Everything you should have actually brought back to Tulane with you

Weather Related

Firstly, and most importantly, be ready to deal with humidity and rain—lots and lots of rain.

Rain boots, a rain jacket, and at least 2 umbrellas (one travel size for your purse or backpack – you’ll thank me when you have to walk back to Sharp from class in a torrential downpour). 

Clothes

GAME. DAY. APPAREL. Whether it’s your favorite Tulane t-shirt paired with overalls or your Tulane decorated converse, it’s a must to be prepared for game day.

You also can’t forget some dressier outfits for Thursday nights at F&M’s. And for the beginning of the school year, it’s crucial that you bring your best bathing suits for the darties and pool parties! It’s also important to have sneakers; all of the walking around campus combined with rainy, muddy grounds doesn’t make flip flops a good choice. My favorite article of clothing that I brought is my bathrobe; whether you just got out of the shower or haven’t decided what to wear yet, it’s key.

Accessories

When it isn’t raining, it’s a million degrees and sunny, which means you’ll definitely want to bring your favorite sunglasses. Another necessity: a S’well water bottle. Almost every person on campus has one in tow—they keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12, and with the heat, you won’t want to be without one. Make sure you grab a card holder for the back of your phone from the Splash Card office; you’ll definitely want to keep your Splash Card on you at all times. As far as your key goes, attaching it to a hair tie and wearing it on your wrist is an easy and secure way to make sure you always have your key too. 

Dorm

This is, for many, the first time you finally get to decorate a room any way you want to, so make it your own! Whether it’s covering almost the entire wall with pictures (like me), or filling your shelves with decorative items, you’ll definitely want to make your side of the dorm as personal as possible.

Midnight snacks 

Microwavable mac and cheese is a must have; anything microwavable is a good choice, though. Energy bars are great for snacks on the go, and you’ll have a love/hate relationship with your favorite bag of chips after coming in from a night out. Also, definitely rent the Kentwood water cooler and stock up on your favorite drinks to keep in your fridge.

Lastly, don’t forget your open mind. Tulane welcomed it’s largest freshman class ever this year with around 1,800 brand new faces, making for the opportunity to make new friends every day. New Orleans is home to endless restaurants of all different types of food, so be open to trying new places! With such a high amount of clubs, organizations, sports, and ways to get involved, the essential aspect of a Tulane student is an open mind, so I hope you brought yours back to NOLA this fall.

If you forget any of this, don’t sweat it. On the plane coming to New Orleans for move in, the Tulane alum seated next to me said what is essentially a universal truth: “A college kid’s best friend is Amazon Prime.”