10 Things To Pack For A Semester In Alaska

Regardless of what kind of girl you are, there are 10 things that I believe should be in every girl's bag when she's spending a semester in Alaska.

So, you are going to Alaska for a semester? Don’t worry, you are going to love it. Unless you are a city girl who doesn’t like the outdoors, then you might be in for a bit of a shock. Regardless of what kind of girl you are, there are 10 things that I believe should be in every girl’s bag when she’s spending a semester in Alaska.

1. Raincoat

Get a raincoat and get a good one. This is the item you should not skimp on. Chances are, you will be seen in your raincoat more than the top you have under it, so find a coat that is not only 100% waterproof, but also makes you feel good… i.e. don’t just get those clear ponchos that all the tourists have.

2. Bug Spray

I admit you can just buy this item once you get here, but if you are going to before here for even a couple of weeks on either side of winter, you’ll need it.

3. Winter boots

Wither you are here for Fall semester or Spring semester, you will need winter boots. We may not live in igloos, but enough snow to justify it. On cold winter days, your cute flats from California are just not going to cut it.

4. Sweater

I have more sweaters in my closet than any other item of clothing. It’s basically always sweater weather in Alaska. So, it’s nice to have a couple sweaters you actually enjoy wearing, cause you’ll probably reaching for those over your t-shirts when its January.

5. Jeans

We are a casual state. Jeans are the dress code for pretty everything up here. So while you might want to take one killer dress for a night out, I would say you’ll get more use out of having a pair of killer jeans.

6. Winter Coat

Please do yourself a favor and find a good, warm winter coat before coming to Alaska. You will be wearing it throughout the colder months, so it’s worth the investment. I recommend shopping around for this item before getting on the plane because Alaska’s demand has made this a pricey item up here.

7. Hat

No, you don’t need five wool hats to survive the winter up here, but you do need one. It’s simple, you have to walk outside to get from class to class on most of our campuses up here, and you’ll be grateful someone told you to put a hat in your backpack when you make the trek in 0-degree weather.

8. Wool socks

I am not sure why everyone forgets about socks, but you shouldn’t. Warm socks will keep you comfy while you’re in class, studying in your dorm, and walking around in the cold. It doesn’t matter how nice your winter boots are, if you have thing cotton socks, your feet will not be happy.

9. Hiking pants

Even if you are not a hiker in your home state, you will probably still want this item in your suitcase. A pair of quick-dry pants will be valuable to you if you plan on doing any outdoor activities during your time here… which you should. Alaska is beautiful and you should explore it while you’re here, and you do want to do that in jeans.

10. A camera

I don’t care if it’s your iPhone or the newest Canon… take a camera, and use it. Alaska has some of the most breathtaking nature you will probably ever see, and you will take more pictures than you can imagine, so make sure you have a decent camera in your luggage. You absolutely can’t forget to take pictures of your semester in Alaska!