2. Resist the urge to overpack.

This will be no news to you upperclassmen, but if you’re a freshman, take this advice to heart: While it may be tempting to stuff every item you own into your suitcase, you DON’T want to overpack for college!

Here’s why: If you’re moving into a dorm, you’re going to have limited space (often VERY limited space), and until you get there, it’s hard to judge just how small that space is going to be. So focus on packing what you know you need, and maybe one or two extras that are special to you (like photos or CDs).

For clothes, it helps to figure out when your first visit home will be (Thanksgiving? Christmas?) and only bring stuff you’ll wear before that date. If you’re going to be gone for a few months, it’s a good idea to bring some of your fall and winter wardrobe now. But, if you’ll be heading home in a couple weeks, just bring your summer clothes for now and switch it up when the temperature drops.

3. Declutter your stuff before you pack!

There is no getting around the simple fact that it is much easier to get it together once it is already together!

You should always start your packing by going through all of your stuff. Analyze what is worth keeping and what you keep around just for show — and be ruthless. 

We have a full guide to decluttering tips so be sure to check that out for full details. But here are a few more helpful tips to help you determine an item’s worth:

• Have you worn it or used it in the past year? Chances are that if it has been forgotten, it will most likely stay forgotten.
• Is it a good memory or just garbage? Notes and ticket stubs can be nice to keep, but if you’re going to hang on to them, I recommend using a scrapbook to keep them organized. Also, you can consider taking pictures of random memory items so you can look back on them without physically keeping them around.
• Do you REALLY need it? What is this item’s purpose in your life? If you can’t answer this, it might be time to let it go.

4. Keep Clothes on Hangers

You’ll save lots of time moving in if your hanging clothes stay on their hangers so all you have to do is fill your closet once you get there.