Thousands of students have used this list over the years, but I still caution: You don’t need everything here. Before you pack something, ask yourself if you really need it. Every year I pack significantly less and less.

This list is not a “buying list.” You’ve probably had the good sense to buy and pack the absolute essentials, so this list is more of a checklist to keep you sane the moment before you leave home. This is everything you could possibly need, but NOT everything you should pack.

My recommendation is to copy the list, delete the stuff you don’t use and have never heard of, and print that list out. But of course visit here again in the near future =).

Also note to yourself:

• which items are easier to purchase upon arrival,
• which items are easy to improvise (you probably need napkins, but those can be attained on your first trip to the campus McDonald’s..),
• which items are easy to share with or borrow from roommates and floormates (It’s also a good way to meet the ones you haven’t met yet! – especially the super-nice ones who upon first impression look like they sacrifice squirrels. Okay, I digress.),
• and which items can be brought with you later, exchanged later, or shipped later, such as winter clothes.

Other notes

1. Remember to check your college’s housing site to see what’s not allowed. For Boston University’s: http://www.bu.edu/housing/services/furnishings/index.html.

2. Have a list of serial numbers, makes, and models of all expensive items. Have one hardcopy in your dorm, one left at home with your parents, one as a computer file, and one emailed to yourself. It’ll help in case of a robbery. You can also take pictures of the items.

3. If you think I forgot anything significant, please leave a comment!

Aaaand on with the list already:

Important General Stuff

wallet, purse, hand bag
ID, license, college ID (you might get this at move-in registration)
cash, change, credit cards, debit cards
ATM Card
watch
glasses, contacts

Basic Kitchen Stuff (even if you won’t have a kitchen)

– Necessary: –
forks, knives, spoons (plastic and metal)
Ziploc® bags, various sizes
straws
napkins
– Good to Have: –
paper plates
plastic cups
chip clips, clothes pins, twisters
– You Decide: –
microwaveable bowl
thermo cup/mug
food containers
can opener, bottle opener, corkscrew
water purifier, water filter, pitcher
cloth for dishwashing
wet wipes

Additional Kitchen Stuff (if you’ll have a kitchen)

– Necessary: –
ceramic plates
pots and pans
dish detergent
hand soap
sponge
paper towels
– You Decide: –
plastic wrap, aluminum foil
kitchen towel
dish cloth
oven mitt
toaster
coffee maker (only allowed at BU if you’ll have a kitchen)
blender (only allowed at BU if you’ll have a kitchen)
hot plate (only allowed at BU if you’ll have a kitchen)

Food

– Necessary: –
general medication (headache, cough, pain reliever, eye drop)
your prescription medication
– You Decide: –
non-perishable food: noodle cups, canned foods, soup
candy, cough drops, gum, mints
snacks, popcorn, cereal, etc.
bottled water, bottled drinks, soda
coffee
tea bags, powder drink mixes
vitamins

Room Needs/Storage

– Necessary: –
alarm clock
tissues
bags: garbage, plastic, paper
small wastebasket
photos of family, friends, pets
– Good to Have: –
night light, flashlight
all-purpose cleaner
Lysol® / disinfecting wipes (you really don’t know how few showers the previous inhabitant took)
dry erase board
boxes
storage bins, stacking baskets
fan
air freshener
posters
decorations
– You Decide: –
bedside lamp, clip-on lamp, desk lamp, decorator lamps, extra light bulbs (In some BU dorms, a desk lamp is provided.)
over-the-door hooks, adhesive hooks
desk chair seat cushion/pad (to make your ass happy)
desk chair (BU has them already, but I’ve seen some students bring more comfortable ones)
bulletin board and push pins
shoe rack
closet organizer
closet add-in shelf
various organizers: for CDs, for papers, for cosmetics, etc
tools, screwdriver, hammer
RackRaisers®, bed raisers
bunking kit
bookcase (BU provides a small one on your desk that should be enough)
dust wipes
plants

Computer Stuff

– Necessary: –
laptop, battery, AC adapter
CDs: your favorite software, emergency startup CD, backup of most important files (keep a copy at home)
ethernet cord, modem
head phones
USB key / portable flash storage drive
– You Decide: –
mouse, mouse pad
laptop case
desktop computer, monitor, keyboard
blank CD-Rs, floppy disks
CD cases
laptop lock
printer (you may want to share with your roommate or use your college’s printing labs), extra ink cartridge, blank printer paper
scanner
webcam
speakers

Electronics

– Necessary: –
surge protectors
cell phone, cell phone charger, accessories, and a contract that says you will call home every now and then to talk to those loved ones called parents
– You Decide: –
extension cords
3-2 prong adapaters
camera / digital camera, memory card/stick, upload cable, photo software CDs, camera accessories
calculator
PDA, electronic organizer
battery charger, rechargeable batteries, extra batteries
favorite movies
mp3 player, earbuds, cord for charging/uploading, accessories
audio recording device
CD player, cassette player, headphones, favorite CDs and cassettes (CD? cassette? people still use those?)
land phone, answering machine, phone cord (along with other items from the Jurassic era)

Linens/Laundry Supplies

– Necessary: –
sheets (for most colleges, including BU: extra long. Ha! That’s what “she” wants.)
pillowcase
pillow
mattress pad
blankets
comforter and duvet cover
clothes hangers
laundry bag/hamper/basket, pop-up hamper
laundry detergent (liquid or convenient tablets)
fabric softener
– You Decide: –
small pillow, headrest pillow
egg crate
measuring cup / small container to carry just some detergent to the laundry room
laundry marking pen
laundry stain remover
sewing kit
lint brush
drying rack
electric blanket (not allowed at BU)

Bath and Toiletries

– Necessary: –
towels: body, hair, hand, face, extras
shampoo, conditioner
body wash, or soap and soap container
toothbrush (and extras), toothpaste, toothbrush case
bathroom cup
dental floss
comb, brushrazors, electric razor, shaving cream, aftershave
nail clipper, nail file
Q-tips®
extra eyeglasses, case, cloth
contact lens solution
contact lens container
shower shoes, flip-flops (if communal bathroom) (your feet will thank you)
shower tote/caddy (if communal bathroom)
– For Girls (and for guys who wish to pack too much) –
pads, tampons
nail polish, nail polish remover
hair dryer
hair straightener
curling iron
makeup, cosmetics
Being-a-Model Kit
– You Decide: –
body sponge, back brush
mouth wash
hair gel, pomade, mousse, hairspray
deodorant
facewash, acne cream
lotion, facial moisturizer
perfume, cologne
tweezers
cotton swabs/balls
small mirror
scissors
sponge
bath robe
chapstick
Band-Aid® bandages
suction hooks
bathtub scrubber (if your room will have a bathroom)

Clothes

– Necessary: –
pants/jeans
shorts
shirts
sweaters, hoodies
underwear
socks
sweats
pajamas
sneakers, comfortable walking shoes
jackets: light, heavy, rain
dress shoes
dress clothes
1 set formal/business attire
1 set semi-formal attire
belts
umbrella
– For winters: –
winter coat
gloves
scarf
boots
– For Guys: –
ties
– For Girls: –
skirts
bras
blouses
dresses
– You Decide: –
slippers, flip-flops, sandals
robe
poncho
hat, cap
jewelry
bathing suit
sports equipment: shin guards, helmet, etc
gym clothes
hairbands, hairpins
sunglasses
– For Parties: –
Clothes that barely cover anything

Office/Desk Supplies

– Necessary: –
bookbag
assignment book, planner
lined paper
pens, pencils, pencil holder, sharpener, eraser
folders
scissors
Scotch® tape
– You Decide: –
calendar
notebooks: new, old (the bio class you took 3 pages of notes for could still be used like new), composition notebooks
binders, dividers
colored pencils, markers, crayons
highlighter pens (multiple colors)
heavy duty tape, masking tape, mounting tape, duct tape
tacky adhesive
stapler, staples, staple remover
paper clips
rubber bands
glue
ruler
Wite-out® (yeah, there’s no H. who would’ve known?)
pins
hole puncher, 3-hole puncher
index cards
Post-it® notes
stamps and envelopes, standard size and paper size
labels of various sizes
adhesive hooks, tack
protractor
compass
graph paper
string
book light
book ends
small memo books
typing paper holder/clip
stackable desk trays
hanging files or folders, folder storage bin
chain
combination lock
safe

Papers, Books, and Documents

– Necessary: –
textbooks for your classes
phone/address book, important phone numbers, contact list
maps of the campus, of the city, and of public transportation
insurance card/papers/forms
checks, bank stuff
any documents your school told you to bring (as far as I know, BU doesn’t require any special documents, other than your college ID for returning students)
– You Decide: –
old notes from previous classes that may be useful
course catalog
dictionary, thesaurus
reference books
guides/instructions for laptop, digital camera, cell phone, graphing calculator, etc
one or two of your favorite books
high school yearbook, BU Freshman Record
college phone/address directory
phone card
social security card
renter’s insurance
car insurance, registration (if you’re bringing a car)
Visa information, citizenship info, alien info
passport (if you’re considering traveling for Spring Break or other breaks)
financial aid forms (leave a copy at home if your parents will need them for reference when they’re renewing your aid in the spring)
road maps for how to get to the school.. (or a female driver who’s willing to ask for directions when you’re lost and it’s already the second day of class and you’re gonna fail and you wasted $50,000 in tuition just because a male driver was too macho to ask for help)

Misc Things

– Necessary: –
luggage/duffel bag (for going home during short breaks)
house key
any necessary items for specific classes (especially art classes and gym electives, such as ice skating)
any necessary items or books for your culture and/or religion
– You Decide: –
quarters (most of the big BU dorms have change machines)
key chain
favorite mementos/souvenirs
stuffed animals
ear plugs
sleeping mask
patches, thermal patches for aches
scale
beach towel, swim cap, goggles, swimming gear
sunscreen
bug spray
Neosporin®, Imodium®, Pepto-Bismol®, Viagra®, et cetera, et cetera…
condoms, birth control pills, contraceptives
pregnancy tests
a copy of “Juno”
favorite board games, electronic games
deck of cards
items for your hobbies (such as musical instruments or sports stuff)
sports equipment (basketballs, volleyballs, and a few other items can be rented for free at BU’s FitRec gym)
frisbee
car, keys, GPS, EZ Pass
bike, skateboard, roller skates, roller blades
helmet
bike lock, cover, pump

Shared Items (check with roommates to avoid duplication)

– You Decide: –
microwave-fridge aka microfridge (can be rented at BU for about $225 – split it with roommates/suitemates)
microwave (not allowed in a BU dorm, but you can bring one and share it in the common room)
fridge
TV, TV cable, remote
DVD player, Blu-Ray player
DVDs, Blu-Ray movies
video game systems, controllers, games
audio equipment
air conditioning (not allowed at BU)
handheld vacuum (can be borrowed for free at BU’s RA offices)
small brush and dustpan
bathtub scrubber
doorstop
area rug
iron
ironing board
floor lamp, tree floor lamp
TV/snack tray
fold-out chair
beanbag
full-length mirror
shower curtain (most BU dorms and apartments have them already)
curtains (most BU dorms have them already)

Absolutely the Most Important

a desire to learn, grow, take chances, change, develop, socialize, network, and have fun
a desire to cherish your four-year college experience from Day One! =)

- by Nathan Chow
Boston University student