lizzystrata

This list helped me a great deal. I tend to get a bit neurotic and want to plan heavily ahead of move-in day. Very helpful, thank you kate!

JTKay

Whoa, I didn't think of bringing my curling iron at all. I guess straight hair would get boring after a while?

deutsch

damn that's a lot of things to bring. pretty good list!

cdmn

My daughter is a freshman at USC and we are from the midwest. I had heard that most kids take too much stuff to college. But after we unloaded three suitcases on move-in day last August, we hit Target, Best Buy and Bed Bath and Beyond for "essentials". I came out about $1600 poorer.

Just remember that dorm rooms are very small to begin with, and you only get half of it. The space is adequate if you utilize it properly and straighten up regularly. Plastic risers for bed legs are great for increasing the amount you can store under your bed. She can fit three large storage bins under her bed with the risers. Now we just have to figure out what to do with it all in May....

A tip that she learned the hard way: buy a duvet and comforter, not just a comforter. It's much easier to remove a duvet and wash it than to stuff a comforter into the washer, and they get filthy in a dorm room from everyone sitting on it, eating, etc.

Patsygirl

it's a small thing, but i read somewhere that Pedialyte pops are really great- college kids are oftentimes too busy having fun to take care of themselves, and if you partied a little hard last night or you are sick in your bed, they can help you feel a little better

Perfectedxchaos

patsy - that's such a cute idea.

kikib1028

I don't if it was mentioned, but a USB flash/jump drive will probably be needed.

asdfjkl1

You know, I was looking all over for a thread like this so that when summer rolls around, I'm ready. I'm bookmarking this.

HisGraceFillsMe

This is an AMAZING thread...perfect for packing this summer!!! THANK YOU to all who contributed. For a first-gen student this will probably save a lot of heartache and worry about "did I forget _____?"

kikib1028

^My sentiments, exactly.

iceburns288

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There, I have compressed this list to an Excel file (sorry, Excel 2007, I will convert it later) complete with whether I will be taking these items to school and my logic behind the decision. Feel free to download this, change your answers, and print it out as an easy-to-see guide to packing (no offense meant to the OP). Also the descriptions may help you make decisions about taking certain things.

Keep in mind that, unlike the OP, I am a guy and an engineering major, which is why so many of my answers differ from hers .

Perfectedxchaos

iceburns - Could you get it in any other file format?
Like msword?

iceburns288

Here it is in 'normal' Excel format:
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The entire list complete with my answers of yes/no and my reason behind the decision is on Sheet 1, and MY list of things to bring (handy for guys who don't need makeup, hand cream, etc) is on Sheet 2. My final list is about 120 things, the original list was about 240, to give you an idea of how much I cut. I recommend y'all take the list in Sheet 1, copy it to Sheet 3, and then change the reasoning in the third column so you can print that out and use it as a guide to packing.
Here it is in Word:
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Perfectedxchaos

Thank you!
what does "weaksauce" mean?

kikib1028

Are stuffed animals on your list?