Category: Advice

By now I’m sure you’ve read one of the hundreds of packing lists on the internet, and you’ve hopefully read the policies for your residence hall or apartment (if you haven’t- go do that first). You’re either confident in your packing list or more confused than ever.

And that’s where this list comes in! Hopefully this will clarify some of the items you should and shouldn’t bring for a successful freshman year move-in.

10 Things You Definitely Need-

1. Headphones- and back up headphones for when you lose the first pair
2. Portable fan
3. Collapsible drying rack- for the things you can’t dry/don’t want to shrink
4. Handheld clothes steamer
5. Portable charger for your backpack/bag
6. Mini stapler/staple remover combo- this will be a life saver if you forget to staple your work before arriving to class
7. A comfy mattress topper
8. 6 foot (or longer) phone charger- you never know how close your bed will be to the outlets
9. ALL the command strips- think you’ve got enough command strips? Buy more
10. An extra set of bed sheets- go ahead and swap your sheets before you throw the dirty ones in the wash. There’s nothing worse than being ready for bed and your sheets are still in the washer  

Honorable mentions: Spare car key, Ethernet cable, hanging shoe organizer (bonus points if it’s double sided- hang over the bathroom door for toiletries on one side and shoes on the other), insurance cards

10 Things You Definitely Don’t-

1. Iron/Ironing Board- steaming clothes is easier anyways
2. Your entire wardrobe- swap your clothes when the seasons change, you don’t need 15 sweaters in August  
3. Every pair of shoes you own- how many pairs of shoes do you actually wear?
4. All of your high school t-shirts/hoodies- Free t-shirts are a huge perk in college. Student organizations, programming, giveaways- you’ll wind up with entirely too many t-shirts and not enough drawer space
5. Lots of dorm decor and knickknacks- you won’t spend as much time at your desk as you might think and you’ll probably never use your dorm decor again once you move out
6. Dress clothes- outside of sorority/fraternity recruitment and events or class presentations, you won’t really need these
7. New hardback textbooks- if you can opt for a used paperback or even downloadable electronic version, it’ll save you money and weight in your backpack
8. Duplicates of things provided by housing- chairs, desk, furniture
9. A printer- there are plenty of places to print things on campus, save your money and your desk space by leaving the extra printer at home
10. A tool kit- You won’t need a hammer and nails to decorate your space, and any other repairs likely need to be handled by campus maintenance anyways. If something needs fixing, contact your RA or the maintenance office

Honorable mentions: notebooks/binders- check your syllabus to see if your professor requires these since most things are digital nowadays

Of course, you should still read through those detailed packing lists and policies to know exactly what is allowed in your residence hall/apartment. This is not intended to be an all inclusive list, but after speaking with current and former students, these were the most common answers. I hope you find this helpful and we can’t wait to see you on campus soon!

Many of you reading this today are probably headed to college in the fall. You’re excited, nervous and everything in between. So was I. Actually, so is everyone about to begin their college career. It’s normal. You’re going to learn a lot as you go, but I’m hoping this post can give you a good head start. Here are my top 7 things I wish I would’ve known freshman year: 

1. Coffee. Coffee. More coffee. 

Coffee is there for you when nothing else is, so go ahead and learn to love it. And pro tip? Avoid the fancy stuff and stick with the basics (a.k.a black coffee with cream and sugar) to save yourself some $.

2. Making friends is different in college.

Friendships are not a “given”. You aren’t in the same classes, with the same people, everyday like high school. This means you have to be proactive and intentional in making friends. Yes, new friendships can be awkward, and yes, that is normal. Asking someone you barely know to hangout after class or grab a coffee is not always easy. Just remember, everyone else is lonely and looking for friends, too. Go ahead and put yourself out there. I promise you’ll be glad you did.

3. Don’t wait to get involved.

I went into freshman year with the mindset that I needed to keep my schedule open until I got “settled in.” News flash, settling in is boring. Do that after you graduate. Go ahead and get involved in campus clubs and organizations. If you overload your schedule, you can always scale back. Involvement can give you connections you’ll have for a lifetime, practical leadership and teamwork skills, and make Auburn start to feel like home. Before you know it, you’re a part of something bigger than yourself, you’ve made some friends, and you’re having a lot of fun.

4. It’s OK to change your major. 

Some people start college knowing exactly what they want to do in life, ten year plan and everything. From what I’ve noticed, that’s the exception, not the rule. Changing your major doesn’t mean you failed. It means you are growing and learning more about yourself. Future you will sing your praises for making that change sooner rather than later. 

5. Professors are great resources. 

In all my time at Auburn, I never encountered one professor who wasn’t willing to help . Get to know them. Go to office hours (yes, even when you don’t have to). Ask good questions. Talk to them about your dream job and what you need to do to get there. They are more willing to help than you realize. 

6. Learn to study smart. 

Many of us have never been challenged academically the way college challenges us. The academic rigor of those first few semesters can sometimes feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Find someone who has taken the class before and ask for help. Form a study group with other students in the class. Take advantage of Study Partners on campus. The earlier you form good study habits, the more success (and less stress!) you will have.

7. Soak it up now. 

Drink the Toomer’s Lemonade, go to the football games, see an AU Theater production, eat way too much Momma G’s, roll the trees. After you graduate, life will go on and I hope it’s wonderful. But nothing quite comes close to your college years. You only go to college once, so soak up every moment.

There you have it. My top advice for anyone about to start college. Remember, it’s not just about getting a degree. It’s also about making amazing memories, gaining invaluable experiences, finding yourself, and forming friendships that will last a lifetime. So, give it all you have. Take risks, have fun, and work hard.

War Eagle!

Brenna