Packing List Do Nots: What Not to Bring to College

Image Courtesy of TheCollegeHelper.com

The summer before college is so exciting. In three short months, you’ll start the best four (or six) years of your life. But you still need to get through that summer. During that time, your college will send you a suggested packing list for your dorm experience.

Here is a list compiled by myself and other first-year students of items that will be on your college necessities list that you shouldn’t bring to college:

Don’t buy: binders and notebooks

Instead, buy: a laptop

Why: “I brought a lot of extra binders, notebooks, and general school supplies thinking I would be handwriting everything like I did in high school,” said Katie Wilhelm, a rising sophomore journalism major at the University of Maryland. “But once I realized laptops were allowed in almost every class and I could type faster than I can write, notebooks and binders continued to collect dust in the back of my closet.”

Tip: It’s all about preference. If your professor is just presenting information on slides, a laptop is best to get everything down at rapid speeds. However, discussions are better fitted for notebooks, and some professors don’t allow technology in their classrooms at all.

Don’t buy: a TV

Instead, buy: a subscription to Netflix and/or Hulu Plus

Why: I personally never used my TV because I was never in my room at the exact time a show was going to start. Instead, I watched episodes the day after on Hulu (for free) or with a subscription to Netflix. Unless you plan on bringing a DVR, a subscription-based site is better because you can watch shows on your on time.

Tip: If you have a home subscription to HBO, you can watch HBO Go on your computer for free. It’s definitely worth a call to HBO to figure out how to log in.

Don’t buy: a computer lock

Instead, buy: nothing

Why: You won’t use it.

Tip: If you lock your door when you leave your room, it’ll be safe there. Use common sense when you’re on campus and make sure you don’t leave your laptop unattended. There is no need for a computer lock.

Don’t buy: a rug

Instead, buy: nothing

Why: My roommate and I had two rugs in our room. The first was a giant one that we bought through the school, and it became too much to clean. I had a mini vacuum (see below) but it was too small to clean such a large space. The rug was gone by October. We went to Target a month later and bought a smaller, shag rug for warmth. Somehow that got glitter on it and it was also hard to vacuum. We threw that out too.

Tip: Buy something you can manage.

Don’t buy: a mini vacuum

Instead, buy: a Swifter sweeper

Why: It’s perfect for cleaning dust bunnies under your bed, and is thin enough to store anywhere, even your jail cell-sized dorm room.

Tip: Stock up on dry pads for the Swifter and a few wet ones; you’ll be collecting dust more than mopping.

Don’t buy: an ethernet cable or software

Instead, buy: nothing

Why: “They told us on our list to get software for computers when all we needed was already preloaded on our laptops and to discuss bringing ethernet cables with our roommates but they had given them to us in the first place,” said Drew University rising sophomore and biology major Craig Mileham.

Tip: Wait. The University of Maryland gives out free Microsoft Office and Creative Suite 6, which are very expensive programs. Wait and see what the school offers so you don’t waste any money. You’ll still have a week from when you move in to when classes start in case you’re missing anything.