The Ultimate College Packing List: What to Bring (and What Not to Bring) on Move-in Day

Packing for college can feel like a daunting task. What should you bring with you? What should you leave at home? How many clothes should you really pack for your first semester? How many books is too many? These are just a few of the questions you may be asking yourself as you prepare to pack up and move into your dorm room. If this short list of things to think about is already stressing you out, fear not. Read on to discover what should absolutely be on your packing list, and what you can probably do without.

What to Bring
Bedding & Linens: Good quality sleep is essential for academic success! When it comes to this category, there are a few things to keep in mind. Always check your bed size before buying anything. Make sure to get more than one set of each so you always have something clean to put on your bed while the other stuff is in the laundry. Lastly, consider the climate and choose your blankets accordingly. Remember, winter in Wisconsin is cold!

• Sheets (2+ sets)
• Pillowcases (2+ for each pillow)
• Comforter and/or blankets (go for warmth and comfort)
• Pillows (an extra pillow or two will add comfort to your space)
• Mattress topper or pad (again, this will add comfort to your dorm)
• Mattress protector (something to put between the dorm mattress and your sheets)
• Towels (bath towels, hand towels, washcloths)

Personal Hygiene Items: Whatever essential toiletries you use on an everyday basis are items you'll want to make sure to pack for college!

• Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, etc...)
• Shower caddy (with a handle for easy carrying)
• Flip flops or shower shoes (essential for dorm showers!)
• First aid kit (band-aids, pain relievers, antiseptic, etc...)
• Essential medications (anything you need to take regularly should be on your list!)

Clothing & Laundry Supplies: Consider the weather you’ll experience throughout the semester and choose what clothes to pack accordingly. Be sure to bring enough to last you between laundry days, but don't bring your entire wardrobe, as there most likely won't be enough storage space in your dorm room.

• Everyday wear (for classes, extracurriculars, weekends, etc...)
• Dressier clothes (a few fancier items you can mix and match)
• Undergarments and socks (essential, obviously! Bring plenty!)
• Seasonal wear (rain jacket, umbrella, winter coat, boots...)
• Shoes (don’t bring too many, a few pairs should do the trick)
• Laundry basket or bag (pick a sturdy one!)

Electronics and Accessories: Whether you prefer a laptop or a tablet, you'll need something to complete assignments on. You'll also want to be sure you have what you need for chilled out evenings in your dorm room. Whether you plan to watch movies or listen to music, you'll want to be sure you can do so without disturbing your roommate if she's studying.

• Laptop or tablet (essential for classes, studying, homework, and watching Netflix in your dorm room)
• Chargers (for your laptop or tablet, phone, etc...)
• Headphones or Earbuds (for online classes or Zoom meetings, listening to music, etc.)

Study & Organizational Supplies: When packing for this category, think about how you like to approach notetaking, studying, and homework. Are you a sticky notes and flags kind of studier, or a color-coded notes and highlighters kind student?

• Notebooks & binders (keep your class notes and handouts organized)
• Writing supplies (pens, pencils, highlighters, colored pens, etc...)
• Planner or calendar (a dedicated place to keep track of your classes, assignments, deadlines and social commitments)

Room Essentials: Furniture will be provided for you, but consider which other items will be essential to make your dorm room a comfortable, functional space.

• Desk lamp (good lighting for late night studying is extremely important!)
• Desk organizer (to keep your writing supplies neat and accessible)
• Extension cords/power strips (in case there aren't enough outlets, or they aren't conveniently located in your dorm room)
• Storage bins (for extra storage under the bed or in the closet)
• Fan (keeps air circulating when it gets stuffy, provides white noise when you sleep)

Snacks and Kitchen Items: It's always best practice to check dorm policies when it comes to items in this category. And again, don't go overboard here–you don't need much.

• Snacks (a small box or bin of non-perishable snacks to satisfy hunger between meals in the dining hall)
• Mini fridge (coordinate with your roommate so only one of you brings a mini fridge)
• Microwave (again, coordinate with your roommate about who's bringing what)
• Reusable water bottle (save money and the planet by opting for a reusable water bottle instead of buying water in plastic bottles)
• Dishes and utensils (one plate, one bowl, one mug and a small set of silverware)

Personal Touches: Choose a few decorative pieces to bring so you can add your own personal touch and make your dorm room feel more like home. Be very selective with what you bring, though, because your dorm room won't have much space!

• Photos (a few favorites to remind you of home)
• Posters (art or wall decor to help add your personal touch to your space)
• Other small decor items (you could bring a pretty display piece, a vase for flowers, or a small potted plant — just double check dorm policies!)

Miscellaneous: If there's anything else you know you'll need, use often or regret not bringing with you, add it here.

• ID & important documents (any important documents you might need during the semester should be on your packing list!)
• Reusable bags (great for shopping or toting more items than will fit in your backpack around campus)
• Books (it's always nice to have a couple non-academic reading options)

What NOT to Bring
Excessive or out of season clothing and shoes: You really only need enough everyday clothing to get you through about two weeks maximum, the few seasonal clothing items you truly need for this semester's likely weather, and a few pairs of shoes that can be worn for various occasions. You can switch things out between semesters for different weather and variety in your outfits.

Bulky furniture or decor pieces: Dorms come furnished with all the essential furniture items you'll need, so don't plan to bring any large pieces that will only end up cluttering your space.

Too many books or sentimental items: It's good to have a few books to read beyond your required textbooks, but there's no need to bring stacks of them. Books are heavy, and you likely won't have much space to store them anyway. Of course, bring a few sentimental items to remind you of home, but just choose your favorites. Dorm rooms tend to be small, so too many sentimental items will just make your space feel cluttered. Plus, the more you bring, the more you'll have to keep track of when moving in and out.

Duplicates: Contact your roommate(s) and coordinate with them about who's bringing what shared items. You don't want to arrive on move in day, only to realize that you've both brought a mini fridge and there isn't space for two of them.

Prohibited items: Check your dorm's policies on items like toasters, hot plates, coffee makers, candles and incense, etc... these items are usually not allowed

Final Tips
Label everything: It might feel a bit tedious during the packing process, but labeling your boxes and bags will make the move-in and unpacking process so much easier.

Pack your clothes on the hangers: This will make moving in feel like a breeze! Just hang all the clothes you're bringing next to each other in your closet at home, put a garbage bag around them and tie it closed around the necks of the hangers. When you get to your dorm room, all you'll have to do is hang everything up, undo the bags and you're done!

Pack light and prioritize essentials: Focus on making sure you have what you'll need most, while also packing as lightly as you can to make the moving process easier. You can always bring more items later, borrow from a friend, or go out and buy those few things you need as you realize where the gaps are.

Stay Organized: Moving is a stressful process on any scale, but using a checklist such as this one and having a plan will help immensely in decreasing the stress of the situation.