Welcome to the Starting College Series, where we will talk about the process of preparing for starting college from both a logistical and mental standpoint! 

In Part 1, we will be talking about what to bring. Every college student living on campus must choose what to take with them, and it can be a daunting process! After all, how can you know exactly what you need at college without having experienced it?

Autistic students and their parents may also want to consider some additional factors when thinking about what to bring. Let’s talk about some factors worth considering!

Everyone needs the essentials in college. Students need access to food and basic hygiene tools to be able to live and function independently! 

The specific things you choose to bring may depend on what the student in question can most effectively incorporate into their daily living routine. 

For example, some students might not need a microwave because they can reliably go down to the dining hall and get what they need. Other students might struggle with the distance to the dining hall or getting there at the right hours or have sensory issues with the food. 

For those students, a microwave may be an essential part of getting enough calories for the day. The important thing is identifying what tools are required to meet a student’s needs, rather than replicating the exact resources available at home.

Wardrobe plays an important role in college as we dress for a variety of settings ranging from casual common room hangouts to formal internship interviews. But wardrobe can also be a daunting part of the routine for some people, and simply putting out lots of options isn’t always the best bet. 

For some students, too many options might be a negative. If an Autistic student has historically struggled with choosing their daily outfits or choice paralysis in general, it can be helpful to pick out a more focused wardrobe depending on the parts that are most difficult. For some students, that might mean having a couple specific outfits for any given situation that they can just choose and move on. 

For others, it might mean picking a wardrobe where just about everything goes together so they don’t have to stress so much about picking the “wrong” thing. The important thing is setting yourself or the person you are supporting up for a routine that feels comfortable and repeatable.

Whether it’s shower shoes or a little skillet you keep in your closet, communal living spaces sometimes require personal items that might not have been necessary in a more standard household. In addition to the classic items, Autistic students may want to consider how their sensory needs are impacted by living with a large number of people in the same building. 

Does a large concentration of people who aren’t necessarily going to be careful about their volume potentially necessitate noise-cancelling headphones where previously they weren’t necessary? Is the dorm lighting different from home? 

It’s impossible to predict every difference between college life and a student’s current home life. But with a little planning, we can feel a lot more prepared!

With that, we are wrapping up for the week, but we still want to hear from you. If you are preparing for college for yourself or someone you are supporting and have questions or want to share your experience, then we would love to hear from you! Just drop us a line at hello@autismgrownup.com and stay tuned for Part 2, where we will talk about the process of getting there.