5 Random Things I Wish I Brought To College

This post is about five things I wish I would have brought to college. 

If you’re wondering what you actually need to pack for your first year of college, you’re not alone.

My hometown is 8 hours from my school, so if I forgot to pack something, I wasn’t going home on the weekend to grab it. I want to save y’all the trip, too. 

Here are 5 things you may not have put on your packing list that you’ll wish you had:

1. a beach towel

Trust me you’re gonna wish you had one when you swim at the campus rec center or get invited to a random beach thing over the weekend. It can also double as a picnic blanket!

Read: 30 Free/Cheap Things to do in College

2. flip flops

Please tell me someone can relate- I just don’t like the feeling of wearing flip flops!😂

I thought between my shower shoes and my slippers I wouldn’t need to bring them. BUT, similar to the beach towel, flip flops were needed for going to the rec center pool and for a couple different weekend activities. You’ll wish you had em’.

3. more pictures from home

I thought seeing pictures of my family and friends from back home would just make me homesick. (AND that I would magically get all these new photos of all my super fun college friends to hang up, right?!), but after I finished decorating my room, it felt like it was missing personality.

When I went home for Thanksgiving, I grabbed a bunch of family and friend pics and LOVED having them in my room. 

Sure I missed them and it was sad, but I also smiled every time I saw them, thanking God for them. Pictures also serve as a reminder to pray for people and give them a call or text to let them know you’re thinking about them. 

4. a shoe organizer

I thought about bringing a shoe organizer or shelf of some sort, but thought it would take up too much space and I would just be able to put my shoes under my bed or something. 

It ended up working out to keep most of my shoes in my wardrobe, but I still wish I would’ve bought a small shelf to double the amount of shoes I could store under my bed.

If you’re worried about a hanging shoe organizer taking up too much space in your closet, consider buying a small, collapsable shelf.

5. The dorm pillow

Okay I’m gonna be honest I think these pillows are so funny lookin’ and I just did not want to bring one.😂

BUT, my dorm bed had no headboard and it wasn’t really feasible to add one on, so sitting on my bed to do homework meant piling up all my pillows against the wall and trying to get comfortable.

Second semester, I brought my older sister’s dorm pillow with me and I finally understood- it’s functional.

I still think these things look weird, but they truly do a great job of supporting your arms and back while you work.

---

That’s it! Those are the 5 things I wish I would’ve brought to college with me! 

Can you think of anything else not commonly put on packing lists that are super helpful in college? Leave a comment!