Packing Tips
Here are a few tips to hopefully make packing for college a little easier for you.
Pack Seasonally: When you first arrive on campus in August, the weather will be completely different from the weather you will see come December. With that in mind, there is no need to bring all of your winter items (including ski’s, snowboards, snowshoes and clothes) in August. Keep in mind that fall does gets chilly around campus, so don’t just bring all summer clothes, you’ll want some light fall/winter items too. Just leave that thick heavy winter jacket at home for now.
Think about when you'll be home the next time. You will see your family after arrival day, maybe Parents/Family Weekend or Thanksgiving Break. You can always pack a bag of items ahead of time, for them to bring to you during their visit. Pack enough to get you through to Thanksgiving break, take summer clothing home with you and then bring back more of your winter items.
Ship Items Ahead of Time: The University mailroom is open all summer, getting ready for your arrival in August. Some students, especially those traveling a long distance to campus, decide to mail a package of items to themselves before Arrival Day. Make sure that the items you mail are non-essential items that you can go a couple days without. Your first couple days on campus will be very busy and it might take a while before you find time to pick up your package.
If interested in mailing a package to yourself ahead of time, here is the address you will want to use:
- First Name, Last Name
- Incoming New Student
- Norwich University
- 158 Harmon Drive
- Northfield, VT 05663
Pack Light: If that article of clothing has been hanging in your closet unworn for the last two years, odds are you will not wear it at Norwich either, so don’t bring it. Something goes for every DVD you own, every pair of shoes you own, and every sweatshirt, especially since sweatshirts take up so much room in drawers. One idea is to take your DVD’s out of the boxes and get a CD binder to put them all in.
Cleaning supplies, bathroom supplies, even school supplies are important items to bring with you on Arrival Day, yet you don’t have to bring enough to last all of the school year. Bring enough to get you through to Parent/Family Weekend and then make a trip to Wal-mart for additional supplies.
What to Pack in?: Using a couple of duffle bags and suitcases are great to get clothes to campus, this way you'll have luggage to use during holiday breaks. As for other items such as school supplies and cleaning supplies, large cardboard boxes work great. This way you can just throw out the boxes after arrival day, or bettet yet, break down the boxes, slide them behind your wall locker and save them to pack everything back into at the end of the year.
Rooks, you too can use suitcases or large duffelbags. Each Corps dorm has a trunk room and your First Sergeant has the key. You can store suitcases, large tupperware storage containers or dufflebags in there. Just before holiday break, ask your First Sergeant for the key, go get your bags, and you've got something to pack into, instead of trying to fly with a giant trashbag full of clothes!
Civilian Students — Talk to your Roommates: You filled out that housing survey for a reason; the Resident Life Office uses that to help match you up with your roommates. Near the end of July, you will receive a letter from the Res Life office with the contact information for your roommates. Make sure you call them over the summer to figure out who is bringing which big items for the room. Nothing is more awkward then having 3 microwaves in your room and no TV.
