The new school year is fast approaching and the thing on most college students’ minds is what to pack for school. Some students are just commuting from home so they don’t have to worry about moving into the dorms or moving into a new apartment. For the rest of us who don’t live close to school, we need to basically pack up almost everything we own for the next year.

There are three extremes that college students go to. One extreme is the student who is only commuting from home so they don’t really have to pack anything. They just have to make sure that they have everything they need for that day of classes. Another extreme is the student who is leaving the state that they were living in. One of my friends is going to a college in New York and she basically has to pack everything that she owns because she won’t be able to come home if she forgets something. Also it’s not like there aren’t stores in New York but if she really wants to bring her favorite pillow that is really comfy, then why shouldn't she? She has to make sure that it gets packed or she won’t get it until maybe Thanksgiving break. Then there is the middle extreme, the student who still has to pack up almost everything they own but not everything. My home is about two hours away from Dominican University so if I forget anything then I could find a weekend that is free and I can drive home and get what I need. But I know that I won’t be driving every weekend because that is a lot of gas to use and sometimes gas isn’t cheap. That being said there are things that every college student needs no matter what your situation is.

Everyone needs a flash drive. Flash drives are the most essential thing; in some instances, they are your life line. If you don’t have a printer for your personal use, flash drives can be plugged into the library computers then you can print out papers and important documents.

Another essential thing is a fridge, microwave and food. Last semester I went without a fridge for most of the semester and I didn’t have a way to store food. So if I missed a meal I had to eat what I could find in my snacks. I would definitely recommend having some food in the room just in case you are up late studying or were working hard on the weekend and forgot to leave to eat dinner. There were a few nights that I ate Cup of Noodles or microwaveable mac and cheese. Those choices might sound weird but when you haven’t eaten all day except for breakfast, those choices are really good. Another essential is a microwave to cook and reheat food that is in the dorm. A word of advice, don’t ever try to heat up a Pop-Tart in a microwave. If the Pop-Tart gets to melted, then it stinks up the whole room and then your Pop-Tart is ruined.

Another thing that is very essential is a fan because some dorms might not have air conditioning. The first semester my roommates and I were almost dying in the room because it was so hot and we had no air flow to cool us off. Then when we finally got a fan we were so happy.

There are many things that students really should pack if they have to move for school. I know that Bed, Bath and Beyond has a college packing list on their website and its really helpful and it list things that I never even thought about needing. Also no one is really going to need everything thing that is on that list but lists like that are really good reference points while you are out shopping for the dorm room.