Leaving Things Behind When You Go To College

We often spend time thinking about what to pack for college, but it may be better to think of what to leave behind. Here are a few thoughts:

Don’t pack too many clothes. If you’re like most students and you plan to travel back home between semesters, you don’t have to pack a lot of cold-weather clothes. A few of your fall favorites will get you by until your next trip home.

Leave behind the furniture. Most college dorms supply you with a bed and a desk. Chances are good you’ll also have a mirror. If you get there and realize you’re missing something vital, you can slip to the store and pick it up.

Extra toiletries do nothing but take up space in your car. There is no reason to pack 12 rolls of toilet paper, for example. If you’re really worried you won’t have the necessities when you arrive at the dorm, a small kit of items should get you by until you can go shopping.

You’re going to buy food when you get there, don’t bother packing it. Besides, you don’t even know how much storage space will be allocated for your food. You’ll be better off to wait and shop according to the space you have.

Stay safe. Most dorms don’t allow fire hazards such as candles. If you worry you’ll need light in an emergency, you’ll want to pack flashlights and batteries instead. The same goes for that tiny BBQ grill you were planning on toting along for tailgate parties. Before you load it up, you’ll want to contact your on-campus housing authorities for a list of items they will not allow.

Decide what you can live without. The less you