There's no experience quite like packing for university - especially if it's your first year. The thought of packing up and heading out on a new adventure can be super exciting! But just thinking about how awesome it will be isn't going to get you any closer to being packed and ready to go.
During the summer you'll have inevitably come across obstacles during your packing process like Netflix, partying and, of course, that Pikachu which has just appeared outside your house (RUN!). Therefore, chances are you'll get to the final week before uni and not have packed one single thing. So to avoid ending up in this scenario, here's how to pack for uni with military precision - and still have time to become the greatest Pokémon trainer ever!
Be strategic
If you haven't thought about how you're going to get your stuff to campus, then you need to start thinking fast. Are you getting a lift from your parents? Are you going by train or bus? Are you going to use a student moving service (and yes they do actually exist and are awesome)? Whatever you decide will change what you need to pack. If you're using a student moving service or your parents have a massive car, then you don't really have any limitations on how much stuff you can take - but if you're going by train or bus it's going to be ridiculously hard to lug around all your clothes, homeware and a giant duvet on public transport.
So if you have limitations on space, then why not buy things like your duvet and homeware when you get to uni? You may lose a day to shopping, but at least it will be easier to move into your accommodation and who knows maybe shopping with your housemates might be a good icebreaker.
Know what you actually need
It's great throwing everything into boxes and black bags, but you really need to ask yourself...am I going to use this? If not, then why pack it? This is probably the most common mistake people make out of pure panic packing i.e. when you've left it to the last minute. If you can think of at least three circumstances when you'll use it, then defo pack it - if not, don't bother. This rule goes for fashion as well. It's awesome packing a standout piece like a cut-out top in an on-trend print - but what's the point in packing it for autumn/winter term when it will be too cold to wear it? By packing it you're wasting space in your suitcase. You need to think of the weather ahead for each term and when you'll be heading home. The best thing to do is to pack specifically for autumn/winter, then when you head home during the holidays rotate your wardrobe and take your spring/summer stuff when you go back to uni. If you haven't made a list already, then get the ball rolling with this one.
Do your research
We've all seen the viral videos of people folding shirts in less than 10 seconds, and if you haven't already watched them, you really should as this kind of folding system is a total time/space saver - especially if you don't have much room for your stuff. Folding your clothes flat can be a good method but there are tons of ways of packing effectively, so do your research.
Personally, I find rolling your clothes like sushi rolls and piling them is the best way to go. Using this method on a trip to Disneyland for my birthday, I fitted in four days worth of clothes, toiletries, four medium stuffed toys, a snow globe and a pair of trainers in a hand luggage sized suitcase. The best thing about this method is, if you need to pack something fragile like an Xbox you can pile your rolls along the bottom and across the sides of your suitcase, placing the Xbox inside. This way it keeps it protected and doesn't take as much space.
So there you have it...how to pack for uni effectively and efficiently. Good luck and remember the quicker you get it done, the more time you have to mess around!