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Packing List
By ABBY MCCARTNEY I started shopping for my dorm room when I was 11. At the time, I had only the vaguest idea of what college was, but I knew that these things called “dorms” merited a special pullout section of the monthly Target circular, with the most glorious hanging lamps, striped pillows and purple beanbag chairs I had ever seen. Whatever it was, I knew I wanted to go. Of course, when it actually came time to move in, the Target ad collided with reality. Did I really need my own ironing board, even if it was purple with cute blue polka dots? Would all my clothes fit in my dresser? How was I going to get all my stuff from Dallas to Connecticut? And the lingering question: What was I going to do with it when I got there? Moving in still creates plenty of lists, anxiety, shopping trips and stress, even after three years of experience. But I now have a better idea of what I need and what I should leave at home, even if I still always end up with more pairs of flip-flops than any reasonable person should own. WHAT TO BRING Bathrobe and bath tote. Odds are, your freshman dorm will have a bathroom down the hall, and you’ll have to pass a half dozen open room doors to get there. You don’t want to have to start your day by traipsing down the hall in a towel that’s too short, juggling six bottles of shampoo. Closet space-savers. Your closet will be too small, and you’ll probably have to share it with your roommate. An extra rod that hangs down from the main one can double your space. And if you fold most of your clothes, you can also get shelves to hang in your closet, creating more room for sweaters without taking up too much precious hanger space. Wire shelves or cubes. Wire shelves or storage cubes that you put together yourself can take different shapes, depending on what you need. I use mine to hold snacks, books, or anything that doesn’t fit on my desk. Plus, they break down for storage over the summer. WHAT TO LEAVE BEHIND Bulky furniture. I know, I know, the beanbag chair is soooo cute. But you won’t know whether you have room for it until you and your roommates see the room and put all your stuff in it. You can always add bulky furniture later on, but heading out to campus with a minivan full of it is just asking for trouble. Clothes you’ve never worn. For some reason, I thought I needed to bring pretty much all of my worldly possessions to college with me, including shirts with the tags still on and shoes that give me blisters. Here’s a hint: If you don’t wear it, use it or like it at home, you probably won’t at school, either. Books. Books are the plague of my packing. I love having them around, and I hate leaving my favorite books behind. But they’re heavy. And even if I can figure out how to get a 600-page anthology of American literature to Connecticut, I always regret it in May, when I have to find a place to store it or ship it home. Not to mention, my classes come with even more books that I can’t leave behind! Hard as it is, I’m learning to leave my hardcovers at home. I just remind myself that my school has a pretty good library. High school baggage. Leave the senior yearbook, the Homecoming photo album, and your place in the social pecking order at home. Some freshmen seem to spend all their time trying to make up for being uncool in high school, or else reminding everyone how cool they used to be. But where you sat in the cafeteria isn’t important anymore. College is a fresh start. Oh, and one more thing: Don’t forget to bring along an idea of what you want from college, whether it’s to read good books, get a good job or just to make lifelong friends. Even while you’re packing for college, think about where you’re going on your next big journey. You’ll arrive feeling much less lost and get much more out of your four years if you know why you’re there.
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