If you’re moving to the United States for college, you’re probably excited and nervous at the same time — and we don’t blame you. To make the move a little easier, we’re going to list some of the important (and comforting) items that you should bring with you.
This checklist for international students should give you an idea of what you still need to buy. There are items that you must bring from home and others that you can purchase once you arrive on campus. (If you bring everything along with you, you should definitely budget for baggage fees at the airport, as your bags will likely be over the weight limit.)
Ultimately, keep in mind that dorms are very different across, and even within, institutions — so you just may need to prepare for a comfortable setup. When you get there, you will likely have a bed, desk, and dresser, with just enough drawers to organize your belongings. For extra storage, it might be smart to store boxes under your bed; you probably will have items that don’t fit elsewhere, especially if you have several roommates.
These should ideally travel in your carry-on, as you want to make sure they are safely stored. Before you head to the airport, make sure to photocopy each document and email them to yourself.
You will be glad to have your devices, whether you’re studying for those midterms or missing your family and friends back home. You can also take the old-fashioned route and use stationary supplies to send letters back home. If you’ve decided to invest in new devices, you can go shopping as soon as you arrive, but these are necessary investments.
If you want to balance your social life with classes, optimal sleep is essential. Bring along everything you need to keep you warm throughout the night — and during rainy days in your dorm room.
Some of these items may be purchased once you’ve arrived on campus, but these are everyday bathroom necessities to keep handy.
It is challenging to narrow down which clothing items to bring, but if you will be visiting family during the breaks, you can always bring more during a later trip. As you get used to life on campus (as well as living in a dorm), make sure you wear outfits that make you feel comfortable and confident. Avoid overpacking by bringing only what you know you will wear. (You might even want to take this opportunity to declutter back home before you leave — and donate or sell what you don’t wear.)
When you’re feeling homesick (which is to be expected occasionally), it will be great for you to have these items on hand.
Ultimately, whether you’re moving from Latin America or an entirely different part of the world, this is going to be an adjustment — but you have so much to look forward to. Packing shouldn’t stress you out; you want to embrace this experience without any unnecessary roadblocks, so hopefully these tips will help you fully live out the experience.
If you're moving to the United States for college, you're probably excited and nervous at the same time -- and we don't blame you. To make the move a little easier, we're going to list some of the important (and comforting) items that you should bring with you. Check out our international student college checklist here.
As you narrow down your list of colleges you plan to apply to, juggling various application dates will become crucial. Click here to see the Regular Decision dates for the class of 2026!
Have you ever taken a personality assessment? If you have, you may be intrigued by how your personality can affect so much of you, like your personal life, family, work habits, etc.
If you’re starting to think about college applications or have been putting them off for far too long (we promise we won’t judge), you’re probably wondering where to start. You might be trying to figure out which major you want to pursue. After all, there are so many majors to consider — we don’t blame you for feeling overwhelmed.
Remember that compatibility and passion are important factors to take into account; in order to successfully assess potential majors, it’s crucial that you take a personality assessment. You’ll get to know yourself — and the descriptions will resonate more than you can imagine.
Personality assessments provide insights as you’re getting to know yourself. Based on your responses, you will learn about your strengths, your tendencies, your weaknesses, and even ideal career paths, which will, of course, help you narrow down majors. Be sure to answer thoughtfully while following your instincts.
The free versions of these tests should suffice. 16Personalities is a popular option, created by professionals who have performed extensive studies on personality types and the way in which a personality determines the way people do things in certain ways.
Personality assessments will enable you to get to know parts of yourself you might not be aware of, allowing you to pave your own path. Don’t let the results define you, but do use the results as a form of reflection as you fill out the dreaded “Major” section.
Picking out a major does not have to be a stressor in your life (especially because you can change your major once accepted — and you will still gain valuable skills, whether you end up working in a career related to the major or not).
This assessment asks you a series of questions, to which you answer whether you agree, disagree, or feel neutral about the topic. Set aside time and do your best to complete the test in one sitting, as it should take approximately 10 minutes.
The results will list your traits, breaking down the estimated percentage in which these traits potentially resonate with you and how they might help shape your future.
16Personalities will as referred, assign you one of 16 personas. There are four categories — Analysts, Diplomats, Sentinels, and Explorers — and four specific personality types under each category.
Like any test, the results of a personality test should not be the end-all, be-all of your life decisions, but it will give you an indication of the type of person you are, the areas you need to work on, and the careers you might benefit from.
Results will include information on:
1) strengths and weaknesses;
2) romantic relationships;
3) friendships;
4) parenthood;
5) career paths;
6) and workplace habits.
The strengths and weaknesses section will be useful in determining your major as well as identifying areas that you must actively work on. If you look closely at the career paths section, it will list jobs within various industries, giving you a broad look as you envision your future.
Even if you have a specific industry in mind, a personality test can deter you from making a mistake in the type of positions you apply for within that sector. You might have certain traits for your dream job, but maybe there’s a job in the same industry (or an entirely different one) that you hadn’t even considered. The results will give you an overview and will ideally clear your doubts.
Take Michael, a college senior with a passion for investing; he studied finance, is very much an extrovert, and wants to try his hand at financial advising, since this role benefits from regular networking. What he might find, though, is that there are major pitfalls, because he is also very energetic. His result? ENFP-A / ENFP-T (Campaigner), which falls under the ‘Diplomats’ category.
His personality type is not great at sitting at a desk for extended periods of time, which is necessary for financial advisors who must be keeping up with the markets, regularly reading up on news that changes by the day, hour, and even minute. Eventually, Michael might be able to hire employees to brief him through daily reports, which would decrease time spent at a desk, but getting there might be more trouble than it is worth.
Taking this test before applying to job openings might show Michael that he would likely succeed as a real estate agent, opening his mind to careers that are compatible with both his personality and interests before he struggles unnecessarily or ultimately fails in a career that doesn’t truly fit.
Mistakes teach you valuable lessons, so embrace them, but when it comes to picking majors that you’re compatible with, do your best to minimize mistakes. Personality assessments will help you strike that balance, find a job that you like, and perform with ease.
This combination will make challenges easier to overcome because you will have a purpose. After all, any career path that you choose will present challenges, which promote growth, but if they are compatible with your personality type and you have a strong interest, you will always tackle those challenges head-on.
They do say that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life – so why not make your own life easier through resources designed to help?
