There are so many areas to organize when you are away. You not only have to deal with your schoolwork but also handle your living facilities. Lucky for you, I have compiled this post with FREE Dorm Room Checklist and many tips for a successful college year.
22% of US students live in older on-campus dormitories.
Jump to:
- Get a checklist from your university or make your own.
- Before you buy all these items, another tip is to talk to your roommate.
- Assign a place in your home to collect all these items.
- Decide on your study and relaxing spaces in your dorm room/university.
- Update or upgrade your computer.
- Taking the car to campus, do these things first.
- Plan Plan Plan
Get a checklist from your university or make your own.
I made the below checklist, and you can add your items to it as well. It is a three-page checklist. The last page is blank, so you can write in whatever is missing. I made this checklist a few years ago when my kids went to college. I researched and made it with various other online lists to customize it for my kids. Feel free to print it out and use it.
***AD*** The best academic planner for students! Order Out of Chaos Academic planner helps track time and tasks! Buy 1 or more today! 
The first page includes the section Room needs, Linens/Laundry, Desk Supplies, Electronics, and Misc. items like home decor.
The following page has clothing. Have at least two weeks of outfits so you don't have to wash clothes weekly.
The toiletry column has a variety of things you will need that are most likely stored around your home. Gather these items using this checklist page to remind you.
If you have a kitchen or a kitchenette, you may need the next column of items. If you are looking for cleaning items, check out our new checklist of dorm room cleaning products here.
The next packing sheet is blank for you to add all the other items you may need. You can even add a topic header to it.
***AD*** from Released Repurpose Reorganize: My List Simplified journal is a wonderful organizing tool for planning a move or a renovation. Use it to corral all the to-dos. 
Then, check out these posts. Organizing College Dorm Room - Part 1 and Organizing College Dorm Room - Part 2. These posts include links to buy stuff through Amazon (affiliate). Easy peasy!
Before you buy all these items, another tip is to talk to your roommate.
Some people don't want to do this, but it makes it so much easier and less costly if you do. Reach out to your roommate at least a few weeks before to see if there are items they are bringing, like a TV, refrigerator, or microwave, that you can share.
Assign a place in your home to collect all these items.
Usually, we buy these dorm room items over time, so having a place for them, like the garage, basement, or attic, will keep them out of the way.
Decide on your study and relaxing spaces in your dorm room/university.
My son found it was critical to do his studying at the library instead of in the tiny dorm room. Getting a planner is also important. I love the small academic planner by Order Out of Chaos(R) (affiliate link) to help manage time. Visit THE REASONS I LOVE ORDER OUT OF CHAOS® ACADEMIC PLANNER post on why I love these planners so much. Adding these time slots for studying and relaxing into the planner or digital calendar will help you start the year right. You can always modify it later.
Update or upgrade your computer.
If you plan on keeping your laptop for college, ensure that the anti-virus and spyware are updated. Check with your college to see if they offer free software for students.
Cleaning your computer of unnecessary photos, apps, etc... will make the computer run more smoothly. If you visit the computer center on your university campus website, they will probably have a list of recommended software to installed.
If you need to purchase a new laptop, look for one that is common for your major. Visit the recommended things to bring on your college's website for more details.
Taking the car to campus, do these things first.
If you are taking your vehicle to campus, get your car serviced. An oil change, tire rotation, and brake check are essential. Ask them to check the tires and fluids. Make an appointment a few weeks before you leave, so they have time to repair the car if there is an issue. Then, your car will be ready to go with you.
Also, buy your parking pass sooner than later. A parking pass is required when you are on campus. The larger the campus, the more likely there will be commuters that need parking passes too, so they may sell out. Visit the campus security office, which is usually where you can buy the parking tag.
Plan Plan Plan
And lastly, create a timeline to know what you need to do before you leave home. Start with the move-in date and assign tasks to the days working up to the move-in date.
These FREE Dorm Room Checklist sheets and all these tips will help you from being overwhelmed during this new experience. Please let me know if you have any questions. I am here to help - lots of luck to you all.
Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.
Below are other College success posts to help you with your new year!
Katherine Macey
Super useful stuff here! I love the tip about bringing at least two weeks' worth of clothing. Weekly laundry is SUCH a hassle, and usually doesn't even fill up the washer! Twice a month is plenty in a dorm.
These are wonderful resources for parents and college kids, great post!
Sabrina Quairoli
Thanks, Katherine! I am so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. =)
Janet Scheisl
Great lists Sabrina. These definitely will be helpful as my nieces and nephews head off to college. Wish I had them for my kids growing up!
Jana Arevalo
Oh wow! I'm going to have to save this for a few years from now. What a comprehensive and complete list! Love it.
Sabrina Quairoli
Thanks, Jana! =)
Julie Bestry
This is a superb checklist, and reminds me of my college days, especially that first summer preparing to leave. My mother's smartest tactic was buying two huge nylon duffel bags. They were perfect for storing all of my sheets, towels, and any cold-weather clothes needed before the Fall Break switch, dust-free under the bed, basically taking up no space.
I'm surprised to see microwaves and coffee makers on the list; I guess I'm old, because in the olden days we couldn't have cooking-related electronics in the dorms. There were microwaves in the unit and main kitchens, but even hot pots (which were basically electric kettles, but not as cool) were verboten.
Don't forget that blue sticky-blobby stuff for putting posters up on cinder block walls!
Sabrina Quairoli
At my kids' universities, I learned they don't want people using sticky stuff anymore. Now it is Command Strips or Duck Tape. Crazy, right?
Laura
Such a great and comprehensive list! We just dropped our oldest off over the weekend and used many of these tips. 🙂
Linda Samuels
What terrific lists you made! You bring me back to preparing our daughters for college. I had lists and so did they. There was a point when we had boxes and duffles packed and labeled in our living room waiting for move-in day.
One of the other things I had both of them do before they went to college, was go through their memorabilia and other possessions at home to do an edit. This was so helpful. It was a great way to help them (and me) review life so far, clear out the things that were no longer useful or meaningful, and prepare them emotionally for moving onto the next phase of their lives.
Sabrina Quairoli
I love the idea of going through memorabilia. Thanks for sharing.
Seana Turner
Planning goes a long way on this one! I'm just glad that kids are moving back to college with a more 'normal' scene this year, right?
I remember when my girls went, there was months of planning. They considered every little detail and were planning forever. In contrast, my friends who had sons said their boys hadn't given it much thought. It was more of a "oh, I head to school tomorrow, I guess I should throw some stuff in trash bags."
I will say, I was surprised how much my kids still printed things. Their eyes get tired of looking at screens, and a lot of their reading wasn't in books, but rather was online. They often preferred to print and read the paper.
Diane N Quintana
Really good checklists, Sabrina. I also like your advice for bringing a car to school. It's so important to know the rules about parking before you drive onto campus and start looking for a space to park.
Janet Barclay
Great checklists and tips - I especially like the one about checking with your roommate so you don't both bring the same item. Not only do you not need two fridges, you probably don't have room for them either!