Buzzfeed is lying to you—you do not need a printer!

Bonjour incoming first-years! Right now, some of you are probably writing up insane spreadsheets on exactly what you need to bring to campus and where it’ll fit in your parents’ SUV. And some of you probably won’t think about packing until move-in eve. Either way, this guide should help you figure what to bring and what to leave at home. I know there are countless lists on this topic already online, but this is the only one that is ~Bwog Approved~.

What To Bring

• Raincoat and umbrella: for those of us who come from rainy climates, this may seem self-explanatory, but it isn’t for everyone! It rains in NYC a lot, and I mean a lot. Do yourself a favor and be prepared for those city storms!
• Fairy lights: although often overlooked, these may be the easiest way to make a 165-sqft double feel like home.
• Cash: you never know when you might need it! Whether you lose your card, your Apple Wallet glitches, or you want a bagel from the beloved (and cash-only) Absolute Bagels, you will likely need cash at some point.
• Shoes: bring a pair for partying (ideally that you don’t mind getting dirty), a pair for walking (super cushy grandpa sneakers work great), and a pair for showering (flip-flops!).
• Summer clothes and sunglasses: although we all want to flex our cozy sweater collection, the first month of school is HOT, so bring shorts and sunglasses! And keep ‘em handy for the spring semester, because you will definitely want to serve looks when the lawns eventually re-open.
• Reusable shopping bags: New York State has a paper bag fee, so bring your favorite tote for groceries.
• Fans: again, NYC may have a gray and dreary reputation, but the first few weeks of the semester will be sweaty. Just in case your first-year AC goes out, bring a small fan.
• Wall tape: trust me, you do not want to use any ol’ tape to hang up posters in your dorm room. Future you will be grateful you used wall-safe or painters tape, preventing any Housing fees from peeling off wallpaper.
• Air freshener: oil diffusers and candles are not (technically) allowed in Columbia dorms, so bring a room spray or air freshener! Especially in the winter, these small rooms can get stuffy.
• Beach towel or lawn blanket: lounging on the lawns is essential to warm-weather life at CU.
• Your insurance card and passport: regardless of how much your parents don’t want you to, just bring them. You will need them to pick up prescriptions, go to the doctor, and fill out hiring forms; it’s much easier to just bring them than to have your parents mail them out later.

What To Leave At Home

• Bed risers: I have personally never needed these—Columbia beds already lift quite high, and bunking them is banned anyways.
• Printer: all Columbia students have (virtually) free printing via PawPrint, so save yourself some money and room space.
• A million books: bring along some comfort books, but maybe leave behind your extensive to-read list; you won’t have much spare reading time, especially as a first-year!
• Temporary wallpaper: while nice in theory, putting this stuff up is a lot of work, and it often ends up wrecking the walls anyways.
• Every one of your houseplants: there are tons of cheap plant stores in NYC!
• Rotten mini pumpkin: don’t make the same mistakes as our current EIC.

And that’s all the wisdom I’ve got! Enjoy your first days on campus and don’t forget to return your blue bin!

Printer via Qurren

Passport via EdisonTD