Chapter One

chapter 1

things to bring

Before you start packing your bags and loading the van, there are two things you should do. First, check to see if your college has mailed you a suggested list of things you will need to bring. If not, many schools provide this kind of information online. Pull up your school’s website and click on “residential” or “dormitory housing.” You may be able to take a tour of the rooms and check out dimensions. (Think small!) In addition to providing information such as whether you should bring regular or extra-long sheets for your bed, there may be helpful hints about leaving pets and power tools at home.

The second thing to do is to call university housing to find out who your roommate will be.

“It was good to get to know a little bit about him before we actually met. We decided in advance which of us would bring the big items—refrigerator, microwave, TV, fan. By avoiding duplication, we saved both money and valuable room space.”

Here’s a composite list of what twenty students we interviewed took with them to college.

Caution: In August, many discount and specialty stores feature aisles overflowing with items just for the dorm—all in bright colors, too. Don’t get carried away. Remember: Packing for college is an art, not a science. It depends on judgment.

basics

•       clothes

•       lots of clothes hangers

•       socks and underwear

•       baseball cap for bad hair da