Minimalist College Packing List

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Welcome to my minimalist college packing list! As a college student myself, I’ve always found other college packing lists online to be overwhelming and filled with unnecessary items. That’s why I decided to create a simple and concise packing list that focuses on the essentials.

I understand that everyone’s needs are different, but I’ve spent a lot of time perfecting this list to ensure that you get the best value for your money. This doesn’t mean that I’ve only included the cheapest products, but rather I’ve tried to balance quality and price. After all, a low-quality item may end up costing you more in the long run.

 

I spent a lot of time perfecting this list so that you get the best value for your money as much as I could. This doesn’t mean however that I picked the cheapest products, nope! I tried to balance quality and price. This is because just because a cheap low-quality item can cost you even more than a better quality more expensive one in the long run.

 

The items here are what I think you need when you first move into your dorm/apartment. You might need to buy more items, later on, depending on different factors but I believe that it’s better to do it this way rather than buying a bunch of stuff that you will never use. As the name says, this is a minimal college packing list, not everything you could possibly buy.

 

NOTE: Compare the prices with what’s available in the physical stores first if you want to be sure that you’re getting the best price for the product. It’s fine, me and Jeff Bezos are gonna be fine if you do it.

I also didn’t include trivial items such as toiletries because you most likely already have at right now, just pack them with you.

Tech

Laptops:

Predator Helios 300

Gaming

Predator Helios 300

This is the laptop that I have been using since high school senior year, and I can tell you that it’s a beast. The only issue is that you will need to keep carrying the charger since the battery is not good enough for college.

acer swift 3

Low Budget

Acer Swift 3

I chose Acer Swift 3 as the winner for this year’s budget laptop due to the laptop’s weight and build quality despit the price. The specs are also pretty great for a laptop at this price (hard to game on thought).

HP Envy 13

Best Overall

HP Envy 13

I had a hard time choosing between HP Envy 13 and Dell XPS 13 as they’re both great options. I ended up picking HP Envy 13 beause of the lower price, I think it’s a pretty great option for any college student that don’t game on their laptop.

Note Taking:

iPad Air 3

Best Overall

iPad Air 3

iPad Air 3 got announced right after I bought my iPad Pro (2017 edition) and I definetly wasn’t happy about it lol. iPad Air 3 is a solid choice in my opinion due to the perfect size (great portability) as well as its performance.

iPad

Low Budget

iPad

Although a bit similar design wise, The 10’2 inch Retina iPad (2019) isn’t as  powerful as the iPad Air 3. However, it’s definitely capable of handling basic tasks such as note taking and other tasks with ease.

iPad Pro

Best Performance

iPad Pro

iPad Pro is an overkill in my opinion for most people. If you would like to use your iPad as a laptop too however, then the iPad Pro is definitely worth it. The performance is unmatchable and you’ll have a good time with it.

Apple Pencil
Apple Pencil

I have been using Apple Pencil for over a year now and I would say that it was perfect for my needs (note taking in class). The only issue that people might have with it is the awkward charging position, but with a large battery life it wasn’t that big of a deal for me.

Other:

Power Strip

Power Strip

Trust me, you need a power strip (unless your devices are solar powered).

WD External Hard Drive

Hard Drive

I would argue that you don’t need a hard drive with the available cloud services such as Dropbox and Google Drive. However, it’s always nice to have a physical product for storage, I have been using this HDD from WD for over 4 years now, and I think it’s good.

Logitech G603

Gaming Mouse

This might be a controversial choice, but I honestly love using the Logitech G603 gaming mouse. The mouse is very comfortable and is great for both gaming, as well as studying. The design is minimal and most importantly: it’s wireless.

Mouse Pad

Mouse Pad

Nothing is more annoying than having bad mouse precision because of what table you’re using. The solution? a mouse pad!

Dell Ultrasharp 24 inch Infinity Edge Monitor - U2417H

Monitor

I personally don’t use or watch TV, so I use an external monitor instead. An external monitor is definitely worth the investement as its easier on the eyes to look at.

wireless charger

Wireless Charger

As you can tell.. I hate wires. I’ve used this wireless charger for about a year and it was good enough for me (It was lost when I moved, but I’ll be getting one soon).

Desk / School Supplies

Backpack

I would suggest that you check what you’ll be taking with you to college before buying a backpack so that you’re aware of the size you need.

Lunchbox

If you’re planning to take food with you, then a lunchbox is your new colleague.

Folders

Folders are very important to organize your papers. It will save you time and stress.

Calculator

You can use the calculator app on your phone, but some classes don’t allow phones inside of class.

House Supplies

General

Laundry Basket

Don’t throw your laundry all over the place.

Shoe Organizer

Same thing here, don’t put your shoes all over the apartment/dorm room.

Under the bed storage

This is very handy if you don’t have a lot of extra space.

Drawer

A drawer is a must if you have many things with you. I personally use a drawer mostly for my tech accessories and other files that I don’t use.

Lock-box

If you live with other people, this is a must. Not that you don’t trust them, maybe you don’t trust their friends.. ya know!

Cleaning Supplies

KEEP IT CLEAN!

Bedroom

Pillow(s)

Ummmmmmmmm, you do know why you need one right?

Bedding Set

Comforter, pillow, sheets.. everything you need for a good night sleep.

Extra Blanket

This will depend on where you live honestly, but for most of our audience, a cold weather is typical. An extra blanket will come to the rescue.

Mattress

I would personally invest in the mattress more than the bed, comforter, and sheets combined for health reasons.

Mattress Pad

If your mattress isn’t comfy you can get a mattress pad. It will make things much better.

Hangers

Keep things organized with hangers.

Kitchen

Trash Can

Practice your basketball skills and keep things clean.

Can Opener

You’ll most likely need this at least once per week.

Freshware

I love meal prepping, and this Tupperware are the secret to how you keep things organized and stored correctly.

Utensils Set

If you’re going to cook, then you probably need utensils, unless you’re just using rocks.

Silverware

If you don’t use your hands for eating, then you either need these or chopsticks.

Dinnerware

Mugs, plates and bowels. These are much much better for your health and environment than the disposable ones.

Electric Kettle

I can’t tell you how important this is. I was thinking whether I should include this in a minimalist list or not, and honestly it’s a YES from me. It just saves so much time that I had to include this.

Mini Fridge

A mini fridge for your prepped meals.

Potholders

I don’t want you to get burned 🙂

Bathroom

Bath Towels

It’s not always good to drip.

Mesh Shower Caddy

A mesh shower caddy is great for people living in dorms and even good for those renting when traveling.

Hand Towels

You probably need these too.

Scrubber Brush

I can’t tell you how important this is. I was thinking whether I should include this in a minimalist list or not, and honestly it’s a YES from me. It just saves so much time that I had to include this.

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