Your “First Night” Bag Is the Most Important Thing You’ll Pack for College — Here’s What to Put in It

Even as a rising senior, I still remember my first night in the NYU dorms so clearly. I was tossing and turning for hours, excited and anxious about all that was to come, from starting classes to meeting new people. Most stressful of all, though, was the daunting task of unpacking, and knowing that all of my essentials were buried in the small mountain of moving boxes and bags I’d dumped into the room only hours before. Had I known to pack everything a little more intentionally, I would’ve saved myself a lot of time — and a $25 school ID replacement fee, since I ended up losing it to my move-in clutter. 

To help incoming freshmen avoid moving-day chaos, I have one crucial piece of advice: Pack a “first night” bag. Here’s how to put together one of your own.

Moving into your dorm or first apartment at college usually means packing for months at a time, which calls for lots of boxes and bags. How else are you going to bring at least a semester’s worth of clothing, school supplies, decorations, and other college essentials?. So the first night bag is one you pack separately with just the things you want to have easily accessible during your first couple of days on campus. 

You can use a sturdy tote, carry-on, or even your backpack. By making a first night bag, you’ll save yourself the trouble of having to completely unpack all of your belongings to find the items you’ll want most for your first night in your dorm — and a dedicated bag means you won’t forget to pack what you need for those first days! It’ll take just a few extra minutes when you’re packing for college, and will give you so much peace of mind when you’re moving onto campus. 

You might think it seems like a lot, but you’ll continue to use most of these items throughout the semester or school year — you’ll just want to pack these specific ones in your first night bag because you’ll likely need easy access to them during your first days on campus. Everyone’s essentials might look a little different, but these are some items I’d prioritize packing in your first night bag:

• Morning and nightly skincare products
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Hair products
• Body wash
• Perfume (if you wear it daily!)
• Medicines/daily supplements
• Loofah or washcloth
• Hand towel 
• Body towel

• Laptop/tablet
• Device chargers
• Headphones
• Portable charger

• Your favorite stuffed animal
• Photo of your family, friends, partner, etc.
• Late-night snack
• Sleep mask
• Reusable water bottle
• A book you’re reading or your e-reader
• Your journal

• A pair of pajamas
• A change of clothes
• Hair ties
• Comfy socks
• Shower shoes
• Lightweight robe
• Slippers, slides, or flip-flops (for walking comfortably around the dorm)

• Your wallet 
• Lanyard/keychain 
• Any summer reading assignments (to have ready for your first day of classes!)
• Pens and pencils
• College paperwork (i.e., class schedules, student ID, dorm assignment)

This article is part of Dorm Therapy’s Start Here Guide to Moving onto Campus. Check it out for all of our advice for your first days at school!