Along with graduating seniors across Beijing, Year 13 students at Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS Beijing) are preparing to spread their wings and fly the nest. As students excitedly look forward to the new opportunities and challenges that await at universities around the globe, the first order of business to prepare is packing.Packing for university can be tricky for any student, but for students studying abroad figuring out what to bring presents its own unique set of challenges. With this in mind, and as part of his ongoing series of articles helping students prepare for university, YCIS Beijing University Guidance Counsellor Jonathan Mellen has prepared his own ‘Guide to Packing for University’ with special insights for international students. Jonathan is also working on a new ‘Mental Packing List’ to provide a few tips for students to pack away in their mental suitcases (visit the YCIS Beijing’s website for that article, www.ycis-bj.com). Here he shares his packing tips for a safe, happy, smooth transition to university, wherever in the world that university may be.
Overnight Bag
Pack an overnight bag as a carry-on for your flight in case your big luggage goes missing.
Birth Certificate
Bring your birth certificate. You'll probably need it to set up a bank account and possibly for registering at a university or collecting scholarship awards.
SIM Card & Mobile Phone
A sim card and mobile phone that work in the country you're going to attend university. Consider a dual sim phone to allow you to keep your old sim and phone number while easily adding a local number. This will make it easier to call home and still be easily accessible to your new contacts at university.
Medications & Supplements
Pack a supply of meds, vitamins and supplements that you routinely take, but be sure to check the laws regarding drugs in the country you are headed to before travelling. Some medications and supplements that may be legal in your home country might be restricted in your destination country. Also, work with your parents and university staff to devise a plan for refilling your prescriptions while at university if possible.
Laptop
What else are you going to do your work on?
Memory Sticks / Thumb Drives
Memory sticks to back up your work. You don't want to know what it feels like to lose the work you spent so long creating.
Passport
Bring your passport. This probably goes without saying as you'll need it to get where you're going, but make sure to take some copies of it plus your visa in case you lose it. If you are a dual or multi-national, discuss with your parents if you should bring multiple passports.
Medical Insurance
You will need to present proof of insurance to receive medical treatment in some countries. Be sure you have a card, letter or some other document showing your policy number and providing a 24hr service number where that policy's administrators can be reached by medical staff. Joining large institutions (like universities) puts you at higher risk of falling unexpectedly ill as you encounter new pathogens.
Passwords
A list of all the passwords you use for your accounts. It's not nice being locked out when you need to access resources online or communicate with friends and family back home!
Find your new school
Location
Anywhere
Type of school
Any school