The Ultimate College Survival Kit for Students Headed to Alabama (or any SEC School)

If you’re sending your child to college in Alabama—or any SEC school around the Southeast—there are a few things they probably won’t think to pack, especially if you ain’t from around here.

Fun fact: My husband used to manage a team of student workers at the University of Alabama, and he once had to explain to a kid that they had heartburn because they’d literally never experienced it before and didn’t know what to do. He has some crazy stories about all the things he had to explain to 18-year-olds who had never lived away from home.

With our son headed to Auburn in just a few weeks, I have been trying to prepare him for all the things he may not know and gather all the things he may not realize he needs. So, today I’m sharing some of that wisdom here. These are the items I think every Southern college freshman should have before move-in day.

Start with a Sturdy Medicine Box

Most colleges offer great student health services on campus. But what happens at 3:00 a.m. when they wake up with heartburn for the first time and don’t know what to do?

One of the best purchases you can make is a large portable medicine organizer for dorms, to keep everything in one place. When your student isn’t feeling well, they shouldn’t have to dig through drawers looking for medicine.

This clear plastic medicine box for dorm rooms is sturdy, large enough to hold all the essentials, but has small organizing compartments to keep things separated. If you want to give them the true Alabama experience, you might just consider a tackle box since it’s basically the same thing. HA.

Two Things Your Kid Must Know Before Arriving in the South

All jokes aside for a minute, if your student is coming from another part of the country, this section is SO IMPORTANT!

There are two things your kids MUST know about springtime in Alabama.

1. First, learn exactly What to do and where to go during a tornado.
   Watch this video, and get to know James Spann IMMEDIATELY. Add the ABC 33/40 weather app to their phone and yours with weather alerts set to turn on 24/7 for their zip code.
   
2. Second, prepare them for pollen season…

Many people don’t realize that Alabama has some of the highest tree pollen counts in the country, especially from pine, oak and hickory trees. Even students who’ve never dealt with seasonal allergies can suddenly find themselves miserable during spring semester.

Despite being born and raised here, my daughter has extreme seasonal allergies. Like, eyes-swollen-shut severe allergies. We got her allergy tested, and her biggest triggers are oak & hickory trees, and ragweed. All things we have an abundance of here in our great state. Her doctor advised her to take TWO Zyrtec daily during the worst of allergy season. Always talk to your doctor first, of course, but that was surprising news to me so I thought I would share it with y’all. (This isn’t medical advice.)

Here are the allergy meds I always keep on hand for our family. Pollen season usually begins in late Feb/early March and lasts through April, so stock up now before it begins to fall!

My Family’s Must-Have Allergy Medicine for Alabama Pollen Season

• Zyrtec
• Flonase nasal spray (or generic Kirkland Aller-Flo brand from Costco)
• Pataday daily eye drops
• Benadryl if things get really bad
• Ibuprofen for headaches
• Box of Tissues for the Dorm Room
• Packs of travel tissues to toss in a backpack

Southern Soul Food Stomach Ache Relief

College students eat and drink, um… differently than they do at home. Especially in the South!

In Alabama, they’ll discover the greatest white-sauced barbecue on the planet, meat-n-three inside of gas stations, and if they’re headed to Tuscaloosa… Taco Casa. Trust me on this one. I’ve seen some things, and they’re gonna need some things.

A Northerners Guide to Southern Food Packing List:

• Pepto-Bismol chewable tablets (also, be sure to tell them not to freak out if they wake up with a black tongue after chewing Pepto. They do that. It’s normal.)
• Tums or other antacids
• Immodium (generic is cheaper and works fine)
• Lifesavers Pep-O-Mint candies

First Aid & Household Basics

College kids are gonna get sick, especially when they all start sharing germs in enclosed spaces. These first aid basics can save an unnecessary trip to the pharmacy if they wake up with a fever at 3 AM.

• Cough drops
• Thermometer
• Cold & Flu meds
• Vitamin C Immune Boosters
• Mini first aid kit
• Blister bandages (college campuses involve a LOT of walking)
• Lip Balm
• *Anti-itch Bug Bite Stick (seriously the bugs and mosquitoes are something else down here)
• *Tweezers (hopefully they won’t need to be checked for ticks, but you never know…)

Personal Care Essentials

These are the things students may not realize they need until they suddenly need them.

• Small Packs of wet wipes. I love these the most!
• Travel makeup mirror for checking your mascara during sweaty days
• Daily Sunscreen (it’s like the surface of the sun here from May-September. The first day of school in August is usually the hottest.)
• Rechargeable Personal Fan for the backpack
• Nail clippers and file manicure set
• Dental Floss
• Travel size Deep Woods Off Mosquito repellent*

*Listen, y’all. I’ve gotta explain something to you.

I know this may sound crazy, but at some point during your child’s college career in the South, they’re probably going to get invited to do something completely random in the middle of the night. Around here, that could mean anything from chilling around a bonfire in a cow pasture, to frog-gigging, or heading out on the river to spotlight alligator gar.

You may think I’m exaggerating, but my niece’s boyfriend went to college in Florida, and he recently told me about a spur-of-the-moment midnight iguana hunting trip. That’s just a normal day the South. It’s what we do down here for fun.

The point is, your kids are going to be exposed to experiences they’ve probably never imagined. Some Bubba is going to come along and take them snipe hunting, catfish noodling, hiking through forests of poison oak to a hidden waterfall, skinny-dipping in the lake, or some other uniquely Southern adventure. Alabama is one of the most biodiverse states in the country, and just about every kid who grew up here spent time on a river, lake, or in the woods.

Be prepared—they’re about to collect some stories they’ll be telling for the rest of their lives.

Other Southern Dorm Room Must-Haves

My son also carries a Swiss Army knife on him with scissors, a screwdriver, tweezers, and a nail file. Just be sure to check your university’s housing policies before packing any pocketknife, but I am gonna assume most colleges in Alabama will be OK with them carrying a pocketknife. Country boy can survive, and all that.

Here’s a few other things to consider:

• 10-foot iPhone or USB charging cable in case there’s not a plug by the bed
• A Dorm Room fan to blow some humid air around at night
• Lysol disinfecting wipes
• Tide Stain Pen in case they can’t do laundry right away
• Travel Sewing Kit for little repairs
• Iron or clothes steamer for wrinkles (especially if they are going to Rush)
• A Shoe-Shine Kit

Don’t laugh at those last two…

If your kid is planning to rush a fraternity or sorority at an SEC school, there’s something you need to understand: things are different down here. While there are PLENTY of rednecks in this state, there is also a LOT of generational wealth.

My husband’s office was near Sorority Row at the University of Alabama, and during back-to-school season he watched girls pull up in Maseratis and Lamborghinis while their dads directed crews of men in moving trucks to furnish their dorm rooms. It really is that serious.

Some of these kids grew up in very different worlds than us normal folks. They wore smocked jon-jons in preschool, attended private schools in starched flat-front khakis and tucked-in Polo shirts, spent summers in Europe, and knew from birth they’d be expected to attend their granddaddy’s alma mater.

Roll Tide. War Eagle. Go Dawgs.

That part doesn’t really matter. What matters is the game of life they’ve instinctually been taught to play—and the polish they know how to present, both on their shoes and in their personality.

Whether you agree with it or not, many of them were raised with very conservative Southern traditions and expectations. Family reputation matters, and going out in public in wrinkled pants or scuffed-up loafers ain’t it.

So here’s my advice: teach your children to know when to lean into that old-school Southern charm just a little bit while they are here.

They don’t have to use them all the time, but explain social cues– when it’s appropriate to use manners and be on their best behavior. Watch a YouTube etiquette class so they know what a formal place setting looks like. And believe it or not, dropping a well-timed “Yes, Sir” or “Yes Ma’am” can go a long way for their college career.

Also, remember when it comes time to graduate and get a job, fancy monogrammed thank-you cards will go a long way for their actual career.

Iron the pants. Shine the shoes. Write the Thank You notes. Yessiree Bob.

Don’t Forget Regular ol’ School Supplies

Even in a digital world, some still need basic school supplies. The students may disagree, but check to see if they need any of these desktop items since they won’t have them in their dorm room.

• Mechanical pencils
• Sharpies / Markers
• Highlighters
• Sticky notes / Index cards
• Notepads
• Scotch tape
• Scissors
• Find the full list of all school supplies here!

The One Item I Hope They Never Need

Finally, if there is one item every dorm room needs, it’s this.

Did you know as of 2023, Narcan is available to purchase over the counter?

If you don’t know, Narcan (also called naloxone) can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose while emergency responders are on the way. We’ve all heard heartbreaking stories of accidental fentanyl overdoses and ways your children could be exposed without even knowing about it.

I pray they never need it.

Hopefully they never even SEE it used.

But if a friend, roommate, or classmate experiences an overdose, having Narcan nearby—and knowing how to use it—could literally save a life.

They sell Narcan on Amazon, so you can get it delivered right top the privacy of your doorstep.

Before your student leaves for college:

• Purchase a Narcan kit.
• Read the instructions together.
• Watch a short demonstration video online.
• Explain that they should always call 911 immediately after administering Narcan, even if the person wakes up.

It’s one of those items you hope expires unused. But if the unthinkable happens, it could mean the difference between life and death.

What am I Forgetting to Pack for College?

A well-stocked college survival kit gives your student a backup plan, and gives you a little more peace of mind knowing they’ve got the little things covered in case of emergencies.

If you’ve got kids or grandkids headed south this fall, I’ve linked every item in this post to this Amazon Idea List so you can grab everything before move-in day, which will be here in a flash.

And hey, parents–If your child has gone to college recently, what else would you add to this list?

What am I forgetting? Tell me in the comments below!