You’ve probably seen a million lists on what to pack for college, but you also need to know what not to bring to college.
Sometimes we can overpack, especially for college.
I personally bought tons of items that I wasted money on my freshman year that I DID NOT use at all or had to take back home.
Seriously, I did a bit of both underpacking for the essentials and then overpacked for college.
What Not To Bring To College
Table of Contents
1. Crockpot
Honestly, you do not need to bring a crockpot to college. Yes, Pinterest has tons of east crockpot recipes, but you most likely will not have the time or space to cook in your dorm. I brought a crockpot to my dorm and never opened it. My mom had to beg the people at Walmart to take it back. She wasn’t going to use it either. I wasted like $30 on it.
Again, you will not time to cook a whole crockpot recipe in your dorm. You also won’t have the time to monitor the cooker. A simple microwave will suit you just fine, especially your first year.
What Instead to Bring To College:
A Microwave
Having a microwave is one of the most important things you need for your dorm. You will bring back food to your dorm or want to eat a quick snack. A microwave can do the job just fine.
2. Books
As a fellow part-time bookworm who has a book shopping problem, I recommend that you do not bring every single book you want to read. I had a stack of books on my tiny dorm desk that I did not have time to read until the summer after my freshman year. They sat on my desk for a year.
Even as a senior, I have a solid 15 books looking at me on my end table. I will probably not read until after finals. (Update: I just graduated and they are still looking at me from my new apartment’s bookshelf.)
What To Bring To College:
1-2 books or buy ebooks or borrow books from the library
If you prefer the cheapest option for reading, borrow books from the local library. Students are bound to get a library card if they live around the library. Or check out if your university’s library has something interesting.
Another option you have is to buy e-books on your phone or even get a Kindle if you are dedicated. E-books are often cheaper and always on sale. Limit yourself to buy only 1-2 paperback or hardcover books a semester. They can get expensive quickly.
3. Too many clothes
Just don’t do it. This is the biggest thing I had a problem with my freshman year. I couldn’t close my drawers, yet I brought more clothes from Forever 21 anything I got some money. Last year, I also helped so many students move in and so many of them have boxes and containers full of clothing items.
You do not need to bring your whole entire closet. I had trouble when packing for my dorm and apartments. But you will likely wear the same 5 pieces of clothing over and over again. Seriously, pack less than what you think.
What To Bring To College:
Depends on your clothing style
The basics (t-shirts, jeans, shoes), a few business casual clothes, a few dresses, school merch, rain gear, boots, underwear, bras, socks (actually bring a ton of them because you will lose them), pajamas, and some jewelry.
The list can vary per person, but know what you will wear and bring it. Don’t pack 10 versions of the same shirt. Again, you’ll need less than what you think.
[Related: The Ultimate Dorm Packing List]
4. Blender
Save it for the apartment!
Seriously, you do not need to have a blender in your dorm. It’s not worth bringing most appliances to your dorm. You will most likely not touch it, especially if you don’t already before college. Besides, a blender will most likely be too loud when you share a room.
Another reason to not bring a blender to college is that you will not have enough room for it. Dorms are so small, so save some space by not buying a huge blender.
What To Bring To College:
A Mini Blender
If you absolutely need a blender, then buy a mini one. A huge one is going to get in the way and loud. This Ninja Personal Blender is small and powerful. It also comes with a portable cup that you can use.
5. A Printer
This one really depends on your dorm. I had to bring mines back home because it messed up our Wi-Fi. There is something about having your own printer that is amazing and relieves so much stress. Yet, there are additional costs to having a printer, such as ink cartilages. These things are expensive.
This package of black and colored ink for the printer I had in my dorm costs $49. Almost $50 every time I ran out of ink. That was almost as much as the printer. Save yourself the frustration and money by using the free one on campus.
What To Bring To College:
Your Laptop
Honestly, my MacBook Air was the best first laptop I had in college. I upgraded to the MacBook Pro since I needed more RAM and other stuff for my more technically advanced classes. The MacBook Air is my personal recommendation for college students because it has the best system for a typical student. It’s perfect for streaming, writing essays, and browsing. Unless, you are using heavy programs, like Adobe or any other editing software, then I’d recommend the MacBook Pro.
But having your own laptop will allow you to save documents and freedom to do whatever. Printing from a school’s desktop is difficult. I recommend finding out how the wireless printing works on campus and use that.
6. Candles
Seriously, you can possibly get into trouble for lighting a candle in a dorm. You have no idea how annoying yet dangerous it is to have a candle in a dorm. Wait until you have an apartment. RAs get really serious about having them in the dorm.
What To Bring To College:
Febreeze Plugins or any Air Freshener Spray
I recommend buying a set of Febreeze plugins for your dorm or campus apartment. My dorm did not allow us to open windows, so it was hard to freshen the air. These dorms and apartments have been used by so many people. Some who may not have been cleaning it that often. The cleaning staff also have tons of other rooms to clean, so they aren’t that cleaned.
Plugins are better than spray because you’re so busy in college and cleaning will be the last thing on your mind until you want to procrastinate. These plugins work as long as they are plugged in and have oil. You don’t even have to worry about it until you need to buy refills after a month or two.
7. Heaters
My roommate got her heater taken away. It is a fire hazard for dorms. Most fires or smoking that triggers the fire alarm start when people have their heaters near items. It’s not a safe option either in dorms. I don’t personally recommend them either. Even if you are familiar with them, there is a chance that you could get caught with it and have it confiscated.
What To Bring To College:
A Heated Blanket
My roommate has a heated blanket and we use it for the winter. It’s safer than a heater but you still need to be very careful with them. Don’t leave them on and unattended. Don’t sleep with them on. Just read the instructions that come with heated blankets.
8. Iron
Straight up: you won’t have the time or energy to iron. That one shirt that wrinkles easily should be hung in your closet.
What To Bring To College:
Steamer
Ironing is rare for me—even for my business casual clothes. I put them on the perm press setting when I’m drying them. I don’t think I ever used iron in college.
If you need one, then I’d recommend getting a steaming iron that’s smaller. I need this one for sure because it’s easy to use and easy to pack. It doesn’t take a lot of space, too.
9. Anything your roommate is bringing
You don’t need two fridges, TVs, or microwaves. You’ll waste money. Trust me, the last thing you want to have is two of the same thing. Learn how to share and communicate with your roommate.
Sign a contract stating what you both can use or share.
Related: 17 Items To Share With Your Roommate
10. Pots and Pans Set
Honestly, I barely cooked in my college dorm. You are a foodie and absolutely love cooking, then go ahead. But for most of us who barely know how to cook, we will not need a huge pot set.
I personally was too tired, lazy, or busy to cook in my dorm. I didn’t know how to cook before coming to college, so it wasn’t something I did. Besides, your dorm might have kitchenware that you can borrow if you absolutely want to cook.
What To Bring To College:
One pot or pan
Depending on what you like to cook or want to make, you should buy one pot or one pan. I had one pot and boiling a few things downstairs in our kitchen. I recommend getting a pot over a pan because you can boil food quickly if you need to.
11. High School Drama
This is not a tangible item and this is not a freshman advice blog post…However, this should be on every what not to bring to college list.
Why?
Because if I could go back in time, I would have let go of so many things, limiting beliefs, and people from high school. Those four years do not define your whole life. We are often told that high school, but mainly college is going to be the best years of our lives. I’m here to tell you that is not true. There is so much more to life than studying and intense pressure.
Anyway, I can see maybe holding onto a few friends from high school and adding them on social media, but you do not need to forgive everyone. You do not need to bring up drama from high school when you are a young adult in college. You’re starting a new leaf and own that.
Friendships come and go. Some people are meant to be in our lives for 2 months or 2 years. We learn from them and they learn from us. But let go of any relationship that revolves you giving more than you are receiving.
What To Bring To College:
A Fresh Prospective
Controversial Things I Believe You Should Bring to College:
These items often rank on what not to bring to college lists, but I think that you should consider to pack them on move-in day.
1. More than 1 Pillow
I personally like to be comfortable and have tons of pillows. After my classes, I used to take a nap or relax from a long day of walking around campus and studying.
2. Television
Okay, sure you can watch Netflix on your laptop, but I loved having a television only for watching television. I recommend getting a smart TV so you can watch Netflix and use other apps on it.
3. Coffee Maker
I’d rather you find an ideal coffee maker than you spending $5 every day on coffee. Think about it. It will cost you $10 to enjoy a nice breakfast at Starbucks or any fast food restaurant. You can save so much money by simply preparing a cup of coffee or
4. Tea Kettle
If you are not a coffee person or do not want to rely on coffee (because it CAN get pricey at times), get a tea kettle. Throughout college, I got off of coffee since I depended too much on it, but I got into tea. My favorite is black tea because it gives you enough caffeine to get through the day. I often forget how much caffeine it can have and get up drinking 2 cups and would have more energy than I’d ever have with a sugar drink from Starbucks. (No shade to Starbucks, their green tea lemonade is top tier.)
This tea kettle is the newest edition of my current tea kettle. I absolutely love my tea kettle and recommend getting one. Trying out new teas was honestly my hobby throughout college.
This blog post was all about what not to bring to college.
Before you leave, you have to check out my other blog posts about college dorms:
- The Ultimate Dorm Packing List For 2021
- 11 Unexpected Things To Bring To College
- 21 Dorm Must Haves For Freshmen in 2021
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