What to Pack (and What to Leave) for the Crazy College Move-In Day

By Molly Walsh - As both a college counselor and a parent who’s been through the madness of college move-in day (for the seventh year in a row), I can tell you this: packing for college feels a bit like preparing your child for a mission to space. But trust me, your freshman is not heading to the moon — they’re just moving into a tiny dorm room with another 18-year-old who also doesn’t know how to do laundry.

Every fall, I see the same scene: parents pull up in cars packed like they're moving across the country. Out come bins, boxes, and bags of every possible item from home, including things like rice cookers and giant floor lamps. It's like you're sending your kid to live in the wilderness with no electricity or food. Relax. Most colleges have electricity. And food. 

Let’s go over what your freshman really needs to bring:

• Bedding: Twin XL sheets (the XL part is important — regular ones won’t fit), one or two pillows, a comforter or blanket.

  
  

• Towels: Two bath towels, one hand towel, and maybe a washcloth.

  
  

• Laundry Stuff: A hamper or laundry bag, detergent pods (easier and less messy), and whatever the school uses to pay for laundry (quarters or an app).

  
  

• Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, deodorant (yes, please!), shower flip-flops, and a caddy to carry it all.

  
  

• Tech Stuff: Laptop, charger, headphones, a power strip, and maybe a desk lamp that doesn’t blind anyone.

  
  

• Other Useful Things: Reusable water bottle, a small first-aid kit, scissors, tape, and Command hooks for hanging decorations on the walls.

  
  

That’s it. Really.

Here’s what you can skip:

Don’t pack the entire closet. Dorm rooms are already the size of large closets. A couple of weeks' worth of clothes is enough. And they can swap out clothes at Thanksgiving. Also, leave behind those “memory items” like their middle school spelling bee trophy or their childhood blanket named Flankie (yes, that is what my son named his). You want them to make new memories, not sleep surrounded by their past.

Also not needed: a full snack store. One box of granola bars is fine. An entire snack cart on wheels is overkill. Plus, they’ll probably eat at the dining hall, order pizza, and order DoorDash (be prepared for that!). You are not stocking a shelter.

Skip big items like a mini-fridge or microwave unless the school specifically requests them. Most dorms already have shared ones or have rules against them. And please don’t bring a bean bag chair the size of a small car. It will become a laundry pile by week two.

As parents, we want our kids to be ready for anything. But packing smart doesn’t mean packing everything. If they forget something important, it can be mailed, Amazon-ed, or picked up at the nearest Target or Walmart — trust me, every college town has one, and every parent ends up there during the move-in weekend anyway.

So take a breath, pack light, and remind yourself: your child won’t be heading to the ends of the earth. They’ll be going to college — a place with Wi-Fi, snacks, and lots of other people figuring it out, too. They’ll be just fine, and you will survive move-in day. After wiping away your sweat (you will be sweating from the move-in) and tears, grab a coffee or a cold beer! Or maybe take a well-earned nap. You’ll definitely need it!