The Complete and Only College Packing List That You’ll Ever Need

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If you’re getting ready to head off to college this fall, you’re not alone. Nearly 16 million students attended college in a recent fall semester.

It’s a rite of passage for many teens once they graduate high school, and it’s a time in your life that marks a transition into adulthood, as you also solidify your future. You should head off to college resolved to achieve and make memories.

But before you can become the best college student, let’s start with the basics – what should you pack? We’ve got you covered.

Here are some must-haves for your college packing list.

Dorm Packing Needs

There are plenty of benefits to living on-campus for at least your first year or two of college. It acclimates you to your college and college culture as a whole. It’s easier to be a full-time student when you’re immersed in campus life and living where you go to school.

Shortly after getting the acceptance packet, you should receive a dorm assignment. Being the smart student that you are, makes preparing for dorm life your first assignment. Here’s what you need to pack:

Bring Plenty of Cleaning Supplies

College life can quickly get messy if you’re not careful.

Dorm rooms aren’t known for being the biggest living quarters, so it’s easy to create clutter – especially if you have a roommate. Clutter aside, your dorm room can become downright dirty if you don’t clean it regularly. Make this a no-brainer by stocking up on all of the cleaning supplies that you need to give your room a good sweep, mop, and scrub whenever you need to.

Make sure you bring supplies like:

  • All-purpose cleaning solution
  • Bleach wipes
  • Durable trash bags
  • Cleaning rags
  • Broom, mop, and dustpan
  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Heavy-duty cleaner and degreaser

Come to college prepared to clean up any messes that you create and come across so that you don’t end up with an emergency on your hands with no way to address it.

Keep Changes of Bedding

Nothing beats crawling up into some clean sheets and covers at the end of a long day of learning. College is filled with intense study and coursework, so you need to make your sleeping arrangement as comfortable as possible.

Give yourself the gift of several changes of clean, fresh, sheets, comforters, pillows, and pillowcases. Having different options on hand will make it easier to swap out your bedding without having to wait for available laundry machines. Frequently changing out your bedding will help you live more hygienically while making sure that you always get a good night’s sleep.

Invest in a Lockable Chest

Security is always something you need to keep tabs on when you’re going off to college. Even if you know and trust your roommate, you must account for the possibility that other people might find their way into your dorm.

Purchase a lockable chest to protect your most expensive and sensitive belongings. These heavy-duty chests will come with a code, a slot for a padlock, or a key. You can discreetly keep this chest under your bed or in your closet so that people don’t know to look for it.

Pack Calendars and Organizational Tools

Don’t forget to pack the items that will help you stay organized and on track. College is filled with plenty of to-dos and busy schedules. Not only do you have to go to class and handle your courseload, but you must also balance things in your personal life, make room for clubs and networking, and put events and social gatherings on your list.

Figure out what methods of organization work best for you and keep these tools handy. Thankfully, the education industry has plenty of calendars and planners that are suited for college life. Some people might enjoy having a big wall calendar that is decorative and useful that they can look at every day.

Others might prefer booklets or organizers that they can slide into their backpacks or purse. Perhaps you would prefer a tablet that comes with all of the organizational calendars and apps that you could ask for. Figure out what is best for your sensibilities and make sure to add it to your packing list.

Educational Packing Needs

Of course, you’re in college to learn. Because of this, make sure that you have plenty of educational supplies on your list that will help you thrive with your classes and studying.

Consider the following educational items to keep on your list:

Get Your Computer and Tech in Order

If you’re a freshman in college, invest in a brand-new laptop that you can rely on to get you through all four years of college. This is arguably the best investment that you can make since it’s the one-stop hub that you will use for everything.

Look into the tech specs of the laptop, and make sure that your computer has plenty of hard drive space, RAM, and processing speed to accomplish everything that you need to do. College students also have the benefit of getting free or drastically reduced upgrades for their hardware and software.

Take your computer to the appropriate department so that you can get your computer checked out to make sure it’s up to speed and that you’re getting the best performance from it.

Laptop aside, you may want to look into an iPad or other tablet that can help you download textbooks, access course materials, and take notes however you like. Having a tablet can give you some relief from being in front of the computer all of the time, especially if you have a major that requires you to type plenty of papers.

Invest in some cloud storage and external hard drives, and make sure to back up your devices as frequently as possible. Use some malware and anti-virus software, and get a service plan for maintenance and repairs.

Stock Up on School Supplies

No matter how high-tech you get, college students can always use some good, old-fashioned school supplies. Hit a back-to-school sale so that you can look into school supplies like:

  • College-ruled notebooks and notepads
  • Loose leaf paper
  • Multi-subject, three-ring binders
  • Blue and black ink pens, highlighters, and markers
  • Hole punch, stapler, and paper clips

Consider your major and the type of college that you attend when buying school supplies. This will help you get to know what items you will need going into your upcoming semester.

Check Your Syllabus and Curriculum

If you’re looking into your educational packing checklist, make sure to also consider your courses and school curriculum. The professional will provide a list of course materials so that you have every item that you need to make it through the semester.

Send an e-mail to your professor about any specific items in advance to make sure that you purchase the right type. For instance, math courses may require graphing calculators, and some courses will require you to get specific software packages.

Reach out to past students to see how necessary certain course materials are, whether you could get by without some of it, or if there are cheaper alternative materials.

You may also want to purchase some supplementary materials or tools that can help you have an easier time with your classes. For instance, consider investing in a proofreading course that can help expedite your work and make sure everything you submit is error-free.

Bring a Solid Bookbag or Two

It’s important that you head to class with all your materials each day. This only happens when you have a quality bookbag or two with lots of space and compartments.

Choose a bookbag that is durable and comfortable, with plenty of adjustable straps. Include a card with your contact information so that people can get in touch with you if you ever happen to lose or misplace your bookbag somewhere.

Buying two different bookbags can come in handy if you’d like to have a system in place that will keep you organized and on track without having to battle decision fatigue. For instance, you can pack one bookbag for your Monday, Wednesday, and Friday classes, and another for your Tuesday and Thursday classes.

The more efficient you are, the more you can optimize your learning experience.

Food Packing Needs

One universal thing about college students is that they like to eat. Because of this, you need to make sure that you pack accordingly. Here are some food considerations you should make:

Secure an Emergency Food Stash

It’s midnight, the cafeterias are closed, and even the late-night eating spots have shut down. You’ve got an all-nighter on your hands and are starving.

You could always grab some Seamless or Uber Eats – but college students are also notoriously broke, so this isn’t a habit that you want to develop. So, what are you going to do?

Enter the emergency food stash.

Pack some food items that you can easily eat as-is or heat up. This can include pre-made dinners and canned or packaged food items like ravioli, noodles, and soups.

While it’s tempting to grab whatever is available, try your best to get some good nutrients whenever you can. Healthy foods give you quality fuel so that you have energy and concentration.

Add some lightly sea-salted cashews to your emergency snack list. This gives you healthy fats, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids, along with some cognitive-enhancing qualities.

Bring a Mini Fridge and Other Appliances

Make sure you also have somewhere to store your food, along with some appliances that will help you with preparation. Invest in a mini-fridge that keeps things cool and ready to eat. Check with your dorm guidelines to see if you’re allowed to bring a microwave, hot plate, Foreman grill, or other types of appliances.

Being able to fix yourself a meal or snack without having to leave your dorm is always a win. Make sure you also bring a heavy-duty power strip to prevent your appliances from shorting out or dealing with issues.

Don’t Forget Cutlery and Dishes

Pack plenty of cutlery and dishes so that you have something to eat on. Invest in something that is quality but durable, so you don’t deal with breakage.

Keep in mind also that you’re not likely to have a dishwasher in the dorms, so pack some dish soap, brushes, and dish rags to help you give your dishes a good scrubbing after each use.

Create an Easy Disposal System

Finally, the last thing you want is to let food items pile up. Make sure that you have a heavy-duty trash bin for food items and plenty of kitchen-sized trash bags. Keep these bags sealed tight whenever you can, and make sure to dump your garbage frequently.

Dorms are filled with plenty of people and it’s easy to attract bugs or rodents if you let food sit in your dorm for too long. Make your disposal system as easy and straightforward as possible so that this isn’t an issue that you have to deal with.

College Packing List 101

So, there you have it. If you want to make certain that your college semester starts off smoothly, it all comes down to knowing what to pack. Include these items on your college packing list and you won’t go wrong.

In the meantime, you can rely on us for all sorts of other useful information. Start here and use us as your resource when you need help with college, higher education, and other life and wellness advice.