How to Effectively Pack for College

Packing for college is a huge endeavor, and there are plenty of moving parts when it comes to packing effectively. Read on for tips on packing up for the big move.

Before you embark on the journey that is starting college, you have to tackle packing. Keep these tips in mind to avoid a fiasco.

Trains, planes, and automobiles

Your transportation to and from school will impact the way you pack. Driving to school gives you more freedom than flying, where you’re limited to checking bags or shipping your things. If you’re short on space in your car or carry on, consider buying things online and then shipping them to your dorm. If you have Amazon Prime, you can get free shipping, which can combat the cost of buying things at home then shipping them personally. You can also order things online and then arrange to pick them up at a store location near your college.

Related: 10 Things to Do Before Moving Out-of-State for College

Plan ahead

Just like Santa, you need to make a list and check it twice. This prevents important items from being forgotten at home and sheds light on what still needs to be bought. Start packing in advance to make sure you have enough room in your car or suitcases. Keep things organized and labeled for easy unpacking. Putting the effort into packing early will reduce your stress come move-in day.

Related: A List of the Most Important Things to Bring to College

Reduce, reuse, recycle!

Parting with childhood mementos can be difficult, but you don’t need four piggy banks or 10 diaries. It’s important to go through your things and decide what’s necessary and what can be left behind.

Donate things you don’t need anymore. Go through your old school supplies and decide what can still be used and what needs to be thrown away. Also consider shopping at thrift stores to not only save money but to help the environment. Try for a minimalistic dorm room and pass on extra decorations and unneeded organizers. If you really need something, you can always buy it once you arrive on campus.

Communication is key

Most students will have one or more roommates. Communicating with them is essential to avoid accidentally bringing multiples of things such as microwaves and minifridges. There are many things you can share or split the cost of, such as printers, furniture, lamps, mirrors, rugs, and decorations. If your school allows bed lofting, plan ahead with your roommate and decide if you want to move around desks or get a futon. If you’re sharing a private bathroom, arrange a cleaning schedule before you arrive.

Related: 4 Quick and Easy Tips to Break the Ice With Your New Roommate

Know your room

The last thing you want to do is buy sheets for a full-size bed when your dorm room has a twin XL. Some dorms may provide a desk and a chair, though others only have a bed. If you’re living off campus, you might be furnishing everything yourself. Many schools also have rules about prohibited items such as pressure cookers, hot plates, and halogen light bulbs.

Take advantage of floor plans and dorm tours so you have a feeling for the size of your room before you arrive. It’s especially important to know what the college provides if you have a private bathroom. Some schools will give you toilet paper and hand soap, but others will leave everything up to you. Be prepared and do your research.

Related: Non-Standard Dorm Room Essentials

Dress for the season

If you don’t have much closet space (which you probably won’t), then only pack clothing for each specific season. Thanksgiving break is the perfect opportunity to go home with summer clothing and return to your dorm with winter wear. This also means making sure you know what clothing is necessary for the weather. If it rains all the time, make sure you have a good raincoat and boots before you arrive on campus.

Find the college you’ll move into on CollegeXpress today.

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Join Now

Tags:

About Rebecca Barer

I am an avid reader, and I devote most of my time to writing and cooking. I also enjoy spending time with friends and family and generally enjoying life. I'm so excited to start at Johns Hopkins University this fall!

 

Join our community of
over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Join CollegeXpress

College Quick Connect

Swipe right to request information.
Swipe left if you're not interested.

Dean College

Franklin, MA


Jeff Parsons

Jeff Parsons

Counselor

Thank you so much for this valuable information about these opportunities. I truly appreciate the CollegeXpress communications and use them to keep my high school seniors informed about their opportunities!

Ruth Aguilar

Ruth Aguilar

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress helped me by providing me with many scholarship opportunities and information about universities I want to attend. What I love about CollgeXpress is how it provides a variety of information, and as the first child attending a university next year, it has been very essential and helpful. I’m so grateful for this because the information provided by CollegeXpress has also helped me see that there are so many college opportunities, and it always informs me by email. In other words, CollegeXpress has been like a guide for me as a future college student.

Abhishek Kumar

Abhishek Kumar

High School Class of 2022

As a high schooler, I know how hard it is to plan for college. You have to consider a lot of factors: SAT/ACT scores, college searches, scholarships, and more. CollegeXpress has been a helpful resource that solves all these problems. One can easily create a free account and search away. They help you search for scholarships and colleges, they have graduate program search, they have lists and rankings, and so much more. CX also has a lot of articles and advice to read—whether it’s financial aid, test prep, campus visits, internships/careers, or anything. Not only that, CX gives out free scholarship money to students who sign up and create a free CX account. I love CX and will continue to use it! Thank you CollegeXpress for making my college journey easier!

Katelyn

Katelyn

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress gave me options of schools with my major and from there I was able to pick what was most important to me in a school. Everything was so organized that I could see all the information I needed.

Nazira Abdelkhalek

Nazira Abdelkhalek

$2,000 Community Service Scholarship Winner, 2014

I am very honored to be this year’s recipient of the Multicultural Student Community Service Scholarship! This scholarship is vital to helping me achieve and fulfill my dreams, and gives me confidence and motivation as I begin my college career. The CollegeXpress website has been invaluable over the past year as I planned my educational and professional goals. I highly recommend it to all students as they begin to focus on their college and career interests. The website is a wonderful guide to schools and scholarships.