Packing for College Made Easy

The college "experience" is unique for each and every student.  From life-long friendships and relationships to jobs, classes and internships, the college years of a person's life are sure to be memorable.  You may have asked yourself, "How do I pack for everything college life is going to supposedly throw at me?"  Here is advice from experienced students about what to bring to UNCW.

UNCW is located in the beautiful beach town of Wilmington, so the first thing to go into your suitcase should be a bathing suit.  Of course there are other accessories that should be packed in order to make the beach experience the best it can be.  This may include a beach towel, sunscreen, bug spray, sunglasses, a cover-up, chair, beach tote, cooler, surfboard or body board, and don't forget the Teal Rainbows the UNCW bookstore sells especially for UNCW students. 

"You will definitely want to bring beach stuff, because the beaches here are really nice, especially when the tourists leave for the summer," sophomore Crystal Groover said. 
In New Hanover County, there are four beaches that you can choose from: Wrightsville, Carolina, Kure and Fort Fisher.  There are also several pools around campus that you can utilize with friends on sunny afternoons.

Secondly, you will want to ask yourself how you wish to get around campus.  UNCW's campus is very flat, which allows for students to use a variety of transportation.  Students may decide to bring a car, skateboard, long board, bike, scooter, moped or roller blades.  Of course there is always the option of old fashioned walking. 

"I usually just walk from my off-campus apartment to all my classes, but as a pedestrian you'll have to be careful of all the bikers and skateboarders flying past you." sophomore Katie Gendron said.  Of course, if you choose to bring a bike onto campus, make sure you register it with the campus police. 

Third, you might want to consider your apartment or dorm room and what you can bring to make it feel more like "home."  Think about what makes your room at home yours and bring it with you.  This may include posters, pictures of friends and family, or other decorations.  Most likely you will be sharing a space with another person, so keep that in mind when you are packing and be careful not to over pack.  If you are living in a dorm room or an on-campus apartment, remember to buy XL twin sheets to fit your bed.

When packing clothing beware of Wilmington weather which tends to be unpredictable, especially when it comes to rain.  Carry a rain slicker or an umbrella and rain boots in your backpack in case of the sporadic showers that often occur. 

"The weather here can get pretty crazy.  When I moved on campus, I soon realized that rain boots were a necessity," Groover said.

As far as technology goes, having a computer in this day and age is surely a must, but if your computer fails you halfway through a paper that is due that day, you can always go to the library or another on-campus computer lab to finish it.  UNCW also offers iPrint, which is a network of printers around campus that students can send their files to.  Each student is given eight dollars of free printing and extra money can be added to their UNCW One Card.  UNCW campus is wireless, so if you professor allows it you can bring your laptop to class.

If you forgot to bring something from home, there are several places around Wilmington where you are sure to find what you need.  Remember that the most important thing to bring with you when you come to UNCW is your spirit and enthusiasm for bettering your higher education and enjoying the wonderful experiences UNCW offers.