What should I Pack for College?

No matter what a students' abilities, packing for college can be difficult. What to pack? What not to pack? Am I bringing too much stuff? Where will I put it all once I get there?! These are questions that burn in every first year student's mind. Listed below is a checklist that will hopefully make packing a little bit easier:

1) Contact your roommate before you pack - Getting in touch with your roommate, if you have one, will help you with preparing your packing list. You most likely will need two refrigerators or two DVD players in your room. This will also help you begin a relationship with the person you will be living with for the next year.

2) Know what the school allows you to bring, and what they don't - Make sure you don't pack something that is just going to end up going back home in the car with your family. Here is a list of some things that are commonly banned at colleges across the country: candles, hotplates, toaster ovens and toasters. You can find a detailed list on your school's website.

3) Bring Hangers - You will not want to have your clothes on the floor while you are trying to unpack and navigate your room. Hangers are not included in your dorm room, unlike hotel rooms.

4) Don't forget your flash drive - If you are bringing a computer and printer with you, that's great. But what if your printer runs out of ink and your paper is due tomorrow? Having a flash drive on hand will let you print your paper on a friend's computer or in the library. You can also use a flash drive to bring a presentation to class, rather than bringing your whole computer.

5) Don't pack things that you can commonly find at a local store - Most likely, you will be going to school somewhere close to a store. Unless you are renting a 32 foot U-Haul truck, you will have limited space in the car. Pack the most essential and personal things to bring with you, and go shopping for other incidentals (like a case of bottled water or snacks) when you arrive at your destination.

6) Have Fun - College can be a wonderful experience of personal and academic growth. This is just the beginning. Congratulate your self on achieving this tremendous goal, and enjoy your first year!