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Cramming your entire room into a few boxesAug 02 '01 (Updated Aug 06 '01) Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line As much as it might feel that way, this is not camp. This is real, you will be living at school for months. Be prepared. I am writing this review at the suggestion of my mother and my little sister who is going off to college for the first time in a few weeks. I will consolidate the advice that I have been giving her on the subject of what to bring. You already know to pack basics like underwear and razors, so I will gloss over some of the actual “what to bring” and focus on some of the things that make college a unique environment and what to bring to make your life more enjoyable while you are there. So here you are all graduated and independent, ready to face the adult world out on your own. You have just gotten your housing assignment and you are ready. Packing shouldn’t be a big deal, right? I just bring my clothes and my stuff. I don’t have that much. I’ve packed before. That’s what you think. Before you put it off until the last minute, take a moment to consider how exactly you are going to cram your entire room at home into your car, or worse a few boxes. You have to make some decisions. So read on; take some sage advice from an ancient, experienced 24 year-old… Some Variables: -Room dimensions (I think a 10’x13’ room is about average) -Built-in Storage (it really depends, but you can probably count on at least one closet/dresser and a desk) -Resources (a car and cash) to buy things when you get there -Climate -Your roommate(s) -Your own personal preference General Advice on Quantity and Timing For freshmen, chances are you are going to have modest living quarters which you will share with a roommate or two. If your frosh dorms are anything like mine were, you won’t have much leeway when it comes to space. So pack light, really light. You can always bring more things later. Depending on how far you are from home and whether you are driving or flying out there, there will be more or less space to bring all of your things. But, in general, if you can’t fit all of your things in a VW Golf, you can’t fit them in your dorm room either. You should also consider how often you will be able to go home to restock and/or pick up things you forgot. Don’t skimp on the necessities, tho. You probably won’t have the time or the cash to go out and buy things you don’t have. Start early. You will need plenty of time to figure out what is essential and what can stay at home. Clothes Laundry is a funny thing at school. You have to pay for it. Bring plenty of quarters.You have to do it. Plan on doing your laundry once every two weeks or so, but sometimes life gets in the way so there are a few things that you should always have clean in case of emergencies. In general, depending on your tolerance for multiple wearings, you can get away with a lot more at college. One pair of jeans can theoretically last you several weeks, whereas shirts might only last two or three wearings. So do the math. Things you can't have too many of: -Underwear (go out and buy more, you should have at least a three week supply) -Socks (same deal. Bring a variety of socks for all occasions) -T-shirts (versatile tops that you can throw on when you sleep through your alarm) -Towels (at least 4) - Make sure that you use your space wisely. Don’t bring things you won’t wear. Even if you think you might change your mind. - Bring a set of crap clothes like old jeans and a t-shirt you don’t mind getting stained. There are always things like community service trips or cleaning or dying your roommate’s hair that will require something a little more expendable. - You want to be prepared if you have to take a P.E. class or just want to work out at the gym. Bring a couple sets of workout clothes so you won’t have to do laundry all the time. Don’t forget the shoes, too. - You probably won’t have too many occasions to get dressed up while at school, but it’s a good idea to have a few outfits that you can wear out to dinner or to a dance. - Bring your funky, wild, weird clothes. There are Halloween parties and other theme parties that these might come in handy for. - Keep in mind that you might gain some weight while at school. Bring a pair of jeans that have a little extra room for those rainy, crappy days and just in case you are blessed with the freshman 15. - Rain gear is an absolute necessity, especially if you are going to school in Boston. An umbrella and a raincoat are good for light rain places. But for people expecting a lot of inclement weather, you need armor for that stuff. Remember, you are going to be walking places a lot more now, so be prepared. A hooded slicker and a pair of waterproof boots will be helpful. - Depending on the climate again, you might need a heavy coat and some warm sweaters for the colder months. Thanksgiving is a good time to do a clothes switch. Bring a suitcase of summer clothes home and exchange it for sweaters and turtlenecks. You won’t need the summer stuff again until after spring break. - Be aware of space issues when deciding which shoes to bring. You want to have a good pair of everyday walking/lounging shoes. Whatever you feel most comfortable in, sneakers or loafers or boots. Just be sure that you can wear them all the time. Rain/snow boots are invaluable in most climates. - Leave your expensive jewelry at home. Unless you wear it everyday, don’t bother with more than a few pieces of jewelry. You don’t want to risk it getting lost or stolen. - Have a game plan for bad hair days such as cap or a ponytail. Whatever, just don’t forget the hair accessories for that. Toiletries -Probably the most underpacked category. You will, most likely, have communal bathrooms when you get to school. You won’t have any privacy, and you will lock yourself out of your room in your towel at least once. Just pray that your RA is around when it happens. You can bring a few things to lessen the inconvenience, tho. -You must bring a shower caddy. It sucks to have to lug all your shower stuff around without one. -A poof and liquid soap is better than a bar. If you drop your bar, you are out of luck. At least a poof has a handle. However, bars are faster, so if you need to take a quick shower you might want to keep a bar handy. -You must bring flip-flops or shower sandals. Shared shower floors are notorious for breeding foot fungus, (eww). It might seem weird to wear shoes in the shower at first, but it is definitely worth it. Bring a pair that are mold resistant and dry quickly (don’t bring any with cloth or straw on them). -You will use your towels more than once. Most likely for up to a week. Bring some of those sticky hooks (I think 3M makes some) or over the door hooks to hang your towel to dry. Bring a few big thirsty towels and couple smaller hand towels. -A mug or a cup of some kind is useful for brushing your teeth and storing your toothbrush/paste in a communal bathroom. Don't keep it there over the weekend, tho. You might want to get some of those toothbrush covers as well to minimize the casualties if you happen to drop you toothbrush. -A nice big robe is also a good idea, one with pockets for your keys and a good sturdy waist tie. For the girls you might want a makeup caddy as well. You might not have an adequate mirror in your room and counter space is at a premium in the morning. Room Décor -Now for the fun part. You get to decorate your half of your cell so make it yours. Here are a few suggestions. Because your floorspace is limited, you may be tempted to go vertical. Be careful. The more stuff that gets into your airspace the smaller your room will feel. For example, you put a big set of bookshelves on top of your desk, you put your bed up on cinderblocks, you hang a wind chime from your ceiling, all of which takes up air space in your room. You will end up feeling more cramped, the more stuff you have going on at eye level. On the other hand, putting your bed up will give you a lot more space under your bed to store things like extra blankets and winter clothes. Just keep in mind that you don’t want to get crowded out by your own things. -Most schools have sales at the beginning of school where you can buy posters and other decorations for your room. -Bring pictures of your family members and friends from home and pets. You may not think you will get homesick, but it’s always nice to have familiar faces around. -Keep in mind that you will accumulate things while you are at school, so don’t go overboard with the knickknacks. -Your bed at school will probably be an extra-long twin. Bring at least three sets of sheets to ensure that you can change them at least once a month. Bring a nice sturdy comforter. Your bed will also double as a couch so you want something that can stand up to a little abuse. -Check with your school to see what rules they have about lamps and devices with exposed heating elements like irons and hot pots. Use your own best judgement as well, don’t bring something that could cause a fire. -Don’t buy those gimmicky candy-colored things (microwaves, phones, etc.)either. They might look cool, but they’re really just crap. -You are going to want some kind of small, low-wattage light so that you can read if your roommate is trying to sleep. School Stuff -Yeah, you have to go to class a little. You probably won’t have more than two classes at a time, so you won’t need the same type of hauling capability in a school bag that you needed in high school. Something like a messenger bag or an oversized handbag will do fine for most days. In fact, for most courses you won’t have to bring your textbook to class at all, only a notebook. Make sure you have something waterproof for those rainy days. -Generally, you will need a notebook and a folder for each class. And depending on the volume of handouts, you might need an expanding folder, too. Most notebooks and pens and things like that can be purchased at your school’s bookstore when you get there, so don’t worry so much. You also want to see what your classes are like so you can determine your need. -For your desk, you will want some sort of calendar or assignment book to keep track of your projects and due dates. You also want to figure out some method of keeping track of your budget, as well. You will need a calculator at some point, if only to figure how many bags of M&M’s you’d have to buy to cover your walls with candy. Check with your roommate if you can about big things like a microwave or a rug. -Your computer is a whole other issue, but if you are going to bring one, make sure that it is compatible with the school’s network. Laptops are a slippery issue with conflicting issues of security and portability at odds. Ask your school’s IT department if they have any recommendations. Other -A lot of the extras depend on where you are going to be and what you like to do with your spare time. You will have a lot of unscheduled time at school. So use the time wisely and bring entertainment that suits you. If you have a diary, you should bring that and keep it in a safe place. If you like to play video games, bring your system. College is a great place for video game tournaments (I myself am the Edmonds 8S Street Fighter champion). A deck of cards is a pretty good bet, as well. If you like to go out, bring what you need for that, too. Just remember that you are not going to camp. This is real life, and you are really on your own, free to make your own decisions about what to do with your time and how to organize your life. Take charge and make a realistic assessment of what you will use and what you won’t. Also remember that you will make friends at school and that you can share or borrow a lot of things that you forget. OK that was long, but I hope that you take some of the advice I have laid out here. As always, if you have questions about anything email me or leave me a comment. Good luck!  |
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