Clothing

Keep in mind that you don't have very much closet space, so you can't bring your whole wardrobe with you. Bring clothes that fit your school's climate, and rotate clothes as you visit home. The general concensus is to bring about 3 weeks worth of socks and underwear, 7 pairs of jeans, 14 shirts, and whatever else you may need. You may also want to get creative with how you put away your laundry to free up some space. Beyond clothes, there are a few things at home that you may have taken for granted... like most important thing to get before you head to college: a free laundry lesson from Mom.

Laundry Hamper

Get a hamper that that lets a breeze through and that collapses to save space if, by some miracle, your clothes are all clean.

Closet Hangers

To avoid the epiphany you forgot your hangers when you stand in front of your brand new dorm closet... buy some. Stick to wood hangers for suits, otherwise you're probably set with plastic. If you have a lot of clothes, you'll definitely want to find ways to make more space, but to best plan how to use the most space, it helps to know the dimensions of your closet.

Detergent

Check your school's website (or check first hand once you're there) for what type of detergent you need - powder, tablets, high efficiency, or just regular stuff. As long as it's compatible with the laundry machines at your school, we'd recommend just getting the laundry tablets... they might be a little more expensive, but it's a lot more convenient than carrying around a huge container. We'd also recommend buying detergent at a store near your school to avoid any potential mess, and save you some room.

Bleach + Fabric Softener

In addition to detergent, and though you might not need them as often, you may want to bring a few more laundry-related items. Especially if you're an athlete, or you just have dirty socks, bleach starts to look a bit more appealing... but make sure you just use it with your whites! Fabric softener is nice to use every now and then (don't use it every load!), and is handily available in a sheet form you just throw into the dryer with your clothes.

Quarters

If you plan on doing laundry, you will require these in great abundance... put them in a container.

Tide To Go

This is a godsend, because really, who wants to do laundry when you don't have to? This stuff will usually get out small stains, and won't bleach your clothes.

Iron

First of all, make sure you can bring an iron. Also, see if they have some sort of communal iron. If you do decide to buy one, sort it out with your roommate, and look at getting a small ironing board. Add ironing to your list of things Mom has to teach you.

Drying Rack

A lot of students buy a drying rack for their towels... Be sure to pick one that folds, but plan with your roommate who's going to bring it. If you want to save some space, just get some hooks for your door to hang wet clothes or towels.

Formalware

Bring at least an outfit of nicer clothes. You're bound to need them at some point for an interview, date, dance... Sure, they'll probably collect dust most of the year, but there are times when flip flops and that shirt plastered with your college name aren't gonna cut it.

Gym Clothes + Gear

You don't want to go mucking up your normal clothes when you go to the gym, so bring some clothes just for working out. If nothing else, maybe they'll inspire you to avoid the infamous freshman fifteen when you see them collecting dust. Bring any equipment you might need, like tennis racquets or a football, and don't forget your workout gloves!

Outerware

Depends on where you're going to school... If you're going to school near a city, you might just want to buy locally - if you wear sandals at home, but you need rain boots for college, you'll probably find a better selection once you get there, and vice versa. Plus, you'll save some space that way. You might also want to bring up an umbrella, and whatever else is appropriate for where you're going.