First off, you NEED one of these. This picture isn't beautiful I know, but you will have so many textbooks and binders and whatever that you need somewhere to store them all. I lived 3 weeks without one of these and I was going insane. Best thing ever.
Next thing I wished I would have seen on a Pinterest packing list is tinfoil, some form of saran wrap (I like Press N Seal the best), and tupperware for left overs, its hard hard cooking for one and you'll almost always have extras.
I also wasted a lot of money on binders, loose leaf paper, and notebooks. EVERYTHING IS ONLINE NOW DAYS. If I were to re-buy school supplies, I would have bought one of those 5 star notebooks that have five different sections, pencils/pens, highlighters, and nothing else. I had one class that I occasionally turned in a piece of paper and it was rare. I took my notes on a laptop and it saved my hands from getting cramped, I could read my handwriting, and I remembered everything just fine. I heard before college that hand writing notes instead of typing them helps you to remember it better, but for me it made no difference. Don't overbuy supplies!
Technology is expensive, so in the end do what you can, but if you have the luxury of purchasing a laptop for college, get the thinnest, smallest one you can find. Mine killed my back, and you really need to take it every day to every class. Light and small is absolutely key. Spend the extra money if you can. Also, my parents bought me a printer for my birthday and it was the BEST THING EVER. Having to walk to campus to print something and making sure you have enough money on your student ID card is a pain in the butt. If that's what you have to do because of finances you will be just fine, but if there is any possible way you can have your own printer DO IT.
Invest in command hooks and strips. Don't put holes in your walls and then fill them with toothpaste after, be a good tenant! We had a a command hook that held our mail key which was so nice, we never lost it.
Bring games and movies. We always ended up spending money because it's all we could come up with on a Friday or Saturday night. If you have a birthday or Christmas coming, ask for restaurant gift cards! That's seriously all my roommates and friends asked for for Christmas. And printers if they didn't already have one.
A pizza cutter. I lived off quesedillas and pizza. I'm a horrible example because I was very malnurished in college due to my hatrid of cooking. I felt sick because I never got protein. Eat protein and don't be too lazy to cook meat like I was! My roommates had freezer meals and were always eating well which I was jealous of, just be aware of how much space in the freezer you're taking and always make sure your roommates have room too :)
You NEED a powerstrip. All by your bed you will have an alarm clock, cellphone charger, a lamp, and hopefully a printer to keep plugged in. This is essential.
Decorations really are fun and make a college apartment feel more like home. They aren't essential, but I loved my picture line I had above my bed. It was a great conversation starter, everyone wants to know what your family and friends from home look like, and it was awesome to fall asleep looking at pictures of people I love. You can see it behind me in this picture:
The last thing is to always serve your roommates! Some people are best friends with their roommates, some roommates don't get a long at all, and some just never talk to them or see them. My roommate Stephanie was a sweetheart an made my bed all the time. Make them breakfast when they've had a bad day, borrow each other's clothes, do someone else's dishes. It goes a long way, I promise. In my apartment we were good about talking to each other about things that bugged us, that is SO important. Whenever I was annoyed with a roommate I would spend time with them and realize how much I really loved them and it helped our relationship grow. Just be nice and love each other!
Do crazy things, like riding couches on elevators.
My lovely roommates and I going to church after staying up until 3 in the morning playing games.
Good luck, have fun, love everyone you meet to death, and don't over buy! Buy most everything when you get there. If you have six girls in an apartment like I did there is no possible way for everyone to fit 6 sets of pots and pans and kitchen towels, dishes, spatulas, etc. Have fun and think of other's before yourself and I promise college will be a great experience:)
