One part of college no one tells you about is packing. There are a lot of things I wish I knew when I got ready to move into my dorm for the first time. Between figuring out what clothes to bring to picking out your dorm decorations, making the move from your bedroom to a dorm room can be stressful. Here are a few tips to get you started.
1—Bring the right clothes for the weather. Do not bring summer clothes in the fall. Check the weather and find out when and if it gets cold at your school. If your school is anything like mine, it will get cold within a month and a half of the fall semester. Pack clothes that you can wear in layers like light jackets. Buy a good rain coat and an umbrella. You can keep most of your winter clothes until spring break in case it gets cold in January and February.         
2—Buy shower shoes. These can be any cheap pair of flip flops. Community bathrooms are not the cleanest. You never want to shower without any shoes on. It is unsanitary and dorm showers are a breeding ground for bacteria.
3—Bring business casual clothes. You will be surprised by how many nice events you will go to your first year, from banquets to meetings with your professors to interviews. You’ll have to wear a nice dress or slacks at some point. It would not hurt to buy a blouse and a blazer, too. Here is a link for more tips to dressing business casual on a budget.
4—Bring extra storage. There is not enough space in a dorm room to keep all of your books, clothes, and food. Buy a storage bin to put more of your belongings in—preferably one on wheels so it is easier to move. Remember not to bring too many containers. Whatever you move in, you will have to move out at the end of the year and it could get heavy.
5—Pack clothes and shoes lightly. I brought too many hangers because I had more drawer space than closet space. Don’t bring too many T-shirts because you will get free T-shirts throughout the year. Only pack clothes you know you are going to wear that semester. If you have any doubt, don’t bring it. I recommend bringing one pair of tennis shoes, heels, sandals, flats, and shower shoes. The type of shoe you bring can vary depending on the activities you are involved in during the year.
Do you have any advice for incoming college students? Let me know in the comments below.
