What to Bring With You to College

As someone with divorced parents, I have done a lot of packing in my life... but it never gets easier. I always forget the most important things. If you are anything like me this list will help you remember the things you may not think to bring when going to college.

When shopping you may need to go to several different stores to get all your items. I organized my lists into categories that will help you better shop for the essentials. I also added links or suggestions on where to purchase some of the items listed.

Bathroom

★ Toilet Paper Depending on your dorm situation, you may need to bring your own toilet paper. Some of my friends got their own toilet paper just because they didn't like what the school offered.★ Feminine Products For my menstruating friends, you will need tampons/pads and I highly suggest taking a nice trip to your local wholesale store (Costco, BJ's, Sam's Club) to get a big box! ★ Toiletries Shampoo, conditioner, face wash, body wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. are always important. Most colleges have a shuttle system or a local/campus store where you can pick up more if you run out, but I suggest bringing backups just in case. ★ Shower Caddy In order to carry your toiletries to and from your luxurious communal bathroom you will definitely need one of these. Click here to buy! ★ Shower Shoes Because no one wants their feet to touch those shower floors! Click here to buy! ★ Robe/Towel wrap I still use a robe to travel to and from the bathroom in my college house. These are super useful if you share a bathroom or have to travel in the hallway from your dorm room to the bathroom. Nobody wants to feel exposed walking around in a bath towel! ★ Towels Be sure to bring multiple bath towels as well as washcloths! I personally brought four of each when I was a freshman. ★ Waterproof Speaker (optional) You would be surprised how many people jam out in the communal showers.

Bedding

Vanity/Closet

Cleaning

Kitchen

Desk/School Supplies

Misc.

DO NOT BRING!!!

Here are a few photos of my freshman and sophomore dorm rooms for decoration inspiration! I didn't go crazy since I wanted to save money (especially sophomore year) but I loved my room and always felt cozy and comfortable. (Left: Freshman Dorm, Right: Sophomore Dorm)

Here is a panorama of my freshman dorm!

Shopping for college can seem stressful but it helps to break it down and take your time to gather everything you need. I hope this list helps you or someone you know when College shopping. Feel free to leave a comment if you feel I missed anything or want to know where I got something if it's not already linked. Check out @itsirrellavent on Instagram for more tips and tricks. Don't let packing for college overwhelm you because let's be honest... you will probably forget something anyway!