Move-In Week: What To Bring And What To Leave Behind

By Alexandra Brown on September 10, 2014

This article is brought to you by CORT, a subsidiary of Berkshire-Hathaway and the world’s largest furniture rental and relocation services company. To learn more about how we can help college students like you, click here.

Although summer was hopefully the perfect break you needed from a difficult, yet fulfilling semester on campus, consisting equally of working hard and playing hard, it’s that time again.

It’s time to re-pack all that stuff sitting in your room you never fully unpacked from the previous semester, as well as some key essentials I will make a note of in this list.

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1. Clothes

An essential part of your back-to-school checklist is your wardrobe. However, you will undoubtedly regret packing too much, like my previous roommate who left an entire box of clothing untouched in our room last semester.

What you’ll need to bring: Clothing suitable for the next one to two seasons your campus will be experiencing, unless you live far from your campus, in which case, you’re going to have to bring it all with you. This includes recreational, formal, and casual clothing that you know you will wear at some point or another.

What you can leave behind: Winter clothing, including heavy sweaters, coats, jackets, gloves, hats and heavy scarves. You can hopefully get all of these items whenever you choose to make a trip home, before the weather really starts to get cold.

You can also leave behind the clothes you don’t wear as much when you’re home. You don’t need to pack the entire contents of your closet; there’s no way you’ll need every article of clothing you own at school.

2. Shoes

Shoes are an essential part of your wardrobe, and although I usually say the more the better, when it comes time for packing for back-to-school, you don’t need to pack every pair you own.

What you’ll need to bring: A pair of athletic shoes, a minimal amount of formal shoes (two pairs will work out fine; how often are you really dressing up on campus anyway?), a minimal amount of sandals (two to three pairs will do it), and two to three pairs of casual sneaker-style shoes.

What you can leave behind: All boots/shoes for warmer occasions can be picked up the next time you visit home, along with your warmer winter clothes.

3. Room Essentials

Your priorities may vary whether you’re living in off-campus housing or in a dorm, but room essentials are what make your living space homey and the most like you, so it’s important to have everything you need.

What you’ll need to bring: Pack minor furniture you’re bringing from home (if not included already in your living space) such as a comfortable desk chair, desk lamp, a small night stand, plastic reusable storing drawers, posters, pictures, a full-length mirror, luggage, as well as any items you had in your room the previous semester that you’d have use for again.

What you can leave behind: Leave the items you’ve decided were unnecessary last semester, like large and bulky furniture, cheap mirrors, decorations that fell apart easily, and generally anything you ended up not having a use for.

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4. Kitchenware

This may or may not apply to you depending on whether you’re living in dorms or in off-campus housing, but basics are needed for either case.

What you’ll need to bring: Silverware, basic dishes and cooking utensils, and kitchen appliances and placemats if you have an actual kitchen.

5. Cleaning Supplies

No one likes having a roommate who’s messy and unclean. Be the roommate you’d want to have and invest in some cleaning supplies.

What you’ll need to bring: Bring basic cleaning appliances like an easily portable vacuum, broom, simple mop and cleaning wipes.

6. Makeup/Toiletries

Making an effort to look presentable is very important while you are away at college (for most occasions), so it’s important to have all the basic necessities with you to make that happen.

What you’ll need to bring:  Basic bathroom necessities such as a toothbrush/toothpaste, brush, comb, face wash, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, etc. Also, if you wear makeup, bring eyes, lips and face products.

What you can leave behind: Products/perfumes/items you won’t use; there’s also no need to pack every item of your makeup collection that you’ve acquired since 8th grade.

7. School/Office Supplies

Despite what it sometimes feels like, you are on campus to study. Although it’s not grade school or even high school, having some basic school/office supplies around is always helpful.

What you’ll need to bring: Loose-leaf paper, printer paper, notebooks and binders, a printer and ink cartridges (unless you plan on using other ones on campus), pens, pencils, permanent markers and highlighters, a stapler (with extra staples), notecards, paperclips, sticky notes, and stamps and stationery (if you still write actual letters).

What you can (probably) leave behind: Sequins, feathers, cotton balls, pattern scissors, colored tissue paper, fabric glue, stencils, colored pencils, etc.

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8. A Positive Attitude About the Year to Come!

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