For those about to enter their first year of university, the majority will find themselves living in university halls of residence. These are typically buildings which are owned by the university which are somewhere between a place of your own and living with your parents. Almost like a student hostel, halls often have a large number of student living in close proximity. While the conditions are not always premium, this is – for many – the first step towards independent living. As such, packing for that first year can be difficult and it can be hard to know what you should pack and take with you.
One of the chief considerations when it comes to things to pack should depend on the type of halls which you will find yourself in.
There are typically two types. The first is catered and the second is self-catered. The difference between the two is that the catered halls will find that the key meals are provided as part of the fees. This means a square meal for those in catered halls, but typically a higher charge. So when it comes to picking what to take, and what to pack, a lot can be determined by what type of halls you are in. For those in catered halls, a lot of your worries will be taken care of. For those in self-catering facilities, you will have to consider how to cook for yourself. This does not necessarily mean bringing food, but more cooking utensils and pots and pans. This will quickly become important when you start to get hungry.
When picking which items make the cut and which don’t, considering the way in which you live your life at the moment will likely be a big consideration. When assessing each of your possessions and deliberating over its inclusion, consider how much you actually find yourself using the item and whether you will truly benefit from taking it along. At university, you might find that you quickly acquire a number of new hobbies and friends and that those things which seemed so important to bring a long are now just taking up space in your room and will be a nightmare to carry home. Giving careful consideration to the usefulness of each item can be very helpful.
This is especially true of those items which might cause a lot more noise than anyone will really enjoy. While your drum kit might be very special to your, it will likely be unwelcome in a building with hundreds of other students. Thinking about how your items might affect those around you – in terms of sight, sound, smell – will be very important and can quickly mean that you might regret bringing certain items with you. The noisiest possessions are likely also the ones which are the most difficult to transport as well, so consider your means of getting your worldly goods to the halls in a timely and efficient manner.
Regardless of what you do and you do not take, it is always vital to remember that this is not a final decision.
That you might accidentally forget one particularly important item might be the exact excuse which you need to visit home a few weeks into the term and see your parents (and get some washing done). While getting the exact right process of packing right the first time can be hard, it is a learning process and the skills which you learn here can be applied to all the later moves throughout your life. When it comes to moving into your halls, it might be good to remember to visit home every now and again, for whatever reason.
