Off To College Checklist

College moving day is just around the corner. So naturally, you want to make sure you are correctly packing and taking everything you need to feel at home; here at university magazine, we came up with a checklist to help you prepare for your college journey.

First-year at college. Moving day is finally here! It’s an anxious but exciting time, whether you’re packing up your entire life or just a few boxes. Some tips to make the process as smooth as possible. Make a list of what you need and what you want.

This can help avoid any last-minute panic. Get organized. Put all of your belongings into one area, so you don’t have to search for anything during the move. Don’t overload yourself or your movers with too much stuff.

It’s best to have less than you need, and if you need something, ask your movers for a second option. This can save you money and time. Don’t make last-minute decisions. Once the movie starts, there is no coming back!

Room Needs/Storage

• Bedside lamp
• Alarm clock/clock radio
• Mini trash can
• Storage Bins
• under-the-bed storage trays
• Desk lamp
• Fan
• Drying rack for laundry
• Bulletin board and pushpins
• Dry-erase wall calendar/board
• Mini toolkit (including a screwdriver, hammer, wrench)
• Picture hangers (double-sided tape for concrete walls)

Linens/Laundry Supplies

• Sheets and pillowcases (2 sets. Check with a college for size needed — some college twin beds are extra long.)
• Towels (3 each of bath, hand, and face)
• Pillows (2)
• jute bag
• Mattress pad (check with the college for size needed)
• Blankets (2)
• Comforter/bedspread
• Clothes hangers
• Laundry bag/basket
• Laundry detergent, fabric softener, and stain remover
• Lint brush
• Mini sewing kit

Office/Desk Supplies

• Electronic storage media such as memory cards and USB flash drives
• Stapler and staples
• Printer paper (if you decide to bring a printer)
• Pens and pencils
• Pencil holder and sharpener
• Notebooks
• Folder with pockets
• Labels of various sizes
• Three × five index cards
• Sticky notes
• Paper clips and binder clips
• Rubber bands
• Tape
• Scissors
• Highlighter pens (multiple colours)
• Ruler
• Stackable desk trays (at least 4)
• Stamps and envelopes

Electronics

• Laptop (printer is optional; there are usually computer labs where you can print)
• Portable speakers (if you want to play music from a laptop/MP3 player)
• HDMI cord, Ethernet cord for the computer (check if your room has wireless)
• Surge protector
• Extension cords
• 3-2 prong adapters
• MP3 player
• Headphones
• Camera
• Cell phone

Shared Items — Check with roommate(s)

• Audio equipment
• TV and DVD player
• Coffeemaker/hot pot/microwave, if allowed
• Small refrigerator (if one isn’t provided)
• Area rug
• Posters/art

Toiletries

• Antacid
• Aspirin or other pain relievers
• Vitamins
• Antidiarrheal medicine
• Adhesive bandages, antibiotic ointment
• Cough drops
• Shower caddy
• Shower shoes (flip-flops)
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Hairstyling products
• Bath and face soap
• Travel soap container(s)
• Toothpaste and toothbrush
• Dental floss
• Comb/brush
• Tweezers
• Nail clippers
• Hairdryer/straightener/curling iron
• Razor and shaving cream
• Lotion and facial moisturizer
• Cotton swabs

Clothing

• Underwear
• Socks
• Pants/jeans
• Shirts/blouses
• Sweats
• Pyjamas
• Slippers and flip-flops
• Sweaters
• Light/heavy jackets
• Gloves/scarf/hat (and other foul-weather gear as needed)
• One pair of boots
• Two pairs of sneakers or comfortable/walking shoes
• 1 set of business-casual clothes
• One pair of dress shoes
• One swimsuit

Household and Kitchen Items

• Paper towels
• Trash bags
• Lightbulbs
• All-purpose cleaner
• Plastic storage bags
• Food-storage containers
• Dish soap
• Wet wipes
• Tissues
• Bowl, plate, and cup
• Coffee mug
• Water bottle
• Silverware
• Can/bottle opener

Miscellaneous

• Umbrella
• Backpack
• Sports equipment

Moving day is finally here! Whether you are moving into a new place or moving out of an old one, it is an exciting time. Some tips to help make your move go as smoothly as possible:

Get organized. This will help make the process go faster and be less stressful.

Please put all of your belongings in containers or boxes and label them in what room they will. This will also help you avoid getting lost in the shuffle.

1. Make a list of everything you need to take with you.
2. If you have small children in the house, take extra supplies for their safety and comfort.
3. Take a small daycare bag and put all of the necessary items. This will help with any last-minute needs that pop up.
4. Don’t forget to pack light. Nothing makes a moving day more difficult than going back and forth from the storage unit in your car to the house and back again. So pack light, but make sure it’s sealed properly.