How to Pack for College

You’ve decided to live in a college dorm room and maybe even found out your assignment for your room. Now the task is how to pack up what you have and get it to your room. Previously, we talked about if you could really pack up everything in your college dorm room and take it with you (no, you can’t) and now we’re going to tell you how to efficiently pack what you have decided to take with you.

 

Just like the amount of things you pack with you depends upon how far away from home you’re going, how you pack will also change. If your college is in another country, you’re going to be taking a lot of things on a plane and maybe shipping things. If your college is another country, you have to think much smaller than you otherwise would. Take the absolute essentials you need with you (you are probably going to be taking extra baggage onto the plane). The key here is that once you’re in the country you’re going to college in, you can get a lot of the other, bulky essentials there such as your bedding or a lamp. You’re going to need to be a lot more selective and creative with how you pack and what you can get at a later time. Expect to be possibly be paying extra baggage fees.

If you’re going to college in another state, you’re either going to have the same considerations as those packing and flying to another country, or you’re going to have the luxury of packing a car and taking your essentials to college as you would if you were closer to home. With going to college in another state, a good option is to pack some essentials up and ship them – not anything valuable, though. Things like your TV and jewelry you will want to save for the car ride up to your college. Even if your college is a few hours from home, you may want to take advantage of shipping some things. After all, you only have so much room in the car. 

If you’re planning on packing a car with your essentials for college, you need to first think of how to use every available amount of packing space you have. You’re obviously taking a laundry bag or basket with you – don’t just let it sit in your car. Pack it up with clothes or your bedding. Taking a laundry basket? This is the perfect item to place your books, movies, and games in. You’ll be able to carry them easily and if you’re worried about them shifting around inside of the basket, you’ll be able to cover them and fill in the sides with clothes or blankets. Taking backpacks, trunks, or other storage items with you? Pack your clothes inside of these items as well. The key with packing for college is to use every storage item you’re taking with you to store other items while you’re taking them to college. Taking a fragile item? Wrap it in a towel or blanket and place it in a box, bag, or basket that you’re taking with you. Don’t want your TV to move around in the basket or box you placed it in? Wrap a blanket around it or pack your clothes around it. When you’re packing for college, your first instinct may be to go and buy some boxes. Don’t trust that first instinct. Boxes are bulky, you’ll find yourself playing a game of how to fit it all in your car, and you’re going to be throwing them out later. What you need to do first is pack your essentials in other items that you’re taking with you so you have no unnecessary items that you’re bringing with you. Only when you run out of backpacks, trunks, or storage boxes should you be reaching for a garbage bag or cardboard box.