My advice: Packing

Here are some things I wish I knew when I packed for my year abroad in the USA.  Although I'm not sure I would have ever listened to myself here are my best tips should I get to re-do this experience all over again.

• Leave the high heels at home ! Most girls at college wear sneakers when they go out - even to bars and clubs.  Even if you do end up needing them ( I went to a formal where I wore heels for example) there are plenty of other people who have them lying around you can borrow from.  

• Ditch the dresses you were to class in summer.  I wore a dress to my first day of class and never wore one again.  You stand out like a sore thumb amongst the waves of gym gear and Penn State clothing. You're better off to replace the pretty dresses and tops with several pairs of gym leggings and loose t-shirts and tank tops.  

• If you're not 21 nice going out clothes are really a necessity.  I don't mean this in a bad way but if you're not 21 you'll most likely be spending your Saturday nights at Frat parties where the last thing you will want to be wearing is a nice Karen Walker jacket of playsuit.  Bring lots of denim shorts, tank tops, plain skirts and crop tops because this is all you'll need.  So much alcohol and sweat is pouring off people at Frat parties you come out looking and smelling disgusting anyway.  

• Buy your winter coat in the USA. I packed a Kathmandu puffer jacket with me and it was simply not warm enough for the Pennsylvania winter.  I ended up buying a much thicker and longer coat from Abercrombie and Fitch which turned out to be ten times better a keeping the snow and cold out than my katmandu gear.  Clothes in New Zealand just aren't meant to stand the cold, you're better off to save room and buy better quality winter gear in the USA. 

• Uggs, if you have them bring them ! These things may fill up room in the suitcase but they were godsend once winter came.  You're feet NEVER get cold walking to class snuggled up in uggs and what everyone wore come December.  I would recommend bringing black/grey ones because stains from water and snow won't show up.  

That basically covers my desired packing list.  Once again these are things I wished I had brought ( or didn't bring) with me at Penn State and what I found could be completely untrue in different parts of the US or at schools in cities.  My biggest advice would be look up the weather in summer and winter before leaving and if worst comes to worst you can always buy the clothes you need abroad instead of paying for an extra case.