Congratulations for securing a seat at the university of your choice! You have come so far with your diligence and hard work , so you should pat yourself on the back for it! Here comes the most perverse part which you have to address: packing bags. Imagine you have to pack everything important in your life into just two suitcases. This is not a fantasy, but rather a reality! The major dilemma that students face while packing is what to pack and what not to. So, through this packing guide, we aim to address this challenge and pack those things around which your life revolves. 

Where do I begin?

The first thing that you should do is check the weight limit of the luggage allowed with your ticket. One thing that you should have taken care of while booking the flight is that you should not book a cheap flight as it has a lower weight limit for luggage permitted. Moreover, check out the list of those things that are not allowed to be onboard the flight. Many flights allow passengers to carry a small bag which they can keep with them even during the journey. 

After gaining all this information about the airline and luggage limitations, you should purchase a new suitcase (6-12 months old will also work) that is sturdy enough to carry during the journey. Now comes the task of selecting items to be packed. It is a good idea to make a list of everything you want to pack and then sort it according to priority.

List of things to pack

To ease the task, I have made categories and listed essential items that you should pack in every category. 

• Clothes and footwear are

For selecting apparel and footwear, you should gain complete knowledge about the weather and climate of the country or city where you are going. Only then, and only then, can you begin packing.is the list which can be considered while shortlisting apparel and footwear: 

1. Undergarments: at least seven pairs

2. Long-sleeved and short-sleeve shirts

3. A minimum of two pairs of jeans are required.

4. Sweaters, Sweatshirts, or Hoodies

5. Shorts or skirts

6. Night suit or pajamas 

7. Raincoat/Swimsuit (needed as per the weather) 

8. Workout clothes

9. One nice outfit for a party

10. One formal outfit for events.

11. 1 pair of sandals or flip-flops

12. Sneakers, rain boots, dress shoes, boots

13. 1 coat/jacket

14. Belts/socks/hat/gloves/scarf 

• Electronic items 

Try to carry as few electronic items as possible, as there are voltage differences between nations. So, even if you carry them, they will be useless. Moreover, I have mentioned devices that you can carry and that will be useful for you even abroad. 

1. The laptop and its charger

2. cellphone and its charger

3. Power bank (portable)

4. Camera 

5. Outlet Adapter 

6. USB cables

• Toiletries 

Yes, these also come as essential items, and you should carry them with you. You won’t be going shopping immediately after reaching your destination, so you should have a stock of toiletries at least for two weeks. The following are the items that are necessary to carry while migrating abroad: 

1. Toothpaste and a toothbrush

2. Soap, shampoo, and conditioner 

3. Combs, oil, razors, and nail cutters

4. Cosmetics, lotions, and deodorants

5. Tissue or toilet paper

6. Toiletry kits

7. Important medicines and contraceptives

• Miscellaneous items

Apart from the above three categories, there are many things that don’t fall into any of the categories above but are essential to carry with you. The following is a list of such items: 

1. Documents like visas, passports, ISIC cards, flight tickets, etc.

2. Purse/Wallet

3. small college backpack

4. Earphones or iPods

5. Locks and keys.

6. Jewelry or watches

7. Cash (in a foreign currency)

8. water bottle

9. a driver’s license, a student ID, and academic credentials

10. Vaccination certificates

11. Debit or credit cards

12. Bedsheets and towels (if not included in accommodation) 

13. sunglasses

14. Office supplies like pens, pencils, etc.

15. A handy first-aid kit