What NOT to Bring to College: Don’t Make These 17 Packing Mistakes

Updated on July 26th, 2024

What not to bring to college; it’s a surprisingly complex topic. Understanding campus life can help in deciding what not to bring, whether it’s determining how to not pack too much for college or which items aren’t allowed. Many students struggle.

Luckily, some norms and strategies can make figuring it out easier. If your student is building their college dorm checklist and they aren’t sure about what not to bring to a college dorm, here’s what they need to know.

What Not to Bring to College: 17 Things You Don’t Need

Unnecessary Debt

While debt isn’t something college students can technically “pack,” it’s something they may be carrying with them. Many college students go into debt to pay for college, and student loans, credit cards, and similar burdens can stick with them for years, if not decades.

If your student wants to set themselves up for future financial success, avoiding unnecessary debt is a must. Along with learning how to set up a dorm room on a budget, allowing them to save some money, it’s wise to learn about various financial aid options.

Scholarships are excellent opportunities for students who want to graduate college debt-free. Unlike loans and credit cards, scholarships don’t have to be paid back. Plus, many can be used to cover a wide range of expenses in college, not just tuition, and there is a slew of awards available.

If your student wants to graduate debt-free, scholarships could be the key. If you and your student want to learn more about college scholarships, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar! Take a trip over to http://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar to reserve your spot today

FURNITURE FOR YOUR COLLEGE DORM

In most cases, a dorm room already has all the basic furniture a student needs. There will be a bed, desk, and chair at a minimum. There’s usually a dresser or wardrobe unless the closet has built-in drawers or shelves.

While bringing a favorite chair, additional seating for guests, a bedside table, or similar items might seem like a good idea initially; there usually isn’t enough space available in college dorms. Coordinating move-in times with roommates is crucial to avoid overcrowding and reduce stress during the move-in process. Even if the furniture fits, you end up with little space to walk, making the room feel unnecessarily cramped.

CERTAIN KITCHEN APPLIANCES

SPACE HEATERS AND ELECTRIC BLANKETS

If your student likes to stay warm and cozy, they may think that bringing a space heater or electric blanket with them to their dorm rooms at college is a good idea. The issue is, these are also items that are usually banned.

Both space heaters and electric blankets are usually considered fire hazards. Since colleges need to ensure that all residents remain safe, they typically prohibit anything that introduces unnecessary risk, so it’s better if your student puts these on their “what not to bring to college” list.

CANDLES AND INCENSE

As some of the other items above, candles and incense are fire hazards, so they are typically banned. Plus, since they can create smoke, they may set off the smoke detectors in the building during regular use, causing unnecessary evacuations.

If your student is looking for an alternative, some colleges allow wax warmers or oil diffusers. However, your student may want to bypass these, especially if they share a communal bathroom or a room with another student.

Many people have scent allergies or sensitivities, so distributing scents throughout the room could harm another student. Plus, even if those aren’t issues, not everyone enjoys the same aromas. As a result, it may be better to skip scented items altogether.

PRINTERS

TOO MUCH CLOTHING FOR LIMITED CLOSET SPACE

When it comes to how many clothes to pack for college, it’s usually best to avoid overpacking. Dorms typically have limited dresser and closet space, so students only have so much room for clothing in the first place.

Ideally, your student should focus on flexible clothing items that create mix-and-match opportunities for a wider range of outfits. Using a layering approach can also be a smart move, as it makes their outfits adaptable to changing weather conditions.

If your student plans to come home during breaks or holidays this school year, they can leave off-season clothing and school supplies behind. Then, during a break, they can switch out some of their current wardrobes for the items they’ll need for the change of season.

KNICK-KNACKS OR TCHOTCHKES

Personalizing a dorm room can be a great time. However, your student shouldn’t cover every inch of usable surfaces with knick-knacks and tchotchkes. If they do, they may not have enough space for studying or completing assignments, or the clutter may make the limited space in a already small dorm room feel even smaller.

If your student wants to bring an item or two to make the room feel more like home. That’s fine. However, they should limit it to just a couple decor items to avoid unnecessary clutter.

TOO MANY DRESS SHOES

While having a pair of dress shoes or heels isn’t a bad idea, as it gives your student a chance to dress up when needed, anything beyond that may be excessive. When they attend classes, comfort is going to be important. As a result, the odds are high that they’ll default to other kinds of footwear.

Since storage space is limited, pairing down on dress shoes is a smart move. Keep it to just a pair or two, focusing on neutral colors that work well for a range of occasions.

MORE THAN TWO SETS OF SHEETS AND TOWELS

LARGE SUITCASES FOR COLLEGE MOVE IN DAY

While a large suitcase might seem like an easy way to bring items into dorm rooms, after that, it’s just in the way. Big, bulky luggage takes up a lot of room, lessening the amount of storage space your student can access.

Generally, it’s better to use boxes. If you choose cardboard boxes, they are lighter items that can be broken down and stored flat.

Collapsible storage bins are the same way. They can also be reused for quite a while and may work as an easy storage solution under the bed, giving your student more places to keep items they needed to bring.

Students can also look for collapsible luggage if they need a more traditional bag. Then, if they need to store them, they’ll take up as little room as possible.

DUPLICATES OF SHARABLE ITEMS

In most cases, your student will have a chance to speak with their future roommate before college move in day. If that’s the case, they may want to discuss sharable items in advance. That way, there aren’t unnecessary duplicates taking up too much space.

Some items that may be sharable include:

• Mini Fridge
• Microwaves
• Full-Length Mirrors
• And More

If your student and roommate are comfortable sharing certain items, then that can reduce how much each of them needs to bring to college. Plus, it frees up space in the room, making living space in the dorm more comfortable.

IRON AND IRONING BOARD

Some college campuses don’t allow students to bring clothes irons, as they’re fire hazards if left on by mistake. But even if an iron is permitted, that doesn’t mean bringing one – along with an ironing board – is a good idea.

Ironing boards take up a lot of space, and dorm rooms usually don’t have much to spare. Plus, some dorm community centers have them available if a student happens to need one. But if your student is concerned about wrinkles, a handheld clothing steamer may be the better choice, as long as it’s allowed.

DESKTOP COMPUTERS

The issue with desktop computers isn’t whether they’re useful; it concerns space. A large tower takes up a lot of space on the floor or a desk. Similarly, a large monitor, keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals require much room on a surface.

Desktop computers – particularly those featuring higher-end gaming or video editing components – also create a surprising amount of heat. Since dorm rooms are smaller, the temperature could become uncomfortable.

Instead, students should get a laptop they can use while at college. Along with being less bulky, they can take it with them to class, giving them more overall value.

ITEMS WITH SIGNIFICANT SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Many students may want to bring items with them that they cherish, particularly those with sentimental value that remind them of home. The issue is that student dorm rooms aren’t always overly private, and roommates or visitors may handle anything in the space.

While most wouldn’t want to cause harm to someone else’s stuff, that doesn’t mean accidents don’t happen. Plus, while not necessarily common, thefts can occur. Since that’s the case, it’s better to leave important documents and property at home as a precaution.

Additionally, many items with sentimental value are decorative. Since most dorms aren’t overly spacious, any extra things brought in can take up unnecessary room, making the space less functional.

TELEVISIONS

Televisions are often bigger and bulkier than many students realize, so there isn’t always a great place to put them in dorm rooms. They may take up wall space or an entire desk, for example. Plus, hanging a television on the wall of a dorm room isn’t usually an option.

Fortunately, a laptop can usually work in place of a TV. They can use streaming services to access entertainment, making this a viable alternative for watching movies and shows.

BAD STUDY HABITS

If you didn’t have the best study habits during high school, then don’t worry, you can still change them! Find out what your weak points are – is it scheduling out time to study? Motivation? With the start of a new academic year on the horizon, start it off on the right track. If you have trouble figuring out the best system for you, try contacting academic resources for help.

If your student wants to graduate debt-free, scholarships could be the key. If you and your student want to learn more about college scholarships, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar! Take a trip over to http://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar to reserve your spot today.