Picture1Every college student has done it – packed up every item that they deemed necessary to their lives, only to never  touch the item again after bringing it to college. I would know, that scenario is all too familiar with me. Here are a few tips so you can be the most space-efficient freshman on campus.

5f7735161122c7dc573faab1ad9ee1961.  Have a list. (The Golden Rule)

  • Most universities have college packing checklists available to freshmen before they move in. You don’t have to do any work, isn’t that awesome!?
  • If your school doesn’t have a checklist, there are tons available online. My favorite? College Packing List[h1]  – the name says it all! (Just be sure you can have certain electronics in your dorm!)
  • You can make your own list so it’s more customizable to you. Your favorite shirt? Check. Your novelty alarm clock you can’t live without? Check.

2. Talk to your roommate.

Of course, you shouldn’t buy your own TV, your own microwave, your own fridge –  you’ll be spending way too much money!  Plus, you and your roommate may end up with doubles of things! It’s super simple to divide a list of things that you both will use into “Things You Buy” and “Things I’ll Buy.”

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3. Organization is key.

  • Always remember, you’ll be moving into a much smaller space than you’re used to, with a similar amount of things that you had in your old space. It’s a good idea to stock up on things like plastic trays, containers, and organizers that are really affordable and available from many places, such as Target, the Dollar Store and even your university bookstore.
  • For girls, storing your makeup and hair products can be tricky since there are so many things and they are normally oddly shaped. Adhesive hooks are a lifesaver when it comes to things like hair dryers!

Picture24. Don’t overpack!

This goes back to to “The Golden Rule,” but it is always important to keep in mind that you should always pack according to the space you are moving into, not your emotions at the time. (i.e. “I can’t not bring my seven stuffed animals I haven’t slept with in years, what if I can’t sleep?!”)

Remember: you will buy things once you get to college. A lot of things. After my first year, I had somehow expanded my closet size to almost twice the size it was before. Don’t freak out over leaving a certain knickknack – if you really miss it that much, your mom will bring it to you on Parent’s Weekend.

1Maddie Forshee is a sophomore at Grand Valley State University and an aspiring YouTube vlogger. She is a Communications and PR major and hopes to one day graduate without tearing her hair out. For the summer of 2013, she is dedicating her time to a newfound blogging hobby. Maddie can be found on Twitter @MaddieForshee, YouTube (/lifeofmaddie) and via email, maddieforshee@gmail.com.