---
title: 8 Most Common Things Students Forget to Pack
description: From cables to an umbrella, here's what you should pack for college. And 8 common items incoming freshman forget to pack for school.
authors:
  - name: Greg Daugherty
    url: https://money.com/author/greg-daugherty/
    at_money_since: 2015
    articles: 22
    covers:
      - Education
      - Business
      - Economy and Politics
      - Lifestyle
      - Personal Finance
    former_staff: true
published: '2015-08-27T10:56:10.000Z'
modified: '2024-04-16T06:39:57.000Z'
section: Education
tags:
  - College
  - College tip of the day
  - colleges
  - packing
word_count: 246
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![girl sitting on top of stuffed suitcase](https://img.money.com/2015/08/150827_coll_forgettopack.jpg)
*When you think you have everything, check the bathroom for your toothbrush.*

No matter how many boxes and [duffle bags](https://money.com/shopping/) you stuff, packing for college usually means forgetting something—and ending up in line at the college store or nearest Target to buy one.

So we recently surveyed some members of the National Association of College Stores, an organization that represents more than 3,000 campus retailers in the U.S. and Canada, about the kinds of things students most often leave behind.

Among the biggies:

-   Coaxial cables
-   HDMI cords
-   Phone-charging cables
-   Shower shoes
-   Surge protectors
-   Toothpaste and toothbrushes
-   Towels
-   Umbrellas

R. Todd Smith of [Clayton State University](http://www.clayton.edu) in Morrow, Ga., suggested that last item, while also managing to slip in a shameless plug for buying one at the college store. “Ours are much cooler and more dependable than the umbrellas students might purchase from the well-known discount store across the street,” he said.

(In addition to Mr. Smith, special thanks to J. Bryson Baker of [Oklahoma State University](https://money.com/best-colleges/), Chad Schreier of [Montana State University Billings](http://www.msubillings.edu), and Danielle Capstick of [Assumption College](https://money.com/best-colleges/) in Worcester, Mass.)

For a list of things *not* to pack, especially if you'll be living in campus housing, see our recent compilation of [12 Banned Items to Leave Off Your College Shopping List](https://money.com/what-not-to-pack-for-college/).

You can find more tips and tools for college-bound students and their parents at the Money College Planner website. And if you’re still in the process of picking a college, rather than packing for one, try our new [Find Your Fit](https://money.com/best-colleges/) tool on for size.

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