The Minimalist's Guide To College Packing

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It can be hard to be a minimalist, especially when you are packing for a new situation where you don't know exactly what to expect. When I started my first year of college I actually did a good job of packing light and not overwhelming my tiny, shared room. Now that I'm going into my second year with a single room (can I get a woohoo!) I have pretty much got the minimalist packing down.

Here is a list of the essentials!

Basics/Cleaning:

Comforter, one or two sheet sets (depending on how often you'll do laundry), a mattress pad, area rug and full length mirror (coordinate with your roommate)
DustBuster/vacum, Windex, paper towels, Lysol, air freshener, sponge and soap (if you're lucky enough to have a bathroom or sink in your room), tissues
Computer, ethernet cord (if you don't have wifi), chargers for all electronics, batteries, flashlight (because you never know when the power may go out or if you'll need to tell a spooky story), headphones, lightbulb, power strip (check the regulations at your school)
microwave and mini fridge (coordinate with your roommate!), fan, desk lamp
Laundry detergent, stain remover, laundry bag
Plates, utensils, mug, water bottle

Toiletries:

Shower shoes (just use flip flops you already have), shower caddy, towels (full and hand), razors, shaving cream, shampoo, conditioner, etc
Makeup, hair necessities, q-tips, cotton balls, nail polish, nail polish remover, lotion, deodorant, perfume, feminine products
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Medications, common medicine (Advil, sore throat medicine, etc), bandaids, sunscreen, bug spray

Other:

Backpack, notebooks/binders, books, writing implements, printer (unless you use the school printers or share with your roommate)
Desk organizers (bins, cups, etc), bookends (if you have shelving)
Decor (pictures, posters, etc) and tack or removable hooks to hang it up
Id holder and key chain
Clothing, rain boots, umbrella
Trunk for packing and for storage at school

Let me know in the comments if you want more info about how to pack it all, what clothing to bring, or anymore details about my recommendations. Also, for your viewing pleasure, here is a video of me packing my clothing for school set to a recent Bollywood song from a great movie. Happy move in day!