So, you move in this week. Maybe it’s your first time leaving home, or you have some experience with leaving and packing away. If you are anything like me, you like to be over prepared and pack way too much stuff to fit in a small ten-by-ten foot room that you have to share with someone else. What else is better than starting to pack for college as soon as you get your acceptance letter?

Did you say goodbye to everyone though? Did you hug your parents and thank them for everything that they did for you those first 18 or so years? You are supposed to be this level headed adult just fresh from high school, and you are supposed to have your whole life packed away for nine months and you are supposed to have your whole life put together. If you think you are ready for when your parents leave and you are alone that you will be relieved, you are wrong. You will be sad to see them go, but you will also be happy.

Did you bring everything? Probably not, even though you packed absolutely everything in your room.

Seriously, that one thing that you didn’t pack will be the one thing you will need the most. Be it as small as that picture frame with all your friends, or as big as your laptop, sitting on top of your table in your now empty room. Don’t be that person that brings all of their clothes either, you will go home at least one time before winter break (everyone knows it doesn’t get cold in Ohio before January). Bring things for an autumn day, not too warm but not too cold. Basically leave the heavy jacket at home.

You will over pack, but I have a few tips on how to avoid taking two car loads full of junk up to your dorm!

Pack Light!
Its still summer! That means all the old buildings that you have classes in are going to be hot! Not to mention that when you walk outside you are going to be rushing to get from your 9 AM course that got released at 9:53 and it takes ten minutes to walk across campus, which coincidently is where your next class is, so shorts will be a lifesaver!

Ditch the thirty pairs of shoes.
You seriously will only need 3 at the absolute most. I personally have my gym shoes, a pair of nicer tennis shoes and then my dress shoes, which brings me on my next topic.

Leave the dress clothes at home.
Unless you are in a program that forces you to dress professionally, you will only need a single professional outfit. Most of the clubs you join are not going to require you to dress up in more than a pair of sweatpants.

It’s going to be okay, you can get through this leg in life. Its only college! This is the real best four-ish years of your life! So go out and enjoy them! And also, call your parents, they miss you.