How To Pack For College in 4 Easy Steps

My niece, photographed by Courtney Brandon

1.If you don’t wear it now, you won’t wear it then. 

I was still packing for college at 2am, the morning of my 6am flight. Very on brand of me. And I packed a pile of clothes that had gone untouched for months, maybe even years.  But I figured I would start wearing those clothes when I became a cool college girl. No. No you will not. If you haven’t put it on in a year, even 6 months, leave it at home. Or even better, take it to goodwill. 

2. Don’t pack too many towels. 

5 towels is 2 towels too many if you do laundry on a weekly basis. Maybe I’m unknowingly the exception, but I don’t wash my towel after every shower. Is this an embarrassing fact that I just revealed? I have no idea. But in my opinion 3 towels should be plenty in college. If not, you can always go and buy more. 

3.Don’t Go Overboard 

College girls are notorious for their ability to turn tiny dorm rooms made of cinderblocks into mini Ritz Carltons. One of my quadmates, a daughter of an interior designer, had all of our dorm furniture temporarily reupholstered. It actually was really nice… so maybe do go overboard. But don’t break the bank while you’re at it. Posters and a decorative pillow can be just fine. The rule on decorative pillows though: if you can’t see at least half of the bed un-pillowed, you’ve got a problem. 

4. Leave it at home. 

Not everything needs to come with you. Just because you love it, just because it is a part of who you are - doesn’t mean it can’t stay home. I’m specifically referring to the time one of my roommates flew to college with all seven Harry Potter books. And as far as I’m aware, they went mostly unread. So leave it at home, and in the slim chance that you do need whatever it is, just bring it back with you from Christmas Break.

Which applies to all the rules/suggestions above. 

Happy Packing.