College Checklist - College Prep 101

So it’s finally here—you’re getting ready to leave for college for the first time! Whether you’re going to college across country or across town; and are living in the dorm, in an apartment, or with family, there are some things you will need to remember, and remember to pack.

The most important thing to remember is that most everything you can find in the campus bookstore, you can find cheaper somewhere else. There are a few things you will only be able to get at the campus bookstore—like class notes—but most everything else, from textbooks to pencils, can be found somewhere else at up to a 90% discount! Before your first day of class, you will need to stock up on school supplies. These will look pretty similar to what you are used to from school years past:

• ___ Backpack (Comfortable and large enough to carry a days’ worth of books and notes, you’ll need to go to the campus bookstore to find one with your school logo on it)

• ___ Binders (enough for each class’ notes… a good rule of thumb is to keep one binder for each class, or one binder for two closely-scheduled classes)

• ___ Pens and Pencils (there are still Scantron tests where you are going, make sure to get those good ol’ No. 2s)

• ___ Paper (notebook and for printers)

• ___ Academic calendar / day planner / organizer (to keep up with your assignments, games, dates, etc.)

• ___ Dictionary and thesaurus (dictionary.com and thesaurus.com have to go down for maintenance sometimes)

• ___ Style manual—this will depend on what the school requires—MLA, APA, or Chicago, it will be mentioned in the class syllabus.

First, know the rules of your living situation. If you love the smell of candles, but the dorm does not allow burning material of any kind, you better invest in a candle-warmer. If you are planning on bringing Fluffy with you, you had better make sure your apartment or the dorm allows pets.

Next, if possible, get in contact with your new roommate as soon as you can to coordinate who will bring what. There’s no need for two TVs in a small dorm room. Depending on the situation and the size of your dorm/suite/apartment, you will need to plan for the following:

• ___ Dorm Fridge (off-campus apartments will usually have a full-sized fridge available, but be sure to check it out first)

• ___ Microwave (may not be allowed in a dorm room, so check first)

• ___ Chairs (comfy ones to help you study)

• ___ Student desks (most dorm rooms will have desks for each occupant, but many off-campus apartments are lacking this feature)

• ___ Computer (Make sure at least one of you has one. If you don’t have one, make sure it is okay that you borrow your roommate’s.)

• ___ Television / Gaming System / etc. (These are, of course, optional. But in a small dorm room, there is no point in having two of everything.)

• ___ Clothes (regional specific—you will probably not need to pack shorts during your year at the University of Alaska)

• ___ Bedding (No one will supply your blanket and pillow except you.)

• ___ Phone cards or a cell phone (Be sure to call your mom every once and a while!)

• ___ Toiletries (Shampoo, deodorant, etc. PLEASE, for the sake of all your dorm mates, remember your deodorant!)

• ___ Personal items—photos, toys, mementoes, posters, etc.

• ___ A good, sturdy pot (Mac & Cheese or Ramen cooked in the microwave is not Mac & Cheese or Ramen)

• ___ Sponge (to clean said pot… otherwise, you’ll end up with your biology final)

• ___ A balanced diet of midnight snack/brain food (in college, this means Mac & Cheese, Popcorn, Ramen, chips and cookies)

• ___ Books—non-school “fun” books

• ___ Games—board, computer, PlayStation, it doesn’t matter.

Your first year of college is an amazing time. You are out of the house, meeting new people, discovering who you are, and—hopefully—learning a thing or two. It’s part high school, part adulthood, part learning, part childhood.

Thank you to Rachel Strong for this College Checklist

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