Going away to College for the first time

Going away to college for the first time can bethat you are going to be living in a dorm room, then
stressful- both for the family of the person who isit is always best to under-pack rather than pack too
going away as well as for the student who maymany items because then you will be faced with a
have never been away from their family before.situation where you'll either have an extremely
Therefore, only take with you the bare essentialscrowded room and an unhappy roommate or you'll
that you will need while away for the first semester.be forced to spend money that you perhaps don't
Depending on your financial situation andhave on putting your excessive things into storage.
circumstances, if you forget something or even ifMost colleges will tell you exactly what the dorm
you want to bring a minimal amount of stuff becauserooms will look like as well as the items that will come
you know that you will be going home on your firstwith the dorm room and/or pictures to give you a
break in a few weeks, then that is perfectly fine.better idea of what you will be dealing with.
As with most college kids who make the journey ofAdditionally, it is recommended to talk to your
a thousand miles (literally) to go to college, theyroommate, whether via email or over the phone prior
often do so with a rented van that is packed to theto getting to college this way you can work out the
brim with their things. It is important for both parentsdetails of who can use what and who is bringing
and kids who are going away to college to considerwhat. For instance, you don't want to show up to
the size of your living space that you are going to becollege, meet your roommate and realize that both
residing in once you get to your final destination.of you have brought a microwave and a television
Have you spoken to your roommate yet? Do youwhen you could've just shared. Work it out so that it
have a roommate? What is your living situation goingworks out well for everyone involved.
to be like once you arrive? If anything, if you know