Packing for study abroad has to be one of the most stressful things you will ever do in your life. Well, that’s how it felt for me at least. I watched dozens of YouTube and TikTok videos for weeks to figure out what I should pack with me across the pond. Every person had different advice, and I found myself confused once every video ended! Who should I even listen to at this point?
I eventually realized that packing for study abroad is a personal process. You can watch hundreds of videos and read multiple articles on what to pack, but you know yourself more than anyone else. Which articles of clothing matter most to you? Do you like to dress up a lot or just stay comfortable? How many pairs of shoes do you want to bring? Do you see yourself shopping a lot abroad? You can tell that I did a lot of reflection while packing…
Before starting the process of packing, I bought packing cubes and vacuum bags from Amazon to pack effectively. I had a lot of clothes to pack, and I wanted to be cognizant of space and weight. I only used one suitcase for all my clothes and still had space left for small knick-knacks. I didn’t want to overpack and pay an exorbitant amount if my suitcase went above the 23-pound weight limit!
At this point, you’re wondering: Pauline, you still had space left? What exactly did you pack in your suitcase?
- Six sweaters
- Five t-shirts
- Two going-out shirts
- Two long-sleeved shirts
- Two pajama sets
- One blazer
- Two jackets
- Two dresses
- Three pairs of jeans
- Two pairs of formal pants
- Two skirts
- Two pairs of shorts
- Two pairs of sneakers
- One pair of knee-high boots
- One pair of heeled booties
- Lots of underwear and socks (of course)
Okay, I know. That sounds like a lot. The vacuum bags were lifesavers and made it possible to fit everything into one suitcase. I also wore one of my thickest, heaviest pieces of clothing on the plane to save space.
Clothes weren’t the only thing I packed, though. I brought a second suitcase just for toiletries, medicine, travel-sized containers, and makeup. Surprisingly, I was able to pack toiletries that lasted me the entire semester in London! Again, what you pack is completely up to you, but let me break down the toiletries I brought with me.
- Three tubes of toothpaste
- Six toothbrushes
- One large shampoo bottle
- One large conditioner bottle
- One large body lotion
- One large bottle of mouthwash
- Two large roll-on deodorants
- One razor with five razor blades
- Two facial cleanser bottles
- Two moisturizer bottles
- One large pack of Q-tips
- Six Tide pens
- Personal skincare products (e.g., Vitamin C, sunscreen)
- One large pack of sanitary pads and pantyliners
I brought a lot of medicine with me that I never ended up using abroad. (I have a lot of cold medicine and painkillers!) Some people might find this a waste of space, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Thankfully, I didn’t get sick during my time in London, but with all the leftover medicine I have, I now have more to use in the future!
At the end of the day, packing for study abroad isn’t about following someone else’s checklist down to the T. It's about doing what works for you. Trust your instincts, think about your habits, and remember that you can always buy things once you’re there. Packing might feel overwhelming at first, but once you arrive, you’ll realize that you brought exactly what you needed. And if you forgot something? That just becomes part of the experience.
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Pauline Gordula
Hello! I’m Pauline. I am a senior majoring in Political Science and minoring in Journalism and Legal Studies at the University of Rochester. Outside of academics, I enjoy listening to The Beatles, reading on my Kindle, and working out in the gym!
