One of the major steps for preparing for college is packing — and this can be a more challenging task than you may expect. As well as figuring out what to bring, you need to know how to bring it. Avoid rookie mistakes by familiarizing yourself with these dos and don’ts when preparing to take your belongings to your student apartment.
Do: Create a Packing List
Think carefully about what you actually need and write everything down in a list long before you start packing. Having a list will also help you avoid forgetting any essentials.
Don’t: Bring Out-of-Season Clothing
If you’ll be returning to your parents’ home between semesters, there’s no need to pack any clothing you won’t need this semester. It will only take up space in your car during the move and in your closet after you’ve unpacked.
Do: Find Out If Any Items Are Prohibited
Your student housing should provide you with a list of prohibited items — fire hazards like candles are often on this list. Recheck the list before you start packing to ensure you don’t waste valuable space with items you won’t even be able to use.
Don’t: Pack Without Coordinating with Your Roommates
It will be unhelpful to double up on items that you and your roommates can share, such as a coffee maker, toaster, or lamp for the living room. Set up a group chat with your roommates to discuss who will bring what.
Do: Transport Clothing on Hangers
Pull your clothing straight out of your closet and cover everything in a large trash bag. When you’re unpacking, you can just remove the bag and transfer the clothing to your new closet. This will save time and ensure you don’t forget to pack hangers.
Don’t: Believe You’ll Be Able to Pick Up Everything You Need When You Arrive
You may be tempted to just bring your personal belongings and purchase the rest of what you need when you arrive in your college town. Although it’s a good idea to buy some things, the last thing you want is to take an hours-long shopping trip when you’d prefer to be settling into your new apartment. Besides, you may struggle to find your preferred brand of toiletries or you may discover that certain items are out of stock because other students had the same idea as you.
Do: Invest in a Business Professional Outfit
You never know when the opportunity could arise for you to meet someone at your dream company. There could be a careers fair on campus or you may have the chance to interview for an internship. If you don’t have a suitable business professional outfit already, go shopping for one before you leave for college.
Don’t: Try to Survive with the Minimum
It may sound logical to have just two sets of bedding and two bath towels. After all, you can use one while the other is in the laundry. However, you’ll soon discover how inconvenient this is. Pack enough that you won’t need to be doing frequent loads of laundry.
Do: Use Storage Containers Instead of Boxes and Suitcases
If you pack your possessions in boxes, you’ll later need to throw out or store the boxes. Suitcases are worse still because they’re particularly bulky. Your best option is storage containers, as you can fill these with your belongings and keep them under the bed or at the bottom of your closet.
Don’t: Try to Move on Your Own
Most students will bring at least one family member or friend to help them move in. You may find it too difficult to carry items on your own.
You’ll be much less restricted as to how much stuff you can bring if you’re living in off-campus student housing rather than in dorms. A great alternative to Fleming College residence is Severn Court. You’ll have a private bedroom with its own lock and thermostat. Plus, the whole unit is fully furnished, meaning there’s no need to bring furniture yourself. Contact us to talk about our flexible lease options.
