Shopping for College: Should I Bring the Kitchen Sink?

When I went away to college, I literally brought the kitchen sink. I brought clothing that I haven’t worn in ten years, shoes that haven’t fit in five years and a blanket I haven’t used since I was a toddler. I even tried to figure out ways to put my bookshelf into my suitcase, to no avail. Eventually I learned that I didn’t need to bring my entire bedroom to college. Here are some of the essentials I felt were necessary for college life.

Appropriate Clothing: Bring appropriate clothing. Don’t bring your whole closet! That ripped Madonna T-shirt and matching biker shorts do not need to come with you to college! Buy appropriate clothing for cold weather conditions such as gloves, mittens, hats, jackets, boots, socks, thermals, and earmuffs. Buy most of these clothes online or in the same state where you will be attending college especially if you are from an area with warm weather. Purchasing snow boots on Hollywood Blvd in Los Angeles is never a good idea.

Identification: Bring important identification, such as a driver's license or an identification card. If you plan to work, you will need to bring a social security card with you to college.

Pictures: You may want to bring pictures with you to college. Pictures are nice to accent a room and can give character to a smelly small dorm room. When you get homesick or start missing a friend, you can look at pictures and reminisce.

Dorm Size Refrigerator: Are you really planning to get up to eat breakfast in the dinning hall before that 8:00am class? I guarantee you will change your mind once you start college. Refrigerators are nice to store milk for breakfast or other items you may want to eat. Many colleges have community refrigerators, which look like the inside of a trash can. You don’t want to put your food in those refrigerators. If you are traveling long distances, purchase the refrigerator close to where you will be attending college.

Bike: Bikes allow you to travel from one side of the campus to the other quickly. You can save time, especially if you are late to class! You can also deliver newspapers as a side job. Again, don’t ship a bike. Purchase a bike where you will be attending college.

Backpack: In college you can not bully people to carry your books so a backpack is necessary to transport your books.

Bathroom items: You will need a few towels, wash cloths, a robe and flip flops (so you don't have to step on the nasty hair clogs in the shower.)

Laundry bag: This will allow you to transport your laundry to the laundry room. Most schools have a laundry service also. You can pay several hundred dollars a term to have someone else wash your own laundry and pick up your dry cleaning.

Phone: You need a phone soyou can call home and cry to your parents. Cell phones are an option however you will want to have a land line phone also, just in case something happens with your cell phone.

Bedding: You will need blankets, sheets and pillows. Most colleges have twin extra long mattresses in dorm rooms so that students who are six feet tall feel just as comfortable as those who are four feet tall. You can sometime purchase your bedding through a company which contracts with the college. This way, you don't have to lug bedding on the plane with you. It will arrive straight to the college.

Television/Stereo: These items are a necessity but they both are not excellent distractions

Computer/Printer: Handwriting term papers are not acceptable in college.

I found that these were the basics that I needed when going away to college. Many of these items I was able to purchase around my college. Bringing unnecessary items only cluttered my already small dorm room.

Preparing in the 10th grade!

Preparing in the 10th grade!

Continue Learning Vocabulary: Continue learning 5 vocabulary words a day. Also, read at least one non school related book a month. Again, reading and memorizing vocabulary will help you conquer the SAT.

Continue participating in extracurricular activities: You should have found extracurricular activities that interest you. Develop a stable core of extracurricular activities. If you like tennis, strive to make varsity next year. If you love to volunteer, think about increasing your hours or encouraging some of your friends to volunteer.

Consider taking the PSAT or PLAN: In 10th grade, take the PSAT (the Preliminary SAT). You aren’t required to take the PSAT but there are several reasons why you should take the examination. (For more information see Preparing for College: The 11th Grade)

Also, consider taking the PLAN. The PLAN is a standardized test that prepares you for the ACT. Consult your guidance counselor for information about the PSAT and PLAN.

Work during the summer: Amusement parks and malls require a large stock of workers during the summer. Many of these places hire high school students. Also, volunteer or take a course at a community college.



Continue researching and visiting colleges: Begin touring colleges that may interest you.



Research Financial Aid Opportunities: Research financial aid opportunities for college. Read through the FAFSA and the PROFILE to determine the information you will need to apply for financial aid.

Investigate Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses: By now, you understand what subjects you excel at, so you should further challenge yourself. Also take SAT subject tests, honors courses and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Colleges want students to challenge themselves during high school. If you struggled in classes in the 9th grade, get a tutor or form a study group.

Preparing in the 9th grade!

Challenge yourself academically: Explore new subjects, such as a foreign language. Do your homework, study for tests, and stay focused. You may have to send your 9th grade transcript to many colleges.

Ask for help: If you have trouble in any subject, form a study group, ask for outside tutoring or attend summer school.

Build relationships with your teachers: You may ask your 9th grade teachers for recommendations when applying for college.

Participate in extracurricular activities: Try new activities. Also expand your horizons and try new activities. Join interesting clubs, participate in new sports and volunteer. Commit to a few activities throughout high school. Keep busy during the summer.

Broaden your vocabulary: Learn at least 35 new vocabulary words a week. That’s 5 words per day! Learning vocabulary will help you in the verbal portion of the SAT. In addition, read at least one non school assigned book each month.

Research Colleges: Browse college websites to determine which colleges may interest you. It is never too early to start preparing for college. Take a family trip and visit a few colleges.