Checklist: What to Pack for College Freshman Year

Are you excited to head off to college for the first time this fall?

Ah, freshman year! The first step of college life, the first step of living independently, the first step to adulthood -- a lifetime of memories.

It is an exhilarating time – picking out your classes, getting to know your dorm roommates, buying new clothes, and making new friends. Adding to that are long assignment papers, late nights, and tons and tons of junk food.

It is a crazy time, but it is also very nerve-racking – as you are moving away from home to a brand-new place, living with people you don’t know, and taking care of yourself completely. There are so many things to keep in mind during this transition phase of your life.

118 Packing Essentials for College Freshman Year

As you enter college life, your dorm room is basically everything for you: a place you cook, clean, shower, sleep, exercise, study, and chill with your friends or your roommate – it’s all in one, your safe space. So, make use of every little inch of your dorm room.

As someone who’s been there, and done that, let me tell you, the most stressful part about this entire venture is packing and moving to your dorm rooms.

Everyone knows the basic essentials that need to be packed, but it is difficult to think of everything. What if you miss something? That’s why the rule of thumb – is always making a checklist!

Categorize your checklist to make it easier to understand what you have, and what you need, and tick off all that you have already packed. Doing this ensures you don’t leave anything important behind.

So, let us put pen to paper and jot down what one should pack for college freshman year.

Bedding and Bath

Being in freshman year, you realize how little you’ll get to sleep due to assignments and projects, and extracurricular activities. Oh, and let’s not forget about the parties you’ll go to.

You need a good night’s sleep whenever you can get it. A warm, comfortable, clean bed is all that you will yearn for at the end of the day.

There will be times when you might just be too lazy to shower but know that a nice hot bath in a clean, scented bathroom will fix everything. about anything. Remember to check these essentials off the list for the perfect bed and bathroom:

1. Comforters and/or quilts
2. Throw blankets
3. Bedsheets
4. Pillows and pillowcases
5. Alarm clock
6. Clothes hanger
7. Wastebasket
8. Bedside lamp
9. Table fan
10. Tissues
11. Bathroom mat
12. Shower curtains (..and add a pop of color to your bathroom)
13. Bath and hand towels
14. Shower Caddy (for all those important bathroom necessities that would normally be all over the sink)
15. Flip flops
16. Shampoo and conditioner
17. Hair styling products
18. Toothpaste and toothbrush
19. Hairdryer/straightener
20. Shower gel
21. Comb/Brush
22. Nail clippers
23. Q-tips
24. Lotion/Face Moisturizer
25. Deodorant
26. Razor and shaving cream
27. Cotton Swabs

Laundry & Storage

Anything that would help make laundry day easier would be a godsend, so here are a few necessary laundry and storage items that would make life a little easier and keep all your clothes off that chair in your room.

1. Laundry basket
2. Laundry detergent
3. Fabric softener
4. Under-the-bed plastic storage boxes
5. Drying rack
6. Iron and ironing board
7. Removable adhesive wall hooks (Most schools do not allow you to put nails on the wall, so here’s the second-best, cost-effective option)
8. Stain remover
9. Storage bins
10. Lint remover

School and Study Supplies

Possibly the most important category in this entire article.

You are a freshman in college; you need your study supplies and stationery. This list contains everything that’s required in college for your assignments, essays, and projects. I assure you as months go by, more supplies will be added to this list.

1. Backpack
2. Folders/binders
3. Notebooks
4. Calculator
5. Flash drives
6. Highlighter
7. Pens/pencils/ruler/erasers
8. Sticky notes
9. Stapler and stapler pins
10. Calendar (helpful for noting down important events and dates. Put it on your study desk and make sure it’s accessible)
11. Pen holder
12. Scotch tape
13. Scissors
14. Paper clips
15. Rubber bands
16. Planner

Electronics

Can you imagine college students in this digital age generation without their gadgets and gizmos? No one can!

Electronics and technology bring convenience, comfort, and information and are critical requirements for a college student’s quality of life and education.

1. Laptop
2. Portable speakers (lifesavers!)
3. Extension cord
4. Headphones
5. Camera (if you are a photography enthusiast)
6. Cellphones
7. WiFi Dongle/router (if the Internet goes out and you’re working on a last-minute essay, these will come to the rescue)
8. Small appliances (hot plates, electric kettles, microwave)
9. Extra charging cables
10. Mini vacuum cleaner
11. Portable charger
12. Mouse and mouse pad
13. Extra batteries
14. Gaming Systems (All you gamer girls and boys – these are for you)
15. Converters
16. Coffee maker

Food

Sometimes college can be tough, and college cafeterias can have the same boring food on repeat. Luckily for you, you have a stash of delicious and on-the-go snacks waiting. So, stack up your favorite food items.

1. Ramen Noodles (who doesn’t love this good ol’ quick fix)
2. Soup packets
3. Coffee (every college goer’s morning alarm)
4. Tea
5. Cookies, crackers, and biscuits
6. Microwavable ready-to-eat food (for those long and tiring days, just warm it up and voila!)
7. Candy/Chocolates
8. Cereal
9. Peanut butter (You can add it to anything)
10. Popcorn
11. Condiments

Kitchen Utilities

What is a kitchen without its utilities? You will require almost all the things on the list below. Make sure to add any other utilities that you would need to complete your kitchen because, ultimately, this is the place that will give you food for thought.

1. Mugs and cups
2. Dishes and bowls
3. Knives, spoons, forks, ladles, and graters
4. Water bottles
5. Ziplock bags
6. Paper towels
7. Dish soap
8. Dishtowel
9. Air freshener
10. Bottle/can opener
11. Sponges
12. Travel mugs
13. Microwave-safe food containers
14. Pots and pans
15. Trash bags
16. All-purpose cleaner
17. Wet wipes
18. Beverage glasses
19. Bag clips
20. Aluminum foil wrap

Decor

Your dorm room will most likely be a small space, but it is going to be your home for the next 3-4 years. Decorate it like you would decorate your own home. Add personality to your room, make it cozy, and it’s sure to start feeling like home soon.

1. Throw cushions (make your dorm colorful and comfortable by adding these decorative cushions to your bed)
2. Fairy lights (it brings that beautiful, warm glow into the room that can brighten up anybody’s day)
3. Wall Tapestry
4. Picture frames of family and friends
5. Full-length mirror
6. Favorite novels
7. Bulletin board
8. Wall art (this is on you -- whatever defines you be it your favorite band, paintings, movies, quotes, or anything else)
9. Small potted plants (dorm-Friendly, low-maintenance decorative plants that add a touch of green to your room)
10. Curtains
11. Bean bags

Medical Supplies

You can never be too careful. You might slip, fall, get unwell, or burn your finger while cooking, and now that you are living on your own, you have got to take care of yourself.

This is where medical supplies come into play. Keep all your medicines and other medical supplies in one place for immediate relief.

1. First aid kit (for easy access during emergencies)
2. Thermometer
3. Prescription medicines
4. Antiseptic creams/gels
5. Cough drops
6. Bandaids and bandages
7. Aspirin or other pain relievers

Conclusion: Pack for College Freshman Year

So, here’s what makes the ultimate checklist for what to pack for college freshman year.

This may not help in calming your first-day jitters, but at least you are well-prepared for the times ahead. Go set sail on a new journey with all your ammunition handy!