What You Need to Bring to College / College Packing List of Essentials Below is a list of what you need to bring to college and what to pack for college! Knowing what you should bring to college can be challenging if you have never gone to college before so this post will contain helpful advice for college freshman or even for upperclassmen who may want to refer to a college packing list. I wanted to share some advice for what to take to college with you and what you need for college to have a great dorm room! Many of the items listed below are essentials that you need for college but some of the items are things that are beneficial to have rather than a necessity to have; you can use your judgement to determine what is best for you! The items to bring to college are listed below and separated by category! I also created a checklist (it's printable!) and it's included at the bottom of this post! And I also made a video as well sharing what to bring to college and showing you some of the items from the college packing list 2020 edition! Link to the video on my YouTube channel emsessentials https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4TfBorN1RE Link to my channel if you'd like to watch more videos https://www.youtube.com/user/emsessentials/ I'd love if you'd subscribe to the channel and join the community! You can click right here to do so: https://www.youtube.com/user/emsessentials?sub_confirmation=1 :) School Supplies Lanyard/Card case Your school ID will be one of your most important possessions! You will need easy access to it so it is helpful to have it readily available on a lanyard attached to a card case of just by using one of those 2 items. Pencils, pens, tape, scissors, colored pencils, notebooks, folders, binders, etc. You will need some stereotypical school supplies and may want to bring a combination of the above items. Planner A planner is one of the most essential items to have! I could not live without my planner, I had my class schedule written in it, my assignments, appointments, etc. Backpack or bag for class Laptop and laptop case or sleeve to protect it as it is expensive and important. Notepad or sticky notes Great for jotting something down quickly or writing a reminder for yourself. Sometimes I would write due dates on sticky notes and put them in my planner the week before so it would be really noticeable! USB flash drive Very helpful for storing documents and files. Sometimes you will need to print something out and you will be in a rush and having the document on a flash drive is much easier! Plugging in a flash drive and having your document right there to print is much faster than logging into your email on the school computer, downloading the document and then printing it. If it's on your flash drive you will not need to deal with the internet which of course would be slow if you were in a rush! (the computer/printer can smell your fear lol) Clothing & Products Hangers Clothes Shoes Slippers or some type of comfy shoes for walking around your dorm room or building Flip flops for taking a shower (you do not want to be barefoot if you use a communal bathroom) Toiletries and a shower caddy or bag to hold your items Robe for once you are done showering or for you to chill out in your room Skincare Hair-care Makeup Towels and wash cloths Hamper and/or laundry basket Cleaning & Food Cleaning supplies - especially disinfectant wipes Laundry detergent Dish soap, a sponge, and a dish towel Utensils/plates/bowls/mugs Even if you won't really be cooking in your dorm it is still good to have these items in case you get take out or have some leftovers! Reusable water bottle Food baggies and small food storage containers Oatmeal It's good to have some type of food in your room in case Granola bars For a quick on the go snack Soup In case you get sick or tired of dining hall food lol Trash can and bags Mini vacuum Good to have and use periodically Duster Bed & Storage Storage bins Your room will probably not have ample storage, so bins to keep under your bed will be very handy! Bed risers This will allow you to have more room for under the bed storage Bedding - comforter, sheets, pillow cases, etc. It is a good idea to have 2 sets of sheets so that when one is in the wash you will have another set, also most dorm beds are size twin xl so keep that in mind for the bedding! Pillows Mattress cover This is a good idea because multiple other people have used the mattress before you Mattress topper or mattress pad(s) The school mattress will be very thin and a mattress topper or two can make a noticeable improvement in terms of comfort, trust me! Over the door hanger Great on a closet or wardrobe door to get some storage space to hang clothes, or coats, or belts, or towels, anything you choose lol Room Decor & Small Appliances Lights String lights make a big difference in the feel of a room Pictures Some pictures will make the room feel much more homey Desk drawer organizers Mirror You may want a small makeup mirror and a full length mirror Command hooks and poster hanging strips Extension cords and power strips You room will probably only have a few outlets and you will most likely need to plug more than a few things in. The outlets may also be inconveniently located so an extension cord will be very beneficial! Mini fridge Microwave Fan You probably won't be able to control the temperature of your room via a thermostat and a fan can be a must have when it's hot at the beginning of the year! Desk lamp The lighting in the dorm will not be ideal and sometimes you may need to have a light on when your roommate is asleep (a desk light is better than the overhead light in that situation). Miscellaneous but Important Lock box or a small safe You can keep important/sensitive documents as well as extra cash in it Tool kit You never know what problems may arise or if you need a screw driver to open something that needs batteries Batteries First aid kit Bandages, neosporin, advil, etc. Feminine products Umbrella Earphones Ear plugs Dorms can be very loud especially when you are trying to study or sleep Duffel bag Would be handy for weekend trips home Printable list: I really hope that you found this what to bring to college blog post and college packing list of college dorm essentials to be helpful! 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