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By Updated On August 11, 2022 If you plan on moving into your school’s dorm room or off-campus housing this upcoming semester, you’re probably wondering what you should pack. From school supplies to everyday products, there's a lot you’ll need to bring with you. We’ve curated this checklist to help ensure you don’t forget anything for your college dorm room during the school year. We’ve broken everything down by category and even included a section dedicated to packing for school during the COVID-19 pandemic. ClothingWhen packing clothing and linens, consider your access to laundry facilities. Assume you'll need at least seven days worth of clothes, but if you don't have a washer/dryer in your dorm, you may want to pack a few extras. You'll also want to consider how much the weather changes at your school. Some regions experience all four seasons with varied temperatures and wet/dry periods, while others have fairly consistent temps and precipitation. If you're headed for Minnesota, obviously you need more varied clothing than your friend headed to SoCal. Must-have
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Leave at home
Important documentsThis category may not be the first thing you think of when you're packing for school, but there are a few important documents you won’t want to forget to bring with you. We suggest having either a hard copy or electronic version of a few important documents you may use throughout the school year, including:
Electronics and technologyThough you probably have a good idea of what tech you want to bring with you, there are a few things that you definitely don’t want to forget. When making your college packing list, you should be sure to include these. Must have
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School suppliesWhile these are pretty easy to get on or around most college campuses, they're still something to consider bringing along when you first move in. When packing up your school supplies, consider bringing:
ToiletriesAnother commonly forgotten category when it comes to packing for college is the toiletries. Obviously you need the basics: shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste. But, you really need to consider how long you’ll be living on campus — you’ll need much more than the basics. Our list of toiletries for college include:
Medicine and other related itemsWhen you move away to college for the first time, you may not consider just how important everyday medicines and other related items are. They’re usually easily accessible in your home's medicine cabinet. When packing for college, we recommend thinking about:
See also: 6 Questions Your School Should Be Able to Answer By the Fall Semester Linens and laundry productsAs with clothing, consider your access to laundry facilities when packing extra linens and laundry products. You may want to consider packing extra bath towels or sheets if your access to laundry is limited. Must have
Nice to have
Furnishings and other decor itemsOne of the best parts of moving into a college dorm room or off-campus housing is that you get to decorate and personalize the space to your liking. If you want to decorate your dorm room, we’ve compiled a list of items to consider bringing. Our top picks for dorm room decorations include:
Food, snacks, and kitchen stuffAs a college student, you’ll likely be on a pretty strict budget when it comes to food. Whether you’re using meal swipes at the dining hall or looking for quick meals to make in the dorm room, some of our favorite food and kitchen items to pack include:
Recreation and funWhile you are primarily going to college for the educational benefits, you need to have some fun. When it comes to recreational items to pack, you should pick out items you know you’ll be using a lot and that you may not be able to find on your college campus. Some of our suggestions include:
Safety items and miscellaneousSome other suggestions we have to add to your college packing list include:
COVID-related suppliesPandemic-related restrictions and precautions have eased significantly, but it's hard to say when infection rates might increase again. And local guidelines keep changing — faster than we can update this story. Below is a general list of supplies you might need, but check with your school to see what they're requiring as far as mask-wearing, vaccination, etc., and what the current local guidelines are.
Explore more college planning tips and tricks with NitroPlanning for college can be incredibly stressful — from starting your college visits, writing admissions essays, to the first day of the actual semester. Luckily for you — it doesn’t have to be! Nitro is a great resource for current and prospective college students offering advice at every step of the way — from filling out your applications to paying off your student loans. Find more tips and tricks — like advice for decision day or our technology packing list. How many days of clothes do you need for college?It'll be impossible to bring your entire wardrobe from home to college with you. But how much of it should you bring? We recommend bringing about 2-3 weeks' worth of clothes to wear while at college.
How many pairs of clothes should you bring to college?Use the 5,4,3,2,1 rule. Five shirts, four bottoms, three hoodies or zip up jackets, two pairs of shoes, and one suit or dress. Adjust the list to suit your needs. Don't forget to throw in at least one bathing suit.
Should I bring all my clothes to college?Packing your wardrobe
You should plan for a tiny closet and only pack for the current season. Bring comfortable clothes and shoes for walking around campus, but pack at least one pair of dressy shoes and one outfit suitable for a job interview, networking event, or a career fair.
How many weeks are college clothes worth?Clothing/Accessories
Plan on packing two weeks worth of the current season, and swap out after the semester changes if possible. Extra socks and underwear – Laundry won't be the highest priority, so make sure you have enough of the essentials.
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