The hardest part about college : What do I bring?

By September Mostransky

May 17, 2021

As I approach my freshman year of college, I immediately think about my future dorm room. Not about classes, not about missing my family, but yes, my dorm room. I can speak for myself and most incoming freshmen when I say I have entirely no idea what to pack. It gets quite overwhelming thinking about it too, because there just seems to be so much to bring into a shared room that’s half the size of the one I currently live in. I know that I need to pack clothes, blankets, and a toothbrush, along with other basic necessities, but what else?

Lexy Taylor, a current freshman at Keuka College said a fan is a must have. “The dorm rooms can get really hot at times depending on how long they have the heat on, and how far up your room is,” stated Taylor. A fan definitely isn’t something that I had previously thought of bringing, but after hearing this I know that it’s going to be on my “to bring” list.

On the other hand, a must have for Julianna Ryczek, a freshman at Utica College, would be “a mattress topper and a big pillow to put in between your bed and the wall because sometimes there’s a big space.” This is also something that I didn't think of bringing before Ryczek advised it.

Both Taylor and Ryczek packed everything they thought they needed, yet as most incoming college freshmen do, they packed some things they didn’t need.

Taylor said she wishes she didn’t bring reusable dishes. “Just buy paper ones so that way you don’t have to do dishes,” stated Taylor. Initially I planned to bring plastic dishes, but Lexy's logic is extremely reasonable. Very few freshman dorm rooms have a place to wash dishes or even store them for that matter, which is why paper plates and bowls would be much easier in the long run.

Despite packing things she didn’t need, Julianna Ryczek said she is glad that she did.

“Don’t be afraid to get extra stuff or overpack because you could always send it home with your parents,” stated Ryczek.

It’s true, you won’t necessarily realize the things you don’t need until you move into your new room. And as Ryczek said, you can always easily have someone bring the things you don’t need home with them.

Overall, while moving into college can be a very scary experience, eventually we will look back on it and realize it wasn’t as bad as we thought it was. Starting a new chapter in one's life is always filled with anxiety, especially when it comes to packing and moving. In the end, this new chapter of our lives will be memorable and soon enough we will be the ones giving advice on what to pack for college.