It’s not the same as your room at home; and more than the fact that it’s cramped and small, it’s the fact that you have to share it with someone else that sort of bugs you. Your college dorm room could end up being your favorite place for the four years you live on campus, so you need to make it as homely and comfy as you can. And to do this, you must limit the stuff that you tote from home, because space comes at a premium when you’re sharing. If you’re looking for a checklist of what to pack and what to leave behind, read on for some of the things you absolutely do not need at college:

· All your clothes: You do not need to carry your entire wardrobe to college; for one, you will not have space to store it; and for another, you don’t want other people borrowing your stuff and never returning it back.

· Too much paraphernalia: Your room at home may have been cluttered with dainty odds and ends that you have painstakingly collected and displayed on walls and tables. They may each hold sentimental value and be extremely necessary for you to feel at home. But that does not mean you should lug them all the way to college. Again, space is a constraint; and you cannot prevent your stuff from being stolen or misplaced by other people who traipse in and out of your room.

· Food that’s perishable: You may want to stock up on mom’s pickles and dips to prevent that bout of homesickness that others have told you about, but bringing food that tends to spoil from home to your dorm room is a bad idea. You may spill it accidentally and ruin your clothing and bed linen. Or it may go rancid and end up causing a major stink in your room.

· Alcohol: While you may have heard of people stocking their mini fridges with beer, it’s not a good idea to keep alcohol around. It tempts you to relax when you should be studying and also brings unwanted guests to your room.

You could hold off bringing/buying electrical appliances like a refrigerator, microwave, toaster and coffee pot until you’ve met your roommate and discussed your living situation. It makes no sense to have two of these and other items when you could share and save on space and money. Also, some campuses do not allow you to keep certain appliances in your room, so check hostel policies before you spend your money.

Also hold off buying furniture until you see your room – you don’t want to end up with chairs and tables that are too large or too unwieldy. If you feel your room getting cluttered with too much stuff after your first semester, cart them back home before your drown in them.

If you love your dorm room and all that’s in it (including your roommate), those four years are going to be some of the best in your life.

By-line:

This guest article was written by Adrienne Carlson, who regularly writes on the topic of accredited online universities . Adrienne welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: adrienne.carlson83@yahoo.com