One thing about me is that I'm an over packer, and that didn't change when it came to packing for my time abroad. I flew with British Airways and adhered to the standard 23kg of luggage, though it was a struggle.

I unpacked and repacked countless times - it can be so hard to plan your outfits for the next six months. I hope that the tips and tricks I picked up along the way will be helpful to someone in the same boat because it's truly overwhelming.

Firstly, I'd recommend that you sort out the essentials - printed visa information, your passport, health insurance, and any other important documents - and put them in a folder you can easily access.

When that's sorted, you can move onto the fun parts. I studied in San Diego so packing more items was easier for me as I didn't have to think too much about layers, which can be heavier. Make sure you check the weather for your destination so that you pack the right things.

Something I wish I'd packed more of was formal outfits. For some reason I didn't think that I'd need them, however when faced with a university that hosts weekly parties, I was stumped on what to wear. Otherwise, don't worry too much about clothing as you can't really go wrong with a good mix of comfortable and formal items.

What to bring

Other than clothing, I thought it'd be useful to highlight things that I think are important to take with you:

• Snacks from home: I found it so comforting to have snacks with me from home. I took a range of chocolates and tea bags which was nice to have, especially when feeling a bit home sick. It became useful because I wasn't a fan of American chocolate.
• Sunglasses: they're always useful to have, especially when you're in such a sunny place it can be annoying if you find yourself without them.
• Stationary: stationary in America can be pretty expensive. And, as a student, you go through a lot of it, so it's useful to bring some pens and maybe a notebook to save yourself additional costs.
• A disposable camera: This one isn't a necessity, however, some of my favourite memories from the trip are captured on my disposable camera. It's so important to capture the memories of being there because it goes so fast.

What not to bring

• Hair styling tools: I didn't do any research on the voltage differences in America and was horrified when my hairdryer and straighteners didn't work when I arrived. In the end I bought a hairdryer when I was there and used a friend's styling tools, so it ended up being a waste of space and weight in my suitcase.
• Toiletries: I packed an excess of shampoo, conditioner, and soap, but the truth is, it's easier and cheaper to buy it when you get there. It saves a lot of weight in your bags and means you don't have to worry about anything leaking onto your clothes.
• A travel adapter plug: this depends on what you need to plug in, but it was a waste for me as I only needed to plug in my phone, laptop, and air pods. I found it was easier to just buy an American plug to take around with me.

I hope this advice helps you to gain an idea of what you might need during your time studying abroad. One final tip I have is to sort your items into categories and have a packing cube per category. This makes it easier to know where your things are, and to successfully put them all away.

Just remember to make the most of your time away and don't stress too much about the packing. Everything has a way of working itself out.