Moving FOR Higher Education: Things you should or should not take with you

So, you’re moving for your higher education? Congratulations! This is a significant step in your life and there are some things you should know about before making this change. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some ‌things you should and should not take with you to college. Moving away from home can be both exciting and daunting, but arming yourself with the proper knowledge will help make sure your experience is positive.

Things you should take

Documents

A very important thing to carry along is your passport and other identity cards. This will be very useful in multiple situations.
Your documents related to the university are most important for you to bring along as they are the proof that you’re going to the university.
Documents of your accommodation cost in the university hostel are a must to keep along.
If you have taken out a loan for your university education, do not forget to carry your loan documents. If they are with you, it will be easier to know your due dates for the loan.
Your bank account documents should be with you so that if you have any bank-related work, you can do it smoothly.
Keep your bank cards handy so you don’t have to wait to make any transaction.
Do not forget your national card as it helps to have the benefits that are associated with it.
To save some money during your university days, do not forget to take your student discount cards.
Your insurance-related documents will be very useful if you have an accident or you face any other serious health issues.
If you have a driver’s license, then ‌carry it along to the university. You may need it at any time.

Be careful with your documents, so don’t leave them in different places. Make sure you keep everything either on yourself or safely secured away in case something happens. If they’re lost or stolen, you may have unauthorized charges made on your behalf or could become a victim of identity theft.

Clothing

Take along sufficient casual clothes like t-shirts, jumpers, trousers, etc.
Take along extra pairs of undergarments so that you don’t face shortages during emergencies.
A dressing gown and slippers are basic essentials.
Carry your winter coat and jacket and seasonal essentials like gloves, hat, and scarves. They will be very useful in their respective seasons. And you won’t regret carrying these items.
A pair of trainers, smart shoes, and casual shoes will sort all your needs for dressing up according to the event and situation.
Do not forget to carry properly fitting and smart formal attire in case you want to go for an interview for a part-time job or need to make a presentation at the university. This will be a very useful clothing item on your college days.
Do carry sportswear and swimsuits as you will need them. Because college life is all about adventures, sportswear and swimsuits will come in handy during all those activities.
Don’t forget to carry some clothes for parties because you don’t want to feel wrongly dressed for the event.

Bedroom essentials

A mattress protector will save your sheets from getting stained, which will ultimately save your efforts at washing them.
A duvet and pillows are essential for a peaceful sleep. Remember to carry their covers along.
Carry some extra blankets and sheets.
A laundry bag would help you keep your room neat and clean as your used clothes won’t be laying all across the room.
Clothes hangers are a must to keep your clothing properly arranged in the closet.
Although we use our phones to set the alarm, in case your phone gets damaged or misplaced, an alarm clock would be needed. Therefore, carry it for such situations.
A desk lamp would be very useful for late-night study sessions.
Earplugs are basic but essential for a peaceful sleep.

The first year of university can be tough, especially if you’re new to the area. Make sure that your hall provides students with standard single-size beds and ask about bedding before buying any extra blankets or sheets.

Bathroom essentials

The first thing you need in the morning is your toothbrush and toothpaste, so carry them.
Soap, shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel are some toiletries you might use.
A deodorant is a must sinve it smells fresh and is also helpful for the days you don’t want to take a bath.
You’ll need a razor and shaving foam.
Towels are something you should not be sharing from others, so carry your pair of towels. Do carry a hand towel and washcloth as well for extra hygiene.
For a presentable look every day, you need to set your hair, so carry a hairbrush.
You don’t want to get embarrassed when you are using the toilet and you realize ‌the toilet roll is over. So carrying your own will be quite useful.
A stock of tampons and sanitary napkins will save you in emergencies.

Health care

If you have any medication you take on an ongoing basis, do not forget to carry at least a month’s supply so you don’t have to worry about your medicines. Do carry the prescription as well so that once your stock is over, you can buy the ones easily.
Carry a first aid kit with you which should contain pain relief tablets, cold and flu medication, antibacterial lotion or spray, plasters, and allergy tablets.
Also carry the documents holding information about your current GP.
Carry your glasses and eye reports prescription if you have one.
Keep multivitamins handy as you will be on a hectic schedule during your university days. You can pop a multivitamin on days when you don’t get time to eat food enriched with them.

You should register with a local doctor’s surgery as soon as you start your first few months at university. This will save you from waiting in line on the day that’s when we’re ill.

Stationeries

For stationery, carry sufficient notebooks, binders, pens, pencils, highlighters, paper clips, stick-on notes, a calendar, and a diary.
Along with all the stationeries don’t forget to carry your course readers and other study books.

It’s so tempting to go all out on university stationery, but don’t forget that you’ll be using the same set of writing utensils for years. Stick with a budget and you will have no trouble finding something great!

Kitchenware

Make sure you have items such as teaspoons, tablespoons, knives, forks, etc., so when you start your life there you don’t have to search for these tiny yet important items there.
You’ll also need cutlery, ‌carry crockery and bowls, plates, etc.
Carry some essential utensils like saucepans, a frying pan, a chopping board, a wooden spoon, a bottle/a tin opener, and a pair of scissors. All these tools will be used frequently during your stay at the university.
If you carry a few storage containers, they will come in very handy for you to store food products and any other things you want to store in them.
After you have finished cooking or eating, you’ll then need to wash all the utensils and crockery and for that, you need washing liquid and a sponge, so remember to pack that as well.
Finally, make sure to take a good supply of your favorite snacks so you always have something to munch on.

If you’re living in halls or other shared private accommodation, then it’s likely that your university will provide a kettle and toaster as well. They might also give out cutlery and crockery for those who need them. It’s worth checking with Residence Services about what exactly is on offer before making plans, though.

Electronics

A laptop or desktop computer is a must during university days, so you should carry them along.
Your phone and charger are essential, and you’ll also need to carry some extension cables. They’ll come in handy in multiple situations and you’ll be making your life easier if you bring them.
To back up your assignments, carry a USB memory stick.
Your headphones are essential for study material and leisure. You can also carry a speaker. It will also have multiple uses.
The camera is an optional item but you can carry it to capture the university memories as well as it can help you with assignments.

External contents insurance may cover your belongings at University, but it’s worth checking first before moving in. Some student housing communities have their form of protection that includes electrical products and facilities as well.

Some random but essential items

A small sewing kit will help you a lot with small wear and tear of clothes.
A box of matches or a lighter will have multiple uses.
Books for personal reading will be great if you already have a habit of reading or else you develop a reading habit during your college days.
Carry board games along. Nowadays we are engaged in games on our phones and laptops, but a board game will give you a fun bit of nostalgia. Once in a while, you would enjoy it.
Carry a sturdy bag that can carry stacks of books.
Photographs of friends and family would give the feeling of joy whenever you see them.
Hairdryer/ hair straighteners can be very useful when you want to style your hair presentably.
If you decide to take your bike along with you, make sure you carry the helmet and a sturdy lock as well.

Things you should not take

Excessive sheets and towels

Dorm bedding and toiletries can be a costly addition to your college lifestyle. But you don’t need as much of it as what may seem necessary. Two pairs of sheets should suffice, plus where do all those towels go? Less is better when dealing with limited space in one’s closet or bureau.

Clothes that are out of style or do not suit the weather

If you are someone who likes to dress in an updated manner, make sure you pack nothing that is‌ out of style. Also, weather plays an important role in one’s manner of dressing up, so carry seasonal clothes only. You always go back to your home during the vacations that arrive between seasons and bring the clothes that you need for the next season.

Complete shoe collection

Heels are not very practical for everyday use. They take up too much space and can be unpleasant when you have to move around all day. So consider whether this is something that will fit into your wardrobe before purchasing them.

Entire library

You might be a book lover, but it is important to have some limits. You will not get enough reading time in as your schedule becomes busy with schoolwork and other obligations. Consider choosing only those few titles which absolutely must go along on this adventure of yours into the university. Leave everything else behind, even though they may seem tempting.

A giant piece of furniture

Don’t bring any large furniture into your college dorm room! You’ll only end up creating fire hazards and introducing an atmosphere of cluttered frustration. The last thing you need is a disorganized space with no view from across the board.

Conclusion

We hope this blog cleared all your doubts about things you should or should not take with you while moving into University for higher education. For any query regarding the blog, contact us via call, text, or email.