10 Back-to-College Packing Tips

By Vivian El-Salawy on August 13, 2017

Many would agree that packing is a stressful experience. Whether you are packing to go on vacation, moving from one place to another, or transitioning back to school – it’s always the least favorite part of the process. However, there are ways to make the process faster, easier, and more efficient. Here are 10 back-to-college packing tips:

Start a list

Packing is much more frustrating when you are constantly trying to remember what items you need to take with you. One second, you remember that you need to bring some extra t-shirts, but the next you think about what toiletries you need to pack and the next thing you know, you’re back at square one. Make a list – being organized and planning your packing is the most crucial part of the process and can make or break the chore.

Roll, don’t fold

Image via Kiwi Globe Trotter

Make sure that when you are packing your clothes, whether it is in a duffle bag or a piece of rolling luggage, that you roll your clothes, rather than fold them. By rolling your clothes up, you save a lot more space, and can therefore get more bang for the buck.

Prioritize 

Think about what you need to bring with you, especially for college. You may love your postcard collection, but is that something you want to bring to college? You should be cautious with bringing items that are both materially and sentimentally valuable to a college dorm or even apartment. Pick and choose the things that you think you will need that semester.

Pack seasonally

Speaking of needing things per semester, it is a great idea to pack seasonally. Evaluate the weather around the college that you’re attending. If you are entering the fall semester, pack your jeans might be a good idea, but spare the tanks and swimsuits. If you are entering your spring semester, bring you winter clothes home – they take up an ample amount of space that you could be using for something else.

Bag it up

Image via Just a Girl in this World

When you are packing formal clothing, or clothes that you hang because they are prone to wrinkling up in a piece of luggage, there’s a useful hack that you can use. Simply push your hanging clothes together (about 15 items of clothing, although this may differ depending on the type of clothing). Next, take a large garbage bag, and pull it over your clothes from underneath. At the top of the clothing, tie the hangers together with the drawstrings of the bag. Now, you lay your clothing in the backseat of your car without having to worry about hanging/rehanging, wrinkles, or redoing the order of your closet.

Scan your home, first

Before you go off and buy whatever you need for your apartment, such as paper towels, toilet paper, or kitchen supplies – make sure you check to see what you have at home. Many families have backup household supplies for days. Pack what you can from home (of course, with the knowledge of your family) before buying things you might easily have had extras of at home.

Wait to buy

Image via College Confidential

If there is something that you can’t find at home, consider buying it once you get to your dorm or apartment. Often times, you think you have picked up everything you need, and the second you get to where you are going, you are missing something crucial. Maybe you had loads of ramen waiting for you from last semester (although, having extra ramen in college never hurts).

Take the time to get organized

During your time packing and unpacking, take advantage of the fact that things aren’t where they belong (yet). If your things never had a place that they belonged, which is the case more often than not with college students, then give them a home. Rearrange your closet while you’re refolding all of your clothes or doing laundry. Think about giving your desk a new look as you go school supply shopping. A fresh room means a fresh semester.

Be smart about your car

Image via WordPress

When packing your things into the car, more than anything – be safe about it. Many people load up their cars to the point of no return with their rear windows blocked all the way up to the ceiling. This is both illegal in most, if not all states, as well as incredibly dangerous to both you and those traveling around you. Not only is your car weighed down now, but you also can’t see around your car the same way that you would if it were empty. Be careful on your drive to your final destination and be smart about where you put things and how you pack them.

 

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