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By Jody Hobbs, Penn State Parents Council

It’s so hard to believe that the final countdown to Penn State Move-In 2022 has begun. Although my son is entering his third year, I distinctly remember my house in the days before we trekked to Happy Valley for the first time. Lists and sticky notes were everywhere. Plastic tubs, cardboard boxes, and bags of stuff were piled high. For reasons that are not quite clear, I was a bit frazzled trying to figure out those things that would be essential to his happy dorm living. My “frazzledness” was compounded by the sometimes large differences between what I thought he should pack and what he wanted to bring. (Confession—he is more of a minimalist and was right about packing on the lighter side most of the time.)

I relied heavily on the list of recommended items that PSU put together. If you have not already discovered it, it is on the Arrival at University Park webpage. I was curious though about what other parents would suggest are “must haves” from this list or what other items should be added (or removed) so I put out a call to Parents Council members for input. Here are some of our tips—items that were mentioned by multiple parents are only listed once but are marked with an **.

Jody Hobbs, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—parent of a junior

• Waterproof raincoat and umbrella**. Packing tip—we packed some things directly into plastic drawers that with bed risers fit under the bed.

Karen McHugh, Camarillo, California—parent of a junior and an alum

• To go along with the waterproof raincoat, Rain shoes/waterproof shoes** of some sort—especially for those coming from California (or other locations) where we don’t see rain very often!
  

Michele Petras, Bel Air, Maryland—parent of two sophomores

• Fall clothes/jacket**
• Combination lock for use at the Intramural (IM) Building Gym)

Suzanne McShane, Madison, New Jersey—parent of a senior and a sophomore

• Multi-port power strip with long cord/extension cord**
• Bed risers (if moving to an unrenovated dorm)
• Fan**
• Shower caddy
• Brita water pitcher**
• Winter coat even though it is August—it can get cold fast

Tina & Mike Savio, Pipersville, Pennsylvania—parents of a junior and an alum

• Stock up on $1 Flip Flops from Old Navy or the like to use as Shower Shoes**—they can be disposed of every few weeks or month

Pamela & Tom Marakovits, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania—parents of a senior and a sophomore

• Disinfecting wipes** for move in
• Cold medications** if needed to combat the “PSU Flu”

Alison & Jon Kircher, Perkasie, Pennsylvania—parents of a sophomore

• Emergency medicine kit**with cold medicine such as Mucinex

Janet Steward, Hoffman Estates, Illinois—parent of a senior

• Bucket hat or sun visor
• Sunglasses
• Refillable water bottle** for those sunny and warm days walking on campus.

Brenda Showell, Gwynn Oak, Maryland—parent of a senior

• Sweater or jacket**
• Rain boots**
• Command strips**
• Full length mirror

Kristen Bis Caramanica, Deep River, Connecticut—parent of a senior

• Safe to keep valuables
• Small folding step stool for hard-to-reach places
• Headphones or even ear plugs to drown out background noise
• Downy Wrinkle-Free Spray—no iron needed works like a charm
• Warm clothes**—hard to think of in 100-degree weather but it gets cold fast at PSU
• Comfortable shoes that your student will not care about wrecking for tailgating and whatever else

Tiziana & Joe Mazzarella, Pittston, Pennsylvania—parent of a senior and an alum

• We bring subs from our favorite deli from home and drinks - a life saver when you realize it’s lunchtime and don’t want to stop and order something or pick something up
• Don’t bring too many towels or linens—one change is all they need
• First aid kit including lots of band aids and thermometer
• Don’t pack too many cleaning supplies—They don’t end up using much—a Swiffer and/or small vacuum is all they need
• You may even be able to save time by ordering items online for pickup in State College after you arrive.

Clare McGee, Warrington, Pennsylvania—parent of a senior

• Collapsible laundry bag/hamper
• Delicates bag for laundry
• String lights

Michele Rymdeika, Dublin, Pennsylvania—parent of a junior and an alum

• Small toolbox**
• For the actual Move-In day, bring snacks/water** to keep the energy up and stay hydrated!

Good luck on your packing efforts and remember, if despite your best efforts, your student forgets something please know: 1) you and your student are in good company; 2) in downtown State College your student will find well-stocked local and large chain stores where many of these items may be purchased, and; 3) deliveries through the PSU mail system work pretty well!

Parents Council members will have welcome tables set up at the Bryce Jordan Center and on the corner of Pollock and Shortlidge Roads Thursday through Saturday. You’ll recognize us by our lime green t-shirts. Please stop by to ask questions, pick up a pack of our famous tissues or just say hello!

The Parent-to-Parent Blog is written by members of the Penn State Parents Council who are dedicated to enhancing communication about the Penn State family experience. Opinions and experiences expressed in the blog are those of the writer(s). The blog is a partnership with the Penn State Parents Program.

Learn more about the Parents Council.