The All-Important "What to Pack" List

It’s July 31st. Now you've got your housing assignments and, whether or not you’re happy about it, it’s time to think about moving in.

So what does the conscious Hokie bring with him or her to Virginia Tech? Fortunately, Student Programs has a good basic list of things each person should bring, as well as what you and your roommate should share. If you haven’t e-mailed your roommate yet about that, hop to it! The sooner you get that all squared away, the better you’ll feel about it. Anyway, that list, which is a little dated, can be found here on the Student Programs website.

Now some of these things can be forgone based on your own habits. Not a big cereal/oatmeal/ramen person? You can most likely skip the bowls. You only need one clock; I’m not sure why they say to bring both an alarm clock and a desk clock. Most clocks have alarm settings now, and besides, odds are you’ll start using your cell phone as your alarm clock, especially if you and your roommate have very different schedules.

Now my suggestions and addendums to this list:

First off, get a good tool kit. It doesn’t have to be the hardcore set-ups you see in department stores, just a small basic one. Hammer, screwdriver (try to get one with interchangeable magnetic heads), wrench, tape measure…you know, the basics. You’ll probably only ever use the hammer and screwdriver, but it’s a good starter set for life. And duct tape. Get a roll of duct tape and learn to love the stuff. It fixes EVERYTHING from a hole in your backpack to the mysteriously opening drawers in Slusher. Slusherites, you’ll know what I mean very quickly.

Power strips are crucial. There will be an average of four outlets for you and your roommate to share. That’s eight plugs. Now think: laptop, printer, desk lamp, alarm clock, fan, and say you’ve got the TV and a vacuum. That’s seven right there, not including your roommate’s stuff. Get two power strips, and make sure they have surge protectors. We get thunderstorms often here in Blacksburg, and the power does go out on occasion. It’s only happened three times since I’ve been here, and for no longer than 10 minutes, but you can never be too prepared.

I’m an advocate of the sewing kit. You can get little ones at pretty much any department or home store. Every so often, a button will come off a shirt. It happens. And the needles can do double-duty as blister poppers (just sterilize them first with a lighter). Those happen too.

It says umbrella/raincoat. I vote umbrella. Get one that can collapse enough to fit in your backpack, and keep it there. It might be beautiful when you leave for Chem, but 75 minutes later, it could be the storm of the century. As many of you saw during Orientation, weather in Blacksburg is crazy. Always carry an umbrella.

I’m not sure why laundry detergent and dryer sheets aren’t on the list, but obviously, they should be. As for the washers and dryers, they’ll take quarters or Hokie Passport. I would suggest putting money on your Passport account so you’re not scrounging for quarters when you’re down to your last pair of underwear. Febreezing clothes does not count as doing laundry. Also, don't be that kid who has enough clothes to get from August to Thanksgiving without doing laundry. No one likes that kid.

The issue of shower shoes: Seriously, go to your local Old Navy or to a drugstore and get a pair of cheap flip-flops. I say Old Navy because their flip-flops are like, 2 for $5 and then you can have a pair to wear on rainy days as well. If you really must have some other company’s flip-flops (though seriously, American Eagle and J. Crew make the exact same ones for about 5 times the price), or Crocs as your shower shoes, go ahead. I’m just of the opinion that shower shoes should be easy on, easy off, and not something I would particularly care about other than for the prevention of athlete’s foot.

Finally, something that’s not on the list but should be included in your shopping trip: a good winter coat. Maybe you have one because you’re from chillier climes or because you have an annual family ski trip to Boulder every year at Christmas. Those will be fine. If you don’t have one, find a ski store and buy a good coat. Why? Blacksburg gets cold. Biting to the bones, sub-zero wind chill cold. This trip can actually be put off until Fall Break in October if you so desire or if there’s nothing in stores yet. Your best bet: get a coat with a lining you can remove and wear as a jacket itself. Most major brands make one like this. Then you’ll get three coats for the price of one. Make sure you have a hat and mittens or gloves too.

And about packing: Space Bags should hire me to advertise for them. I love those things. Go to the home store (Bed Bath and Beyond, Linens ‘N’ Things, whatever) and find them. Get the large or extra large ones. I got 8 pairs of jeans, 5 sweatshirts, and about 15 T-shirts into one. It didn’t compress completely flat, but I’ve only got three bags now (they have an unfortunate problem of getting holes after a few uses), so I shoved as much as I could into what I had.

About the Hokie Passport Account
I usually put $200 on my Passport account for the semester. That covers laundry, vending machine snacks, random games of pool or bowling with friends, the occasional meal downtown, and emergency bookstore or general store purchases (i.e. I ran out of notebook paper or pop-tarts).