Hey, y'all! My name is Isabella, and I’m a college student learning how to navigate adulthood right alongside you!! Today, I will tell you about 28 items that are most easily forgotten in college packing.
These are all essential items that are generally easily forgotten or items that I forgot, and I don't want you to! P.S. My college move-in is tomorrow, so get ready for lots of fun content!!!
- Picnic blanket or beach towel
- It is so helpful to spend some time outside! My friends and I would often sit in front of our dorm in the Quad Green and study, listen to music, or just visit. It is so refreshing to spend some time outside and slow down for a little bit. I have linked the quick-dry towel that I used below.
- Speaker
- Also, if you have a speaker, bring one! It's perfect for hanging out outside, having a shower concert, or getting ready with friends! I used my little JBL Flip 4 way more than I thought I would, and it was a perfect size that didn't take up too much space. I have linked it below.
- Air purifier
- This is essential, especially if you're living in a dorm. There are so many different kinds in different price ranges that you can find something to meet your needs. It helps keep you healthy overall, especially during sick seasons.
- Swimsuits
- You never know who will want to go to the pool, have a spontaneous lake weekend, or take a road trip to the beach. Bring two to four, just in case you have the option for a weekend trip somewhere. Also, if you're rushing, sometimes sororities have new member events at the lake for pledge class bonding, so I recommend bringing at least one.
- Slippers
- I immediately went and bought some cheap ones at Walmart. I've never been a slipper girl, but these are so handy in college. You might have to run out of the dorm for a fire drill or just have a sweet treat run, and slippers are easy to throw on. Also, if you're living in a dorm, the carpet and floor will get so gross since you're living all in one room, so they're just helpful to have. I have linked the ones I have bought most recently.
- Power pack
- This is a staple, but it is so easy to forget. Keeping one on hand is also perfect for throwing in your sorority recruitment bag and your purse for game days. I have two: one that I keep in my backpack and one that I just keep on hand to throw in my purse or tote for on the go. I have linked mine below. This one has been my staple since it is so compact and holds so much charge!
- Rain gear (especially an umbrella)
- Rain jacket, rain boots, and umbrella. Bring a rain jacket; this is self-explanatory but essential. Also, I didn't think I would need rain boots coming into college because I had never needed them before, but I underestimated how much walking I would do. Even just grabbing a cheap pair off Amazon is a wise decision to keep on hand. I got these rain boots for my birthday, and I adore them. Also, make sure you bring an umbrella!! I recommend keeping a compact one in your backpack because you never know when a storm will catch you on your trek to class.
- Rain Jacket (This is the style I have, but I bought mine secondhand off of Poshmark)
- Rain Boots
- Umbrella
- Rain jacket, rain boots, and umbrella. Bring a rain jacket; this is self-explanatory but essential. Also, I didn't think I would need rain boots coming into college because I had never needed them before, but I underestimated how much walking I would do. Even just grabbing a cheap pair off Amazon is a wise decision to keep on hand. I got these rain boots for my birthday, and I adore them. Also, make sure you bring an umbrella!! I recommend keeping a compact one in your backpack because you never know when a storm will catch you on your trek to class.
- Rags
- These are versatile and cheap purchases that I 100% recommend. Grab some cheap rags or dish towels; I got mine from Dollar Tree. They are perfect for general clean-up, wiping down counters, and cleaning up spills. As a bonus, they will help you save on paper towels.
- Heating pad
- I forgot about this during my first semester, and I had to go out and buy one quickly. If you have one at home, bringing one is more straightforward, and then you won't have to spend the money or time finding one.
- Scissors
- Please tell me how I forgot one of the most essential things for unboxing items on my move-in day. Well, I did; luckily, my roommate didn't, but put these on your list!!! You will find something you need to open or cut the tag off of, and you will need to keep some on hand anyway.
- A business casual and/or business professional outfit.
- Bring at least one professional business dress or slacks with a top. Plenty of involvement opportunities or positions will require an interview, and those are typically business casual. Some may even be business professional.
- One sharp knife for cutting apples or an apple cutter
- I love apples and avocados, and I wish I had gotten at least one good cutting knife (with a cover) to keep with our kitchen supplies to make life easier. We ended up just getting an apple slicer, which wasn't too bad, so both are good options. Just consider what your needs are.
- Can opener
- This depends on whether you eat canned food, but I just picked this up at Target for a couple of dollars for soup and canned vegetables.
- Power strip
- They may seem insignificant, but they can be crucial in getting the most use out of your outlets. I used two in my freshman year dorm room: one behind my desk to plug in just about everything and another in the corner of our room for our fridge and microwave. Therefore, I have linked a two-pack below!
- Tape
- Bring any and all that you think you need: scotch tape, packing tape, painter's tape. We brought scotch tape and painter's tape. For example, we used painter's tape to help tape down cords to keep them out of the way, and I always find myself just wishing I had scotch tape.
- Cleaning supplies and sprays
- I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Clean your room before putting your stuff in it!! Some spots you won't be able to reach again could just be collecting dust and making you sneeze, and you simply don't know who lived there before you. Go ahead and get the deep cleaning done. Keep the essentials on hand for any cleaning throughout the year. I brought Clorox wipes, rags/paper towels, Windex, a Swiffer duster, a Swiffer wet jet, and a vacuum (or mini vacuum, depending on the size of your space).
- Extra clothes hangers
- I only brought the amount of hangers I needed and about 5 extras. Clearly, I underestimated how much I like to shop! Bring more than you think you'll need. You can always take some home or throw them in your car to take home eventually if they take up too much space.
- Ice tray or ice maker
- Bring ice trays! They're cheap, and the only way to get ice in a dorm other than an ice maker. However, having to battle the ice tray at 7:30 before my 8:00 a.m. class and not wake up my roommate was not very fun, so I think an ice maker would be a good purchase if you like to keep ice in your water bottle. I think these would be a good alternative to have for water bottles.
- Medicine
- Bring a few essential items that work for you and your body if you feel a cold coming on or suddenly get sick. I love to be prepared, so I made a little medicine kit to take with me. It had cough drops, DayQuil and NyQuil, Emergen-C, Ibuprofen, Midol, Neosporin, gauze, adhesive bandage tape, alcohol wipes, band-aids, hydrogen peroxide, and a thermometer. My roommate and I shared this!
- Thermometer
- Along with the medicine kit above, I want to emphasize a thermometer. Even if you don't make a whole first aid or medicine kit, at least bring a thermometer. It doesn't have to be fancy; just keep one on hand. If you get sick one day, this can help you determine if you need to go to the doctor or if you need to be excused from a class.
- Tupperware
- This can be a great space saver in a mini fridge or on a storage shelf for items that take up too much space in the original packaging. I recommend getting a few smaller Tupperware containers or keeping Ziplocs on hand. For example, I would get a rotisserie chicken from Publix, pull all the meat off, and store it in a small Tupperware container. This allowed me to fit many more items in my fridge and, as a bonus, made it really quick and easy to eat.
- Salt and Pepper shakers
- It's optional, but I was disappointed when we didn't have them. Sometimes, dining hall food is desperate for salt and pepper. My roommate and I forgot these and picked them up at Publix one day for a few dollars.
- Basic toolbox
- I got this one as a graduation gift, which is helpful to have on hand. We used it a lot when we moved in. I use tools sparingly, but I like knowing they are there if I need to.
- Calculator
- I brought my TI-84 calculator, which I had to purchase previously to take the ACT, and I am so glad I did. It made my math class much easier, and it is an easily forgotten item.
- Thank you notes
- I believe in sending thank you notes after receiving a gift, being welcomed into someone's home, or even just writing someone a sweet little note! So, I kept my personalized thank you notes from Etsy on hand throughout the year!
- Command hooks
- A staple, of course, they had to be included because, without these, I would be pretty stuck on move-in day.
- Water bottle
- Another staple, but somehow, I only brought one water bottle during my freshman year. I ended up going back home to get two more because I wanted different-sized ones.
- Water filter
- I don't recommend drinking dorm water, and I think it is necessary to filter any water you drink from a faucet regardless of where you are. I prefer the Zero Water filters to Brita filters, so I have linked them below!
With Love,
Isabella XO
