Ten Things to Bring to Penn State (Besides the Obvious)
Author: Kimberly Tierney, Director of Academic Coaching
Read time: 5–6 minutes
This content was aided by the OpenAI language model ChatGPT.
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Heading to Penn State this fall? Congratulations! Whether you're living in the dorms or an off-campus apartment, move-in day is an exciting milestone.
By now you've probably seen dozens of Penn State packing lists. They all cover the essentials: extra-long twin sheets, towels, shower shoes, laundry basket, fan, storage bins, power strips, and a small first aid kit. Those lists are great, so instead of repeating them, we're going to focus on the items you don't think you'll need—but will probably be glad you packed by October. These are the purchases that can make college life easier, reduce stress, and help you stay organized throughout the semester.
1. An Organization System You'll Actually Use
This isn't just something you buy, it's something you commit to using.
Don't rely on memory alone. The most successful students have a system they trust.
Whether that's a paper planner, Google Calendar, Notion, Todoist, or the Course Organizer we use with our coaching students, having one place to track assignments and plan your week is one of the biggest predictors of staying ahead instead of constantly catching up.
We also recommend keeping a small whiteboard calendar or weekly planner somewhere visible in your room. Even if your schedule lives digitally, seeing your priorities every day helps keep them top of mind.
A whiteboard or to-do list pad works well for:
This week's assignments
Upcoming exams
Club meetings
Interview reminders
Personal goals
Get into the habit of reviewing your week every Sunday and keeping your priorities visible.
The specific tool matters much less than building the habit of checking it every day. You can read more about our advice on making plans here: How To Make A Study Plan That Works
👉 Buy here
👉 Or here
2. A Portable Second Monitor
You'll quickly find yourself juggling lecture slides, Canvas, research articles, Word documents, spreadsheets, and Zoom meetings—all at the same time. Trying to do all of that on a single laptop screen gets frustrating quickly.
A portable second monitor makes writing papers, studying, coding, and attending online meetings dramatically easier. It also folds flat and fits in a backpack, making it easy to bring to study sessions at the library or the HUB.
👉 Buy here
3. A Portable Charger
Penn State is a walking campus. Between classes, club meetings, football games, studying in the HUB, and long days at the library, you can easily spend 10–12 hours away from your room.
A portable battery pack means you won't have to hunt for an outlet when your phone or laptop is running low.
👉 Buy here
👉 Or here
4. Noise-Canceling Headphones
Residence halls are rarely quiet.
Whether it's roommates, hallway conversations, or someone practicing trumpet two doors down, there will always be distractions.
Good headphones aren't just for music, they create a focused workspace almost anywhere.
5. A Good Water Bottle
It sounds simple, but carrying a reusable water bottle makes it much easier to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Penn State has refill stations across campus, making it easy to top off between classes without constantly buying drinks.
Hydration also has a surprisingly large impact on energy, concentration, and headaches.
👉 Buy here
6. A Small Desk Lamp
Dorm lighting isn't always ideal.
A desk lamp provides better lighting for late-night studying without disturbing a roommate who's trying to sleep.
7. A Backpack That Actually Fits College Life
You'll spend a lot of time walking across Penn State's campus, so don't underestimate the importance of a good backpack. Between classes, studying at the library, club meetings, and everything else your day throws at you, you'll likely be carrying more than you expect.
Choose a backpack that's comfortable, has enough space to keep everything organized, and is something you'll actually enjoy carrying every day. Bonus points if it's water-resistant or waterproof. State College weather has a habit of changing quickly, and you'll probably find yourself walking to class in the rain at least a few times each semester.
👉 Buy here
8. Cloud Backup
You probably won't think about backing up your files until something goes wrong. A laptop that won't turn on the night before a paper is due is stressful enough, losing the paper entirely is even worse.
Before the semester starts, decide how you're going to back up your work. That might mean upgrading your Google Drive or Dropbox storage, using another cloud storage service, or simply making sure your files automatically sync to the cloud instead of staying only on your computer.
It's one of those things you hope you never need, but you'll be glad it's already set up if you do.
9. A Small Tool Kit
This is one your parents will probably appreciate.
You don’t need anything fancy. Just a few essentials:
Small screwdriver
Allen keys
Tape measure
Scissors
Flashlight
A few command strips
You'll be surprised how often these come in handy during move-in and throughout the year.
10. A Small Medicine & Health Kit
No one plans on getting sick during the semester, but almost everyone does.
Instead of making a late-night trip to the pharmacy when you already feel miserable, pack a small container with a few basic health essentials before you leave home. It doesn't need to be elaborate. A few pain relievers, allergy medication, cold medicine, bandages, a thermometer, and any personal medications can save you a lot of stress.
It's also worth bringing a few extra supplies like cough drops, tissues, and electrolyte packets. These are inexpensive, take up very little space, and become invaluable when you're trying to recover while keeping up with classes.
👉 Buy here to get your started
One More Thing...
If we could add one non-physical item to every student's packing list, it would be this:
A willingness to ask for help early.
Visit office hours. Meet with your advisor. Join a study group. Reach out for tutoring or academic coaching if you need it. Students who ask for help before they're overwhelmed almost always have a smoother transition to college.
College isn't about proving you can do everything on your own. It's about learning how to use the resources around you.
That's a skill that will serve you long after graduation.
Final Thoughts
The best college packing list isn't just about making a dorm room comfortable, it's about making college manageable.
The right tools won't guarantee success, but they can remove a lot of unnecessary friction. When you spend less time searching for chargers, juggling windows on a tiny screen, or wondering what assignment is due next, you'll have more time and energy for the experiences that make Penn State memorable.
Welcome to Happy Valley, and best of luck this fall!
