College · Family Resources

Pack for the room
you are actually moving into.

Start from the housing assignment: the bed size, the room type and the rules about what is banned. Then mark each item packed, to get or skip, agree on the shared things with your roommate, and see what is left before move-in day.

Add your roomWhat you get

Moves

The worked example is made up: a January move into a double with the bed size unknown and eight items to get, and a single from last August, fully packed. Records save on this device only.

Loading the move form. If nothing appears, turn on JavaScript.

What you get

College · Family ResourcesFree

What you finish with
A record per move with the residence hall, move-in date, room type, bed size, roommate contact and housing rules; twenty-four items in four groups marked packed, to get or skip; shared items with who brings them; counts of packed and to-get items, days to move-in, and flags for unread rules, unknown bed size, an uncontacted roommate and items left close to move-in.
Who it is for
Students moving into a residence hall for the first time, transfer students, and parents and family helping them pack.
Format
Browser checklist with a saved record per move. Prints a packing list, every move or a blank list; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Family Resources space in Caveat College.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Read your housing assignment for the bed size and room type, and the hall’s list of banned items.
  2. Go through the four groups and mark what you have packed, what you still need and what to skip.
  3. Message your roommate and split the shared items.
  4. Print the to-get list for one shopping trip.
  5. Pack the health papers and prescriptions in your carry-on bag, not the boxes.

Add your room

Two things families get wrong

Why the sheet size mattersTwin38 × 75 inTwin XL38 × 80 in+5 inOne outlet, one stripSurge-protected strip, plugged into the wallNever a strip plugged into a stripWhy the sheet size mattersTwin38 × 75 inTwin XL38 × 80 in+5 inOne outlet, one stripSurge-protected strip, plugged into the wallNever a strip plugged into a strip
Most residence halls use Twin XL beds; the housing site or your assignment will say for sure.

Read the banned list first

Residence hall rules are mostly about fire. Candles, space heaters, hot plates, halogen lamps and extension cords are banned in many halls, and some limit microwaves and fridges by size. Colleges with on-campus housing publish an annual fire safety report with their rules, so the list is easy to find.

Pack for the first week, buy the rest there

Halls are small, and stores near campus stock the same basics. Bring what you need to sleep, shower, study and stay healthy for the first week, and decide on the big shared items with your roommate before either of you buys one.

Sources

  1. U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA). Campus fire safety for students and parents (usfa.fema.gov).
  2. National Fire Protection Association. Campus and dorm fire safety tips (nfpa.org).
  3. Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR 668.49: institutional fire safety policies and the annual fire safety report for on-campus student housing.
  4. U.S. Department of Education. The Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting, chapter on fire safety requirements.

The worked example is made up. Every college sets its own housing rules; follow your hall’s list. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.