It’s already July and that means just a few short months left until college move-in day. Parents and students are crossing off tasks on their to-do lists as the summer progresses. At the top of the list is deciding what to take to college. My daughter, needless to say, overpacked. In her anticipation of moving so far away from home (over 2000 miles), she packed up her entire room to take with her. Once we arrived, we quickly discovered that her dorm was not equipped to house every pair of shoes, all her clothes, all her stuffed animals, every single picture frame and multiple snow globes.

It’s tempting to overpack for college. It’s also tempting to buy everything you see when shopping for dorm supplies. Check with your college for a list of dorm items you can and cannot bring. Most colleges (see Texas A&M) have this list posted on their website. But remember—just because you CAN bring something it doesn’t mean you will need it. College dorms are small and the philosophy of “less is more” will help you avoid overpacking.

Dorm essentials

One of the life lessons your new college student should learn is the difference between wants and needs. You can start by teaching them to narrow down their dorm essentials. It can easily become a massive list if you purchase every item on any dorm list. They may want everything on the list, but they don’t necessarily need everything.

Here’s a short list of items they will definitely need:

• Bedding—You can’t just bring sheets from home. Dorm bed sizes are different. These are items you will have to purchase.
• Clothing—Don’t bring every coat in your closet or every t-shirt in your drawer. Space is at a minimum.
• Bathroom supplies—Sharing showers and bathrooms means you don’t want to forget your flip flops and a plastic caddy to carry your essentials back and forth from dorm to shower.
• Electronics—Laptops and headphones are essential. Laptops can double for streaming entertainment. Don’t forget the power strips!

Simplifying the process

When my daughter attended college, we scrambled to find information regarding dorm essentials and packing tips. Today, there are so many options available: shipping directly to a dorm, packaged items in bulk to save, and much more. Parents can now easily prepare for move-in day by taking advantage of some of these options.

One such option is OCM’s Complete Campus Pack. By purchasing this all-in-one pack, you can save over $100 if you were to purchase these items separately. Here’s what you get:

• 2 extra-long flat sheets
• 2 extra-long fitted sheets
• 2 standard pillowcases
• 2 extra-fluffy machine washable pillows
• 1 extra-long reversible comforter
• 1 extra-long quilted mattress pad
• 1 extra-long egg crate pad
• 1 extra-long microplush blanket
• 2 all-cotton bath towels
• 2 matching cotton hand towels
• 2 matching cotton wash cloths
• 2 oversized bath sheets
• 1 laundry bag
• 2 underbed storage solutions
• 1 bedside storage caddy

 Learn more about the OCM Complete Campus Pak

As you prepare for college move-in day and start checking off items on your college packing list, make sure to consider OCM. They offer families convenience, products that are university-approved and a great value. Also, a percentage of your purchase goes directly back to support your student’s school.

Want to win one of these Complete Campus Packs? Head over to my Facebook page and leave me a comment. At the end of the week (July 6) I will choose a winner! Good luck!

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For nearly 40 years, OCM has been the approved, official partner and endorsed sponsor for more than 900 college campuses and 1,500 campus organizations across the U.S. serving as a one-stop shop for affordable, college-approved dorm room supplies, care packages, and other college essentials. Students and parents can visit the new website at ocm.com to shop over 10,000 college-approved products, such as twin XL dorm bedding sets guaranteed to fit any dorm bed, dorm decor, bath sets, graduation frames, care packages, and more. Additionally, every OCM purchase sends dollars back to the student’s school for campus programming, and donations to more than a dozen local and non-profit organizations. To date, OCM has helped more than 6 million students and families and have sent $23M back to schools.

This is a sponsored post.