College students: What to pack, what not to pack

You're probably used to living in a home with a separate kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living space.

It may not seem luxurious now, but when you arrive at school, you'll find that your tiny dorm will combine all four of those rooms, and things can get pretty claustrophobic.

In other words, you'll have to pack smart in order to fit it all, along with all your roommate's belongings, assuming you'll be in a standard dorm with one or more roommates. Regardless, you're going to get pretty creative with the way you store your stuff.

First, look for things that hang because floor space is scarce. There are plenty of shelf organizers with hooks that can hang from chairs, doors or closets. They can store anything from shoes to books, and they're pretty cheap and easy to find. There are even laundry bags that hang on the back of a door. Invest in some removable wall hooks, which can store jewelry, towels, scarves, etc.

For things that you have to store on the floor, look for crates that stack, or even plastic units that can fit under your bed. As a freshman, I stored most of my clothes and books under my bed. Stackable crates can be for things you don't use everyday, like certain shoes or jackets.

Which reminds me. Do not overpack clothes and shoes. It's hard, I know, because you may convince yourself you absolutely need every item, but you don't. Bring the most functional things you have.

While packing, pick up a shirt and ask yourself the last time you wore it. If it was over a month ago, don't bring it (but if you have a sneaky younger sibling who likes to steal your clothes, like me, I recommend hiding it).

You may not be fortunate enough to have a bathroom in your dorm, so bring a shower caddy and a smaller caddy to store your toothbrush, contact case, etc. Shower shoes are also a must, meaning flip-flops. If you'd prefer not to walk from the shower to your room in nothing but a towel, bring a robe.

When it comes to school supplies, my essential is a planner. I fill it out from September to December the day I receive the class syllabus. It makes organization so much easier, and helps you prepare for due dates that can creep up on you. In addition to the usual pencils, erasers and notebooks, a USB storage device is a good idea.

There are things you probably lived without in high school, but now that you're walking from class to class in all kinds of weather conditions, you should prepare for that. You may think an umbrella looks lame, but would you rather take a five-minute walk with one, or be the kid sitting in class, soaking wet and freezing?

When it comes to winter weather, don't expect all classes to be canceled at the sight of a snowflake.

I happen to hate the cold, so when it snows, I shamelessly bundle up for my trek through the tundra across campus (aka unpaved sidewalks), with everything from a scarf to a hat to heavy duty gloves.

Speaking of wintertime, never underestimate the power of hand sanitizer! It's an essential for me. Every time I arrive at school in the fall and after Christmas break, I get sick. Your immune system isn't used to the contact with hundreds of others, and when you combine that with back-to-school stress, it's a recipe for illness.

Wash your hands, people, and consider a vitamin C supplement. On that note, pack tissues.

Happy shopping!