The Top 10 Things To Pack For College – The Student Perspective

In the lead up to the often emotional departure for college, there’s usually a flurry of activity just before the door closes on the summertime chapter transitioning from high school to college. In all the excitement of preparing and packing for college and the tearful goodbyes, there’s inevitably something the new college freshman has forgotten.
The realization hits during the ceremonial unpacking at the dorm but it’s almost too late as classes are usually starting the next day and any leisurely shopping time frame has vanished.
Packing for College
After 18 years working at Mount St. Vincent University (MSVU), Shani Pearson, Manager of Alumni Relations says that when planning for college, the top 10 things that students should pack that they often forget are:
Rolls of quarters for laundry
Their favorite pillow (not a new one)
Pictures of favorite people and pets
Sticky tack for hanging pictures and posters
A cash card from mom and/or dad
Long distance calling card
A supply of their favorite candy or gum
Ear plugs (not used to the noise of living with so many others)
Eye mask
Flip flops/bathroom slippers
MSVU’s on-campus housing department also offers a comprehensive list of must haves for new students preparing for dorm life.
As the students themselves weigh in the list continues to grow. The must haves on the college checklist according to sophomore Shauna Gibson from the University of Western Ontario include:
A printer (with all the appropriate cables, connections, surge protectors and extension cords)
Basic medicine (i.e. Advil, cough medicine, throat lozenges, etc)
A little first aid kit (band aids, Polysporin, etc)
A laptop lock (some were stolen during her freshman year)
A bathrobe
Shower shoes (i.e. flip flops)
A mattress pad/ memory foam (according to Gibson, dorm room mattresses often leave much to be desired)
It seems no matter where in the world students plan to attend university, the core list is the same with a few variations. Mary-Alison Lyman, Student Services manager at the Canadian University of Dubai (CUD) did an informal poll of students and the general consensus of items not to forget were:
iPod
Laptop
Books
Cool Shades
Clothing
Toiletries – toothbrush, hair brush, deodorant etc
Spending Money
Photos of Friends/Relatives
Camera
Passport/ Necessary documentation (for students studying in another country)
Putting some serious thought into it, CUD student Varun Asser had many of the same items on his list. However, he included “Emotional Stability” as one of his top 10. “This is perhaps one of the important must haves,” he says. “Be mentally prepared to leave home and family behind and seek out a new place for yourself. The day you lose this, you know you’re boarding the next flight home to mom.”
His unique items also included a good appetite and a little control, especially for the many freshmen experiencing their first time away from home.
Since mom’s not going to be around to do the laundry, CUD student Hassan Bin Shams had laundry and cleaning supplies on his list along with a sewing kit and small tool kit. He also suggested that freshmen not forget dishware and cutlery, hangers and a flash drive.
The College Experts Checklist
To ensure that nothing gets left behind, working from a master checklist that goes way beyond the top 10 is a great idea. The College Board and College Prep 101 both publish very comprehensive checklists to use when organizing and packing up for the exciting transition to college life. The College Board also publishes a useful guide called “Get it Together for College.” It includes handy time lines to help track progress, suggestions on essay writing and scholarship research.
It’s important to be selective though. The space in a dorm room is typically very limited. When planning for college, The College Board recommends checking with the roommate to ensure there is no duplication on items where only one is necessary, such as a television or refrigerator.

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