Must-Brings & Tips for Moving into College!

If you’ve been following arctic books for a while, you might have known that I started my first year at college! I spent a good few weeks of packing, and throughout that time, I accumulated quite a few tips that I thought I’d share with you, whether it’s your first time heading to college or you want to save this as a reference in the future.

Must-Brings!

I’m currently going to a school that’s about an hour away so I’m able to come home nearly every other week to get items that I might have forgotten.

1. Whiteboard or Chalkboard

I find that bringing a white board or chalkboard can be very helpful, especially for writing times of clubs, meetings, other commitments down in case you forget. I tend to use my phone for reminders, but I find that writing what I have to do on my whiteboard for the next day is incredibly accommodation for your college schedule.

2. Brita filter

I have my own Brita filter which is super amazing because I like to drink relatively clean, filtered water. Since water is my go-to beverage, I like to know that I can take a drink of water without having to leave my dorm.

3. Reusable water bottle

Save the environment, y’all. On the topic of Brita filters, I find it super convenient to have a water bottle that you can reuse and carry around. I think it’s better than the bottled water that you find in supermarkets because a lot of that water is way acidic than it should be.

4. Flash drive

I find it useful to have a flash drive just in case during the school year. I tend to use Google Drive and that has a large memory and auto-saves, but in case you have an important paper that you don’t want to lose, I suggest using a flash drive just for backup.

5. Lysol or other disinfectant wipes

If you’re grossed out about living in a dorm like I was, I suggest bringing a couple tubs of Lysol or something to disinfect your bed. That includes mattress, headboard, your drawers, closet, desk, etc. It makes me feel a lot more clean and relaxed in my dorm room.

Tips!

1. I found this especially useful when I was packing up my clothes to bring to my dorm. I put all the bigger clothes that I wanted to bring on hangers (sweaters, long-sleeved shirts, coats, jackets, etc.) and hung (maybe 10 hangers) them all up and put slipped them in those drawstring garbage bags to keep them clean and organized for when you actually move in.  

2. Keep your door open. If you can, invest in a door stop or a brick or something to keep your door open to invite others living in your building to visit. I guarantee that you’ll meet friends and classmates that way.

3. Communication with your roommate(s) is key. Be sure to get a white board or chalk board to write notes to each other (when you’re going to be out, who’s going to throw out the trash, etc.). Also, ensure that neither you nor your roommates will keep your door unlocked when you’re both out of the room to prevent people from coming in and possibly stealing your items.

Alice is an 18 year old college student who loves the oxford comma, television shows, and the company of dogs. She finds writing in the third person odd yet enjoyable. You can find her scrolling through Twitter, Instagram, and forever organizing her shelves on Goodreads.

Do you have any tips for moving into college? What things do you wish you brought to your dorm? Let me know in the comments below!