The day has finally come. You are all moved into college. As much as you prepared, you quickly realize how many essentials you forgot back home. But don’t worry, here is a guide to help you remember some of the things you might have forgotten or items you did not know you needed.
Being prepared sometimes takes more than one trip to the store, but it is all worth it when you have all the things you may unexpectedly need.
Before moving in, you want to make sure you are familiar with what type of housing you will be residing in. Usually, these details can be found at your university’s housing website or by calling housing at your university. This will give you an idea on what things you need, measurements and an approximate on how much space you’ll have.
This is the most important step you do not want to miss, but if you are already a week into school, it’s probably a little too late. Here are the little things that make a huge difference that you probably forgot to bring.
Important documentation such as your health insurance cards, social security number, car insurance documents and bank information are things you want to have handy, especially the first few weeks of college.
According to Necessary Documents To Bring to College, “Going to college with the right papers can save you time and hassle, as getting copies is not always easy when you’re away from home.” Save yourself a future headache and make sure you have a copy or the original set of documentation.
Along with documentation, your health items should be a high priority of things you need. This is individual to everyone, but having a basic first aid kit can come in handy once or twice.
While in college dorms it is very easy to get sick, especially when you are constantly with people, so having antimicrobial cleaning sprays is a must. Along with that, you want to make sure you know where you can get health treatments at your university. You can find the hours and address of Health Services at Northwestern State University of Louisiana here.
Keeping your dorm or apartment clean is also essential in avoiding getting sick. Make sure you bring cleaning supplies such as dish soap, a cleaning sponge, disinfectant wipes, broom or vacuum, a Swiffer, trash bags and an all-purpose cleaning liquid or spray.
“There’s a lot more to cleaning than the occasional wipe down of the top of your desk. Regularly cleaning will make it easy to maintain an overall clean space throughout the year,” Cleaning Essentials Every College Dorm and First Apartment Needs states.
While packing your clothes, you want to make sure you pack semi-formal or formal attire for important events, such as job fairs or job interviews. While we think of college as a fun, casual place to be, it’s also a place to network and you want to take advantage of that as much as possible. So, being presentable is a must.
If you know you’ll be doing a lot of walking, I recommend bringing a good umbrella and rainboots. Rainy days can be unexpected, but don’t let that surprise you.
Along with unexpected rain, you never know when you are going to have unexpected car issues. Make sure you have a kit specifically for your car.
“According to recent statistics, thousands of drivers experience roadside emergencies each year. These can range from minor issues like flat tires to more serious situations like accidents or severe weather conditions. Having a car emergency kit not only ensures your safety but also helps you respond effectively to emergencies,” Ultimate Car Emergency Kit List: 25 Essential Items for Road Safety states.
Being prepared is not always about comfort but about security as well. Making sure you have proper knowledge on how to fix flat tires or common car issues is not only beneficial but can save you and your car from unwanted circumstances.
You will probably still find yourself missing some things throughout the semester, but hopefully this list is a good beginning guide of essentials. Don’t let college be a stressful part of your life—help your future self by being the most prepared you can.
