My Two Cents on Packing: a Girl’s Guide to College By Riley Vinci

By Riley Vinci

As a freshman in her first semester at college, I now know that I was completely clueless when I was preparing for move-in. I thought: “oh, I’m close to home, I don't need to over-pack.” And yes, my hometown being a 1 hour drive from my university, it was nice to have that option. But, being prepared before move-in is better. I spent the whole summer looking on social media for advice from real college students who went through the process already. Of course, they helped me with the basics, but a lot of their lists appeared to be excessive to me. For example, I knew I didn't need to buy expensive decorations or an overpriced ottoman. So, I under-packed. This was a bittersweet experience for me because I lacked some items that I needed for my daily life, but I knew I didn’t spend unnecessary on other items. Eventually, I established my routine and adapted to my environment, and I am living peacefully. I have created a list of some things that don’t seem like the obvious item, or items that made my small dorm room feel like home.

First, buy that fan. This might be the item I regretted NOT buying the most. I go to school in Upstate, NY, and I thought that I didn’t need a fan because the August heat wouldn’t last all year. What I failed to realize was that it gets hot in the rooms, no matter the weather. Even now that the leaves are starting to fall, my fan has not been turned off since I got it. As a girl who was not convinced by the TikTok videos, I promise it is actually worth it. I personally like the oscillating fans, but I know that the box fan in the window trick will also do the job. I also want to dabble on what your college wardrobe should look like. My advice to you is bring the clothes you are comfortable wearing, and the clothes that make you feel like you. I have noticed, now more than ever before, that no one cares. But be careful, you have limited space so think realistically.

When I was “researching” for my packing list, I came across the battle between the mesh shower caddies vs. the plastic ones. I made the decision to buy the plastic one, and I really like it. Very easy to carry, and there is not a sight of any mold. My favorite thing about my shower caddie, one of the compartments can come apart from the whole caddie. That is where I keep my face wash and toothbrush so I can easily take it to the bathroom, without carrying my whole shower caddie with all of my products.

One item that I was not convinced to buy was a headboard. It seemed expensive to buy that just for the aesthetic. What I didn’t realize was that there is more space in between the wall and the bed than you would expect. I ended up buying one of the pillow headboards so I didn't have to install or build anything, and I love it.

The last thing I want to mention is lighting. I bought a cute glass lamp with a warm tinted light bulb. When I turn it on, it keeps the whole room lit, and its hue gives my room such a cozy vibe at night. I debated getting a second lamp for my desk, but I ended up not buying one. My main source of light on my desk is from my vanity mirror, and it gets the job done! I also highly recommend buying fairy lights. I absolutely love mine, they add another layer to my decorations as well as more light for the sense of comfort.

This list is my two cents, and I would strongly recommend looking on social media for advice from other students. The list could go on and on, but these items I have mentioned are things that I was originally unsure about, and ultimately learned to adjust from looking at trends and popular items, to looking at my own room and taking advantage of my space.