The Comprehensive Hostel Packing Checklist For Students
Moving to a new city for college can be an absolutely thrilling and terrifying experience at the same time. Your hostel will be your new home for the better part of your academic life. In the excitement of your new college life, it is easy to overlook smaller, but essential items while packing.
Of course, it is not practical for you to sprint back to your home to retrieve your essentials. So to help you pack your hostel essentials, we have created this comprehensive hostel packing checklist for students. The items on this list include everything from your daily essentials to accessories that will help to improve your quality of life.
1. Clothing For All Occasions
When packing your luggage, remember you will be spending almost a year away from your home. You need to carry your uniform (if applicable), casual clothes for wearing in the hostel, and formal. You can also carry ethnic wear and party wear clothes if you know you are going to need them. For footwear, pack a pair of slippers, sandals, sports shoes, and boots. These should cover you for most of your daily activities. Also, remember to pack enough innerwear to last you the week. There is no need to worry about laundry as it is taken care of by the housekeeping team at our hostels.
2. Water Bottle And Tiffin Boxes
Carrying clean water bottles and tiffin boxes is essential to stay healthy and hydrated. In a hostel environment, it is not recommended to use anyone else’s water bottles; hence, carrying your own is crucial. You would also need a water bottle to carry water to your college. Choose a leakproof bottle that you can clean easily. A tiffin box, on the other hand, will help you carry snacks to your college, reducing urges to eat fast food.
3. Personal Hygiene and Toiletries Essentials
The most important thing that people forget about is a toothbrush. Carry your own toothbrush, toothpaste, tongue cleaner, shampoo, soap, and conditioner. While things like soap, shampoo and conditioner can be bought at local stores near your hostel, you will need a toothbrush and toothpaste when you first arrive. Also, carry your bath hand towels and handkerchiefs for personal hygiene. Boys who shave should not forget to carry their razors. You might also want to carry daily essentials for the college hostel like nail clippers, earbuds, tweezers, sunscreen, moisturiser, and hair accessories.
4. Blankets
While clean bedsheets and blankets will be provided for you at our hostels in Mumbai for college students, you will need to carry your own blankets. While Mumbai has a warm climate, our hostel rooms are equipped with air conditioner. Choose a blanket made from either fleece or cotton as these materials are easy to wash and comfortable. You can also carry one heavy and one lightweight blanket, depending on your preference. Additionally, having your own blanket has been shown to add warmth and familiarity to the new environment.
5. Personal Electronics and Chargers
A mobile phone and charger are basically the hostel survival kit for students. While almost no one forgets to carry their phone with them, it is a different story for the charger. Remember to pack your chargers for your laptop, phone, earbuds, and digital watch. It is also safe to carry an extension cord for easy access to power sources. You might also want to carry an earphone or earbud to get privacy. Store your laptop and other electronics in a protective case to prevent damage during travel or daily use.
6. Books And Other Studying Accessories
Books and other study materials are by far the most important thing to carry for a student. Pack your textbooks for the year and a set of notebooks. Don’t forget your pens, highlighters, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, and rulers for effective note-taking and studying. You might also want to bring calendars, sticky notes, a diary, and exam planner notebooks to keep track of your schedule and deadlines.
7. Weather-Related Accessories Like Umbrellas
Weather-related accessories are essential to carry if you want to survive the unexpected and ever-changing weather in Mumbai. Mumbai experiences some of the most intense monsoon seasons; hence, having a strong and sturdy umbrella is a must. Alternatively, you can carry a raincoat as well. Remember to also have your pullovers, hoodies, and sweaters for winter. Carrying caps and sunglasses is also a good idea if you want to avoid the sun. Make sure the fabric of your clothes is suitable for all seasons.
8. Personal Documents Like ID and PAN card
Having your personal documents with you is extremely important while staying at our hostel and while travelling. These essential documents include your student ID, Aadhar card, PAN card, driver’s license, school leaving certificate, and relevant mark sheets. These documents come in handy when you are filling out any college application and during emergencies. Keep these documents somewhere safe and accessible, like a waterproof folder. Also, keep a few passport-sized photos as you may need them. It is advisable to keep a backup of these documents in a digital locker on your phone for safekeeping.
9. Generic Medication
Pack a first aid kit with basic medicine and supplies like band-aids, antiseptic solution, adhesive bandage tape, and cotton for treating minor injuries and wounds. If you are on prescribed medicine, carry them along with your prescription for keeping medical records. You may also want to keep a few generic, OTC medicines for fever, cold, and digestion problems.
Conclusion
As you begin a new chapter in your life, you need to make sure you are fully equipped to handle it. When packing your luggage, use this checklist for carrying all hostel essentials for students. Carry the clothes you know you will wear, toiletries, a water bottle and tiffin box, a blanket, earphones, chargers, and most importantly your books and other study materials. Try to avoid overpacking as it is very common among students moving out of their house for the first time. For any other questions or queries about your hostel accommodation, get in touch with us without any hesitation.