For the majority of students, it will be another year at SCAD. However, we also have many new people attending this next year. As a first-year student, it’s hard to know what you will need for classes and on-campus living — this list will help you decide what to bring.
Overpacking is a very common thing to do, and it’s something that personally drives me insane every year. Many freshmen bring things that may seem useful at first, but end up never using them and end up even forgetting they had the item. In the end, you just waste money on something that you will later donate.
If you will be moving into Spring House, the SCAD Atlanta freshman residence hall, you don’t want to bring much. While the residence halls serve their purpose, they are not big enough for you to bring your entire bedroom, bathroom and kitchen along with you. While cleaning supplies, a bowl and some dinnerware may come in handy, it will ultimately become a mess.
Food: Don’t
Many freshmen will make the mistake of overstocking on food. Spring House is not catered towards anyone who wants to cook an entire meal. The main lobby has a microwave, toaster and sometimes an electric kettle. You may rent a micro fridge from the school which supplies you with a fridge and a microwave. Many people who had the luxury of a microwave lived their lives on ramen and other microwavable meals that take 5 minutes, at the most, to cook. If you are going to bring food, I would recommend snack foods. These come in handy on those late nights you will be up finishing your design project or only just starting on an English paper. The Hub, SCAD Atlanta’s dining hall, also has prepared meals that you can purchase, so stick some sandwiches in your fridge and save them for later.
Cleaning Supplies: Do
This may be obvious, but I feel it should be emphasized. Spring House residence hall rooms all enter from the outside. Bugs, dust and just about anything you can think of will make a point to mess up your room. The items I have found most useful are brooms and all-purpose wipes. To add on to those supplies, others that will come in handy are bottles of Drain-o, Windex and any kind of air freshener. You are sharing a space with one or two other people, be sure you are courteous of your roommates and clean up after yourself. If you are bringing dishes, bring a dishcloth or sponge and a small bottle of dish soap too.
Hamper: Do, but buy smart
This is another obvious one, but I don’t think many people think about how far they could be carrying their basket. After first moving in, the hamper I brought was a rectangular plastic bin and I lived on the third floor, the laundry room is on the first. Carrying that basket with all my dirty clothes and having to think about which step I was on was one of the hardest things. I’ve recently upgraded to a bag to put everything in. It’s easy to sling over my shoulder and see every step ahead of me. This isn’t something I would have thought to be a scary buy, but I would recommend putting a little extra thought into your purchase.
Power Tower/Power Strip: Do
Spring House has very limited space where outlets can be found and used efficiently. Living in our digital age as artists, we may have a lot of electronic supplies that need to be charged or plugged in while in use. It’s very common to charge many devices overnight. I made this purchase after my second time moving in and use it all the time. My laptop, iPad, phone, watch and camera all fit onto one power stand and stayed at my desk. The specific one I purchased also has power buttons on each tier to turn it off when not in use. You can buy it on Amazon here.
Brita Filter: Don’t
Many first-year students make this purchase. This pitcher will end up sitting in your tiny fridge taking up almost half the space. Instead, buy a filter water bottle that is portable and doesn’t take up as much space. You could also look into a sink attachment that filters the water as it flows through into your cup. The pitcher can be useful in some senses, but it is ultimately a waste of space.
Art Supplies: Do
OK, yes of course, you need these if you’re going to SCAD. However, there were many items I purchased that I didn’t use, but there were also some I still use after almost two years.
Portfolio
You will need this, especially starting off. I made the mistake of buying a portfolio with only handles and no shoulder strap. The handles are plastic and carrying just about everything I needed in one hand would start to hurt. Portfolios get heavy, so try and buy smart. Many stores offers portfolios that can be worn as backpacks and I think those are the most comfortable option. However, if you need to stay in a specific budget, you can find many portfolios that have shoulder straps for cheap.
Tackle Box
You don’t need a tackle box. You need something to hold all of your supplies in but it doesn’t have to be a tackle box. After two quarters of using one, I switched to a larger pencil case that had enough space for all the supplies I needed for any of my studio classes. This came in handy because it fit in my bag and didn’t become another thing to carry between the residence hall and campus.
Mechanical Pencil
I’m not talking about the cheap ones you find at Walmart, but the Pentel metal pencils. I have had the same mechanical pencil since my senior year of high school and it has held up very well. You can find pencils like this at just about any art store or in the school bookstore. It’s around a $10 purchase, plus lead, but it’s lasted me for many years and it’s the first pencil I have managed not to lose.
Portable Charger: Do
The option of purchasing a portable charger, or extra charger is one you should splurge on. I found myself packing my laptop charger and phone charger every day because I never knew how long I would be there working. To make life easier, purchase a second charger for any device you work on the most. This way, you can keep one in your bag, and one back at home.
Your entire closet: Don’t
It’s hard to know exactly what you will want to wear every day, but don’t pack every article of clothing. Instead, bring shirts and pants that work with each other and create different variations of outfits. It’s warm in Atlanta during fall quarter. Pack lighter clothing and a couple light jackets or sweatshirts. Soon enough, you will be on winter break and can bring back heavier articles of clothing.
Moving in can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be if you think ahead. When you go to Bed Bath & Beyond or Target to shop for your room, don’t just look at style, but effectiveness. Think about what you absolutely need then think about how that item can be used and transported in the easiest way possible. Remember, if you end up needing something that you decided not to purchase before, you can always go to the Target a few blocks away and purchase that item. It can go the other way too, if you over pack, it’s fine. Send whatever you don’t need back with whoever dropped you off, or even sell it.
