A Fresher’s Checklist For Students Flying The Next

You’re about to start a course you (hopefully) love and you’re flying the nest. There’s so much to do and prepare for before you make the big move. You’re probably feeling overwhelmed and like you must pack everything from your 26 pairs of trainers to your ironing board.

Remember: you’re more than likely going to a hall/flat which will be considerably smaller in size compared to your parents’ house. Certain essentials may already be there or you could chip in with your flatmates and get one. After all, you don’t need 5 ironing boards in one flat!

Here’s a handy little checklist of things to take to uni.

First things first: let’s talk clothes

• Underwear, socks and tights
• Casual comfy clothes – few pairs of t-shirts, joggers, leggings.
• Going out clothes – a few pairs of nice tops/shirts/trousers and dresses will do.
• Trainers – don’t go overboard and bring your whole collection two or three max will suffice.
• Smart shoes – one pair of some nice smart shoes for interviews or dates (you never know!)
• Waterproof items – always play it safe.
• Swimwear – this is probably more applicable if you’re going to join the gym and go swimming unless you’re going to uni in Spain or something.
• Fancy dress – it’s worth taking at least one outfit but this part of your wardrobe may very well grow at uni.

Kitchen items

• 1 x wok – you can use a wok to fry, boil, scramble etc. It’s really quite a versatile tool.
• 2 x sauce pans – you’ll most likely use two at a time if you’re making something like rice in once and chicken in the other.
• Small cutlery set – you don’t need nothing fancy just a pack of 10 will do. That should keep you doing all year.
• 1 x sharp knife – you’ll need this for cutting veg, fruit etc.
• 1 x Kitchen tongs – very useful item for turning things over in the grill or in a pan.
• 2 x glasses and 2 x mugs – one for you and one for any guest you may have over. Obviously if you have more than one guest you could probably borrow your flatmates or just get disposable ones.
• 2 x plates & 2 x bowls – it’s safe to take a couple of these. They can come in handy when you need an extra plate to store leftovers in.
• Tupperware – alternatively tupperware is also good for storing food.
• 2 x baking trays – one for pizza, one for fries, obvs.

Bedroom items

• 2 x bedsheets – so when you put one set in the wsh you’ve got another to put on.
• 1 x extension cable – there won’t be enough plug sockets in your room so you’ll definitely need this.
• Pack of hangers – how many you take depends on how many clothes you have.
• Laundry basket – you need somewhere to put all your dirty clothes, the corner of your room does not count.
• Photos of your loved ones – print out loads of pics ad adorn your room with their beautiful faces. It’ll be nice to see them dotted around your room especially if you’ve moved far away.

Bathroom items

• Washbag essentials – facewash, toothpaste, toothbrush, mouthwash.
• 2 x towels – one big and one small.
• Air fresher – you’ll probably need it especially if you’re sharing your bathroom.
• 1 x flip flops – nice and easy to slip into for when you’re out the shower.

So there you have it! Anything you haven’t bought can always be picked up at a shop where your uni is. Plus, you’ll find that some things you can grab on your next trip back home. You don’t need to pack absolutely everything for your move, as long as you’ve got your essentials everything else will fall into place in time.

Haleema Khokhar also known as Kimi (a college nickname that stayed) is a journalism graduate working in the world of marketing and freelance writing. She loves animals, dance and a strong cup of tea. Check out her website and Twitter at @MyImpression_ you can also check out her personal Twitter at @KimiKhokhar 

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