Back-to-School: What NOT to bring to college

(This is the seventh of nine stories in UNL's 2009 "Back-to-School" package.) If you're going off to college this fall, there are a few things you can't move with you to your residence hall room: dogs, cats, gerbils, snakes, birds, crabs, lobsters or spiders.

All are forbidden by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's official housing policy booklet, which was written "based on experience." Of course this suggests that someone has showed up on campus with a pet lobster.

He or she must have made quite an impression on their new roommate.

For all other questions about what not to pack for college, Shari Rosso, marketing and communications director for University Housing at UNL has two pieces of advice: read your school's housing policy manual, and when in doubt, "Come without it and then decide if you need it."

"Most students return home in the first couple of months before the weather changes," Rosso said. "We find that the majority of students bring way too much stuff and then end up taking it back home. They should really think about what they're going to need right away, and then wait on the rest."

Forbidden items that often find their way to campus include tabletop double-contact grills and other appliances with heating coils, candles and hunting rifles. Many students arrive at UNL with dry erase boards, refrigerators and mirrors, only to discover that all of those come standard in residence hall rooms. Microwaves are not provided, but are available on most dorm floors and in dining centers.

"Most students end up using their personal microwaves to make popcorn and nothing else," Rosso said. Given that even small microwaves take up precious floor or desk space, students may ultimately decide they're not worth the in-room convenience of a few bags of Jiffy Pop.

All colleges post useful housing information on their Web sites, and many include packing tips when they mail roommate assignments, Rosso said. In addition to concerns about prohibited items, issues also arise when students just bring too much stuff.

"We ask that families bring a maximum of two cars during move-in," Rosso said. "But if you're showing up with two full cars, you've got too much stuff."

To help new residents make wise packing decisions, UNL's Housing Web site, http://housing.unl.edu/movein/bring.shtml, also lists the exact dimensions of dorm rooms, furniture and amenities. Taking a few measurements can save a family the hassle of hauling a too-big chair or sofa across the state or even the country.

One of the most common questions that parents ask is, "Should my son or daughter bring a laptop to college?"

"Whether or not to bring a laptop is a very personal decision," Rosso said. "At UNL, all residence halls rooms have Ethernet ports and the majority of halls also have wireless Internet, so a laptop is nice to have. But we also have state-of-the-art computer labs available, and a lot of students like them because they're quiet and a good place to study."

In other words, parents listen up: you shouldn't feel like you have to shell out a small fortune for a new laptop. Despite what your student might say, they are certainly not necessary for a successful college career.