Tips from Aaliyah, a junior Communication and English double major at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

I vividly remember my first time moving into UMass Amherst. I woke up bright and early on First Year Move-In Day, stuffed my small Elantra with anything and everything I could, and took off on my two-hour journey to UMass Amherst. I remember thinking everything was a dorm room essential. From rugs, various pillows that took up my whole bed, and way too many decorations, I honestly thought I was underpacking. Let’s just say I had a hard time fitting all my stuff into my dorm, which is not the most ideal way to kick off the school year. I can promise you that you do not want to be the sweaty mess frantically running around on Move-In Day like I was. Packing for college for the first time can be both an exciting and nerve-racking experience. This is a big move, but it should be enjoyable and a memorable start to an enriching career at UMass Amherst. 

With three years of dorm living under my belt, here are five helpful tips for your first time packing for college:

Less is More

When moving into a dorm room, less is more. Considering that a dorm might be smaller than your room at home, especially if you are having a roommate, it is better to underpack than overpack. Luckily, we have a Target and Walmart a short drive away from UMass Amherst, where you can easily pick up more items for your dorm if need be. Bring the essentials, like bedding, clothes, bath items, etc. and save the decorations or non-essentials for when you move in.

Does it Spark Joy?

As Marie Kondo from Tidying Up with Marie Kondo famously coined — does it spark joy? Does it give you a wave of thrill when you hold it? Does it give you that little spark of happiness? If not, then it is not something you should bring with you to college. This can be an extremely helpful mindset to have — especially when packing for a college move-in. By sitting down before Move-In Day, and going through all the items you have accumulated for school, you can analyze how important having that item in your dorm room truly is — and ensure that you have thought everything through before Move-In Day.

Pack for the Season

When packing, it might make sense to want to bring everything you have, to avoid having to go back for more essentials. Given the limited space of the dorm rooms, especially if you have a roommate, it is not efficient to bring clothes for a different season. By packing your fall clothes, and a warm coat or sweater just in case, you will save a lot of space in your dorm. The best part is if you go home for Thanksgiving or Winter Break, you can take all of your out of season clothes home and bring back your spring clothes. Problem solved!

Coordinate with your Roommate

As simple as it sounds, coordinating with your roommate before Move-In Day is extremely helpful. By ensuring that you both are not bringing a TV, mini fridge, microwave, or other dorm room essentials, you can be certain that come Move-In Day no one brought items they did not need to.

Have Fun!

In the end, Move-In Day marks the start of your journey here at UMass Amherst. This should be a memorable experience that you can fondly reflect on come senior year. You can always fix your dorm room up, but you cannot relive the experience of moving into your first dorm. So, take a deep breath, put down the home decor books, and have fun. You will not regret it!

Check Living at UMass Amherst for more information on what to bring on Move-In Day