Want to know what else the Northwestern students we surveyed had to say? So did we. Here’s what NU students want you to know about packing for and moving in freshman year — in their own words.

“Don’t bring too much stuff. Seriously. Not only does lugging around unnecessary crap suck, but your room will be cluttered in no time. A simple, clean room is the way to go, especially when you share a room with another person. Trust me on this one. You’re not going to have time to play Monopoly with that cute guy/gal down the hall, so don’t bring it.”

“Ask yourself, as you start to pack: do I really need Aunt Mildred’s vintage heirloom lace doily? Or the 26 volume OED? Less is totally more, and you will be so cool when you’re in, unpacked, and settled in under an hour: so many more opportunities to make friends that way, natch! Oh, and while this should go without saying, it’s totes uncool to match bedding with your roommate.”

“Bring whatever makes you feel comfortable, don’t worry about what you think everyone else has.”

“You’re going to want some really silly things that you never would think of: children’s books, feather boas… Make sure you bring at least two or three silly things from home. Small, familiar things that you can cuddle with when you get homesick, sick-sick, overwhelmed, whatever.”

“A mini sewing kit (everyone on my floor came to me with popped-off buttons).”

“My fan. I had it on all day, every day. The noise drowns out the screaming in the hallway.”

“A bike. Get a bike! Very useful, even in the winter. Get them at the bike sale though, much better than buying a new one (same functionality but 10 percent of the price).”

“I hid my desk chair in the janitor’s closet and brought a nice office chair.”

“Rando joke clothes are a must.”

“Don’t forget bigger school supplies like staplers and a hole puncher. Also, remember to bring simple medicines like cough syrup and Advil so you already have what you need if you start feeling sick. Finally, DEFINITELY take vitamins. They make a huge difference :-)”

“Lots of cups: mugs, glasses, foam, plastic, whatever.”

“Have a bin for food, keep it stocked, and don’t let people mooch.”

“Bring a couple of plastic containers for the cereal, sandwiches and other snacks you pilfer from the dinning hall.”

“Take advantage, huge advantage, of online shipping. Since the stores deliver stuff to your package center, it is much easier to pick up (and get a hand with).”

“If you are shopping when you get there, so is everyone else, so try to get to the store early because they’ll run out.”

“The pack and save thing at Bed, Bath and Beyond was great so you could pick things out at home and have them be there for you when you got to the one in Evanston.”

“Places like Target and Linens ‘n Things and the mall require a car to get to. But there are also buses!”

“Buy thick socks. Buy earmuffs.”

“Your room is always smaller than you think — if you plan on going home for breaks, consider doing a clothing swap, aka, bring only summer/fall clothes, then swap out summer for winter clothes over break and swap the winter for summer over spring break. It won’t all fit if you don’t have a big room.”

“You will have to buy ugly woolly hats and scarves and you will have to wear them; if you don’t want to deal with this, you should have gone to Stanford.”

“Move in early in the day.”

“You may think you’re too cool for your parents, but move-in day is not the time to start your independence. Let them come, rent a car, set up your room with them and go get stuff you still need. Don’t tell your parents not to come so that you can meet people. You have all of Wildcat Welcome to do that.”

“Bring your dad/older brothers on move-in day.”

“Bring a vacuum, get Febreeze.”

“Under-bed storage is a must, but wait until you see your room.”

“You need a cute ‘essentials’ bowl (somewhere you commit to putting things like keys and your wallet).”

“Hooks for the walls make a room a lot more livable.”

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