What to pack for college visits

Hello! Every high school senior knows that senior fall is a crazy time packed with college visits!! I have visited 5 colleges and I'm on to Wake Forest tomorrow, so I've gotten the packing down! 

The main thing is that you pack light. Things are already stressful enough, and worrying about luggage makes things much harder. I use my huge Lilly Pulitzer tote bag as a carry on so that I don't have to deal with the obnoxious luggage lines and security. It's worked perfectly so far and I can fit everything in it.

Make sure to have every outfit planned for the amount of time that you're visiting colleges. I plan what I'm wearing on the airplane rides and what I'm wearing on the tour(s). My favorite thing when packing is choosing my outfits. You want to look nice but not overdressed when going on a college tour. Do not just wear jeans and a t-shirt (or jeans at all!). My outfits have ranged from Lilly shift dresses to printed pants and a polo, and I felt perfectly at place with all of them.

Sorry for the awful lighting! My blackberry is awful and there is hardly any light in my room because it's still a work-in-progress!

I use clothing storage bags to keep everything organized. They're life savers!

The hardest thing about packing carry-ons is keeping the liquid amount until 3 oz. I keep little bottles of shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, and facewash for traveling and they're great!!

I usually have homework due when I get back from visits, so I always bring another carry on (usually a Vineyard Vines tote bag) to hold my laptop, schoolwork, as well as my iPod, camera, and a notepad. A notepad is great for taking notes during the information session (mine are crazy detailed and obsessive!) and any other notes about the college town, tour, etc. 

I hope this helps for all of the crazy stressful high school senior girls out there! Are there any other tips I should have included? Let me know!!

So tomorrow I'm leaving bright and early to go to North Carolina to see Wake Forest. I'm really excited and I hope that I like it because I have not had an enjoyable time on college visits (I can't seem to find a school I like!). I have an interview then an information session/tour, and then my family and I are going out to dinner with one of my dad's friends who lives in Winston-Salem. After that, we're going to the Wake v. UVA soccer game! The next day I'm going to find a study spot on campus because I have a ton of work to do in preparation for next week (5 tests, ACT's, college stuff, and it's spirit week). At night, there's the Wake v. VA Tech football game which I'm super excited for!! We head home on Sunday (really early) because I have an Open House at my school that I have to run! Such a big weekend!!

Have a great weekend!!

xoxo, Hannah

Posted in: college,college visits,outfits,packing,travels,wake forest