If you are moving into a dorm room, be prepared for some changes from home. Your dorm room will be a double, triple, or quad. If you are very lucky you will get a single room. Single rooms are usually reserved for those with special needs. In your dorm room, you will have a place for desks, closets, and beds. You might have a sink to use. Usually, everyone on the floor shares a communal bathroom/shower. The rooms are small and you will need to prioritize what you bring with you. This article helps you start to think about what to pack, Prepscholar.com has published a printable packing list as well here.
For meals, most four-year colleges have meal plans in communal dining halls. There are usually all types of food choices available. However, your dining hall will have specific open hours, and cannot adjust for every dietary need.
Be sure to bring your driver’s license, immunization card, health insurance card, list of medications, and past medical history. It is time for you to know these things. Snap a photo of the front (and back) of your cards and keep them saved in your favorites folder. You never know when you will need these things. Most children don’t know if they had chickenpox or if they had the chickenpox vaccination, so now is the time to get familiar with your medical history. Don’t forget your bank card and social security card.
It is a good idea to check and see what items the dorm will NOT allow. Things like:
| Candles |
| Hookahs and electric cigarettes |
| Cooking appliances (except a microwave) |
| Air conditioners |
| Banners, tapestries, and flags |
| Hanging decorative lights |
| Weapons |
| Propane, gasoline, and lighter fluid |
| Lamps with plastic or cloth lampshades |
| Fog machines |
| Electric blankets |
Other dorm room essentials (check with roommates about items that will be shared like microwave and minifridge – there will not be room for 3 microwaves and 3 minifridge’s in the dorm room).
| Twin XL sheets (one set with pillowcases) | Towels & washcloths |
| Blanket | Shower caddy to take to shower room |
| Comforter | Shower shoes |
| Mattress pad/cover | Shampoo, conditioner, soap/body wash |
| Under the bed storage boxes | Hair products |
| Laundry basket/bag | Comb or brush |
| Clothes hangers | Shaving supplies |
| Trash can | Cosmetics |
| Trash bags | Toothpaste and toothbrush |
| Reading light | Q-tips/cotton balls |
| Minifridge (if not provided) | Toilet paper/tissues or Kleenex |
| Microwave (if not provided) | Nail clippers |
| 2 cups, 2 plates, 2 bowls, 2 sets of silverware | Laundry detergent |
| Coffee mug | Dryer sheets |
| Reusable water bottle | Dish soap |
| Fan if you get hot | Hand soap |
| Rolling storage unit | Storage for closet |
| Handheld chargeable vacuum | Bathrobe |
| Umbrella and raincoat/rain boots | Cleaning supplies |
| Iron and ironing board (the little mini size) |
First Aid and Health Supplies
| Painkillers/fever reducer Tylenol/ Motrin | Medical tape |
| Band-aids all sizes | Gauze |
| Neosporin | Disinfectant |
| Cortisone | Tweezers |
| Ace bandage | Cough and cold medicine |
| Birth control pills/condoms/other birth control |
School Supplies
| Notebooks | Desk organizer | Laptop and laptop case |
| Planner* | Desk lamp | Noise-canceling headphones |
| Folders | Stamps/envelopes | HDMI cable |
| Index cards | Rubber bands | Backup chargers |
| Pens and pencils | Paper clips | AA and AAA batteries |
| Highlighters | Binder clips | 1-2 power strips |
| Sharpies | Stapler | calculator |
| Post-its | Backpack or book bag |
Starter Grocery List
| Ramen noodles & bowl to cook in the microwave |
| Microwavable soup packets or bowls |
| Snack packs (pretzels, almonds, trail mix, beef jerky) |
| Granola bars |
| Popcorn |
| Coffee or hot chocolate (whichever you like) |
| PB & J |
Clothing
First, wait to bring your winter clothing, unless you are moving way up north. Choose a minimal wardrobe, plan for a tiny closet, and pack the most comfortable clothing. You will be walking around campus a lot, so pack at least one pair of sturdy walking shoes, rain boots, and an umbrella. Pack at least one but no more than two dressy outfits including shoes (something suitable for a job interview).
If you keep your clothes on their hangers then it is easier to transfer from the car to the closet. One space-saving tip is to use vacuum bags to pack towels and bedding (already washed). You can reuse these bags to store items in your closet that you do not use every day.
Coordinate your clothing is more neutral colors that will match most items in your closet, this will go a long way to keeping your clothing to a minimum. You will also likely purchase a few items of clothing in the school colors while you are in school, so leave room for those. Don’t forget:
| Underwear | Long sleeve shirts, sweatshirts |
| Socks, stockings | Workout clothing |
| Jeans, pants, sweatpants | 1-2 outfits of professional attire |
| PJs (only need 2 or 3 pair) | Belt |
| Shorts, skirts | Swimsuit |
| t-shirts | Light jacket, raincoat |
| Walking shoes, casual shoes, rain boots | Sunglasses |
| Flip/flops or shower shoes | Watch, hat, scarf |
Nursing Notes 