The Ultimate Carthage College Packing List: What to Bring and What to Leave Behind

Moving to college is a significant milestone, filled with excitement and perhaps a touch of anxiety. Deciding what to bring can feel overwhelming, whether you're a freshman or a returning student. This comprehensive guide, drawing upon Carthage College resources and student experiences, will help you pack efficiently and make your dorm room feel like home.

Essential Items: The Must-Haves

These items are crucial for your daily life and academic success at Carthage College.

Toiletries: Don't forget your essential toiletries, including a shower caddy, shower sandals, towels, toothbrush, and toothpaste. These are must-haves from your very first night.
Bedding: Ensure a comfortable night's sleep with a mattress pad/topper, bed sheets, blankets, pillows, and a comforter. These are also essential for your first night in the dorm. Note that bed linens are NOT provided by the college, and Twin XL sheets are required.
Laptop or Tablet: A college-level computer is necessary for schoolwork, digital word-processing (Microsoft Word, Google Docs, etc.), online assignment submission (Canvas, Google Classroom, Gradescope, EdX, etc.), and virtual project spaces (Slides/PowerPoint for presentations, Zoom for meetings, etc.).

Read also: Carthage College Statistics

Comfort and Convenience: The Should-Haves

These items will enhance your comfort and make your college experience more convenient.

Warmth: The Kenosha area experiences cold winters, so pack coats, snow boots, gloves, scarves, and hats or beanies.
Rain Protection: Be prepared for rainy days with an umbrella, rain jacket, or rain poncho.
Desk Lamp: A desk lamp is essential for late-night studying sessions.
Clock: Having a digital or analog clock can be helpful for quick time reference while working or getting out of bed.
Dining/Kitchen Supplies: Bring reusable forks, spoons, bowls, and plates, along with a sponge and dish soap. You'll be surprised how often you eat in your room.
Draw-String Bag or Tote Bag: A bag is handy for carrying your belongings to the gym, campus events, or grocery shopping.
Essential Medication: Pack Tylenol, Advil, band-aids, and other first-aid supplies, including hand sanitizer.
Fan: A fan can be helpful during the warmer months, as dorms do NOT have A/C.
Planner/Calendar: Stay organized with a physical or digital planner to keep track of your work and planned events.
Trash Can: A trash can is a necessity for keeping your room clean.
Bath Mat: A bath mat helps prevent bacterial and fungal growth in your room.
Extension cords and power strips: You may be surprised by how many electronics you will have in your dorm. For example, let’s consider device chargers (phone, laptop, tablet, digital watch), lamps (desk lamp, common room lamp), Micro-fridge, air filter (or filters), hanging lights (and other lights), and fans.

Personalization and Fun: The Could-Haves

These items allow you to personalize your space and enjoy your free time.

Plants: Plants brighten up the room, clean the air, support mental and emotional health, and are beautiful.
Decorative Lights: Hanging lights and other decor can add personality to your room.
Beanbags or Ottomans: Additional furniture can make your room more comfortable and inviting.
Keycard Holder: A keycard holder is helpful to ensure you don't lose your keycard.
Bike or Scooter: A bike or scooter can be useful for getting around campus.
Gaming Devices or Board Games: Bring your favorite games and consoles for entertainment.
Hobby-Related Items: Bring items related to your hobbies, such as painting supplies, sports equipment, or musical instruments.
Air Mattress: An air mattress is useful for accommodating guests.
Snacks: Pack some snacks for late-night cravings.
Personal Take: A Clipboard: A clipboard is so light and versatile, and trust me when I say it will save you at the most unexpected times.

Communication and Coordination

Coordinate with your roommate: Coordinate with your roommate about larger items for your room, including a refrigerator, microwave, TV, etc.
Communicate about shared items: Coordinate with the roommate on who has what. Recommended buying clip-on lights for their bed for extra lighting.

What to Leave Behind

Construction and homemade lofts: Because the furniture in every hall enables you to bunk your bed, construction and homemade lofts are not allowed.
Appliances that are not UL-approved: Appliances brought to campus must be UL-approved. This can be verified on the tag attached to the appliance.
Appliances used in the kitchen: Appliances that would be used in the kitchen can ONLY be utilized in a kitchen facility on campus.
WiFi printers: WiFi printers will not work in the residence halls, and there are ample printers on campus for student use.

Important Considerations for International Students

International Student Insurance Plan: All international students are auto enrolled in the international student insurance plan.
Arrival Date and Time: Check out details for International Orientation to determine arrival date and time.

Transportation Options

Coach USA bus: Coach USA bus from Milwaukee Airport to Carthage College (60 minutes).
Coach USA bus and Uber: Coach USA bus from O’Hare Airport to Kenosha Brat Stop (45 minutes) and Uber to Carthage College (20 minutes).
CTA, Metra, and Uber/Bus: CTA (Blue line) train from O’Hare Airport to the Jefferson Park Station. Transfer to the Metra UP-N line at Jefferson Park and ride it to the Kenosha Station (140 minutes). Uber to Carthage College or walk to the Kenosha Transit Center (724 54th St.) and take the #4 bus to Carthage College.
CTA, Metra, and Uber/Bus: CTA (Orange line) train from Midway Airport to the Roosevelt stop. Transfer to the Green line towards Harlem/Lake and get off at the Clinton stop. Walk to Ogilvie Transportation Center and take the Metra UP-N line to the Kenosha Station (140 minutes). Uber to Carthage College or walk to the Kenosha Transit Center (724 54th St.) and take the #4 bus to Carthage College.
Airport Shuttle: If you fly into camp, we recommend that you fly into the Milwaukee or O'Hare Airport and take the airport shuttle from the airport to camp. Milwaukee Airport (45 min from campus) and O’Hare (1 hour from campus). Reservations are required. www.goairportconnection.com. MKE approximate cost: $49 one-way, and $5 for each additional person. Chicago ORD approximate cost: $142 one way, $150 for 2 people person).

Additional Tips for a Smooth Transition

Submitting Housing Deposit: After submitting your deposit to attend Carthage, you should receive a housing letter and next steps from Admissions. This information is the same for all incoming students, and your housing assignment will be determined based on when you complete your housing application.
Don’t want to pack a bulky fridge or microwave?: A quick note on printers: Our Library and Information Services team recommends that you do NOT bring a printer to campus. WiFi printers will not work in the residence halls, and there are ample printers on campus for student use. Students receive $100 printing credit each, allowing up to 2,000 double-sided pages per year.
Bring flip flops for shower shoes: Get a shower caddy.
Bring lots of command hooks: Students use them! We bought an over-the-door, plastic shoe organizer that our daughter used to store things like her hairbrush, perfume, and a lint roller.
Invest in a small tool kit to keep in the room: I cannot tell you how often my kids had others borrow screwdrivers, measuring tape, and a hammer.
Bring paper plates and disposable forks and spoons.
Pack a few fall/winter items: One, I have to start packing up what I unloaded into my dorm at the beginning of the semester.

Advice for Students with Disabilities

Contact Learning Accessibility Services: The best time to meet with the Learning Accessibility Services staff is before you arrive on campus to start your first semester.
Take Responsibility: Like all Carthage students, students with disabilities are expected to take responsibility for their own college education.

Preparing for the Initial Meeting with Disability Services

Student-Led Communication: Colleges and universities provide services and support to SWD under very different laws than those that governed services in the K-12 system. As a parent, I have no rights under Section 504/ADA in speaking for my SWD who is in college. (If you aren’t sure what Section 504/ADA means in this context, perhaps the disability service provider you meet will have gathered some information that helps explain the differences between settings, both legally and practically. The services and support available to SWD are sometimes very different than what was provided in high school, and the college is under no obligation to continue the services given in high school or to adhere to the recommendations of an outside diagnostician. The college will make its own determination of what services and support to offer based on the documentation of disability and their interview with your SWD. There are no IEP’s in college, there is no place to sign off with my parental approval. Indeed, the college doesn’t legally have to care whether I am satisfied or not.
Prepping Your Student: DO take some time prepping your son/daughter in advance on the issues that you think need to be discussed - the things that you would say if you had the chance. make a list of the topics you would bring up, explain why you think each is important, and make sure your SWD has the list in hand when s/he goes into the interview. Rehearse with your son/daughter, if they will let you. If they are typical teens and aren’t comfortable sitting through that kind of rehearsal, settle for making them sit and listen while you demonstrate how you would approach certain subjects. For example, “I think you should tell them about how the teachers arranged for extra time for you on tests when you were in high school.

Read also: Carthage Dance Curriculum

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