How to make an effective college packing list.
When you’re organized, even a big move like heading to college isn’t so daunting. Learn how to make a college packing list to make sure you bring all the essentials.
There’s nothing worse than forgetting something when you move into your new college dorm — especially if it’s far away from home. The best way to stay organized is to make a packing list for college that contains all your essentials, from the most crucial necessities to the smallest niceties.
Start by knowing what you need.
Different colleges, and even dorms on the same campus, have different rules and requirements. Some might come fully furnished, requiring you to bring only the bare essentials. Others, however, might be unfurnished, meaning you need to bring appliances, bedding, electronics, or anything else you might need.
The first step in any college list-packing experience is to understand what you actually need. Many colleges provide a list of items students need to bring, but in some cases, you might have to reach out directly to get a list of what’s included and, perhaps more importantly, what’s not included in your new student housing.
A list of necessary items from your college is a great start to your college packing list template. Transfer the items to your own template and make sure there’s plenty of space to add your own personal items in the various categories.
Categories to include in your college dorm packing list.
Once you have a good idea of what’s included and not included in your housing, it’s time to start building your packing list for college. The best way to stay on track is to break your packing list into various categories.
Here are some of the primary categories you should include in your college packing list:
- Basics
- Bed
- Bath
- Kitchen
- Living
- Study
- Cleaning
With your list broken down into categories, you can start listing individual items under each category. Under the “Basics” category, for example, you can list your phone and laptop chargers, first aid kit, fan, clothes hangers, and any other basic items you might need both during the experience and in your dorm.
When you break your packing list into categories, you can focus on specific aspects of college life. You don’t have to remember everything all at once — which feels daunting and might mean you’ll miss something. Rather, just list everything in a specific category. When you focus only on things you’ll need in the bathroom, for example, packing becomes a bit more manageable.
Download a college packing list PDF template.
Between finishing your summer activities and preparing for upcoming classes, you might not have time to create a packing list template from scratch. Luckily, you can download a PDF college packing list template online to help you get started.
Every college student is different, so you might need to edit the template to add or remove items to suit your needs. You can easily convert PDF to Word online to swap your downloaded template into a more editable format. Once edited, you can always convert Word back to PDF.
If you want to collaborate on your packing list with others — like your parents, for example — you can also edit the PDF online to add comments and sticky notes. Your parents will likely have a few items to add to your packing list that you might not have thought of.
Frequently asked questions.
How early should I start packing for college?
It typically takes three to four weeks to gather all your belongings for college. But really, the earlier, the better. Once your college dorm packing list is ready, start compiling the items you’ll need.
How many clothes should I pack for college?
You should include about two to three weeks’ worth of clothes on your packing list for college. You don’t want to be stuck at the laundromat all the time, but dorms also typically have limited closet space.
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Content as a Service - acrobat-hub - Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 08:45