - Find & Share on GIPHYGiphyIt is inevitable that you will end up at a frat party. Whether you're into partying or not, chances are you'll at least go to a few because you'll want to try some new things. If you think that you're going to wear your favorite heels to a party, think again! The floors at parties are disgusting and sticky. You, your friends, and half the rest of the people out and about will eventually spill a drink. Hell, someone might even get sick. Bring some beat up converse or something that you won't mind getting completely ruined by the end of the year.
RIP my white converse, you were oh so good to me.
A Long Phone Charger
Phone GIF by Anthony Antonellis - Find & Share on GIPHYGiphyThis is especially important if you decide not to raise your dorm bed very high. The plugs are so low to the ground and usually placed on awkward parts of the wall that are hard to reach, so having a longer charger just makes life easier.
A Drying Rack
Bored GIF - Find & Share on GIPHYGiphyNot only is hang drying your clothes just better for them in general, but it'll be a life saver when the rest of your building decides to do laundry on the same day or when the driers don't dry your clothes completely. It's also nice not to have to pay an extra dollar to dry your clothes.
Some Extra Coins
Winning Video Game GIF by Lil Yachty - Find & Share on GIPHYGiphyYou have no idea how many times I forgot to put money on my FLEX (hello my JMU pals) to pay for my laundry or after a long night out just wanted a snack from the vending machine in my building. Any quarters you have laying around, start collecting them now! They will come in handy so many times over the course of the year.
Under Bed Storage
Messy Room Frantic Kid GIF - Find & Share on GIPHYGiphyThis might seem obvious, but you won't have a lot of space in your dorm. The closets are small, you only have one dresser (with three, maybe for drawers that aren't that deep) and that's it. Even if you try to limit the clothing you bring, you'll still have a lot of stuff that just won't fit. Some plastic drawers from Walmart are super cheap and great for storing extra stuff. It might not go with the aesthetic you want your dorm to have, but it's practical.
There are so many more articles on what you should and shouldn't bring your first year of college that I definitely think you should all check out! These are only a few of the simple things I didn't realize would be so helpful until I got to school.
