Update (JULY 26, 2011):  I’ve decided to spruce it up even more. If you scroll down far enough, you’ll see the companion articles to this post. :)

Clothes

Let’s start with the basics.

Bra: Cheaper in Malaysia, if you’re small-sized, but you can nice ones at Walmart and Target if you have a larger size (C & above)
Undies: Can get good deals in the US, but definitely cheaper in Malaysia (especially Jusco and such).
Summer clothing: Bring dresses, shirts, short pants, t-shirts. Don’t pack too much, as you will find good deals around Black Friday & post-Christmas sales (Abercrombie & Fitch in Premium Outlets are awesome).
Winter Coats: Buy in the US. It is cheaper, and you’d be spoilt for choice. You can buy some during Black Friday Sales, during Thanksgiving Break. Suggestion: down jackets that are knee-length(what we Malaysians refer to as bubble jackets).
Thick clothes: Don’t bring too many. 2 would be enough, but if you have more, bring more but keep it to 5 pieces. Realistically, you would be lured by the nicer designs here and they are cheap and warm too.
Formal clothing: Bring 2 sets. 1 office wear, 1 traditional clothing.
Jeans: Bring 2 pairs only. You will eventually get cheaper ones here, for maybe $8 if you go to TJMaxx or Ross. =) Practically, this would leave more space for your foodstuff.
Footwear: Good walking shoes (comfortable, light and durable) & slippers. You may pack in heels as well, but that’s not really essential.
Socks: Bring about 5 pairs of short socks, as you don’t need long ones in winter. By winter or late fall, you would have to get warm leggings, and woolen (100% wool) socks to keep you warm in your boots.
Swimwear: Bring goggles from home if you already have them; if not, purchase them in the US. Bikinis & bathing suits can be bought for good deals in the US.

Sidenote:

• Branded clothes are cheaper. Recommended brand(s): GAP, TJ Maxx, Filene’s Basement, Walmart, Target, Forever 21. =)
• Second hand stores are your friend – most items cost lower than $10, and are in good condition.
• Scarves, gloves, and winter hats should only be bought when it is really winter time in the US. Do not buy in Malaysia. However, if you do get a good deal in Malaysia, grab it! Leather gloves are usually expensive, and they’re not easy to use. Try not to buy this as an essential item.
• Get your winter essentials by Thanksgiving (Black Friday Sales).
• Realistically speaking, you would eventually give in to temptation into buying clothes in the US, which is why don’t bother bringing too many clothes.

Computers & Other electronic devices

Laptops: General rule of the thumb – if it ain’t broken, why fix it? So if it’s still in a good condition, just use the laptop that you have. Buy a new one only when your current one is obsolete, or it’s spoilt. They may have cheaper ones in the US, but Malaysia has good offers too, especially during PC Fairs. MacBook – price in Malaysia is comparable, but Malaysia doesn’t have offers of free printer/ipod touch. A friend recommended buying a Macbook Pro. It’s worth it. (As a destructive user, I am wowed by her review. It has lasted 9 years despite years of abuse). Research more in this area, if you’re serious about purchasing  new one.
Computer accessories: Generally expensive in the US. Bring internet cable wire. Mouse, headphones, card reader – bring from home. You can buy most of these accessories from Low Yat, which is so much cheaper, and if you’re good at bargaining, you can haggle the price down. No sweat. The price conversion is not good if you’re planning to buy in the US.
Important computer accessories: Internet cable wire, headphones, mouse, card reader, external hard disk, pen drives.
Software: Buy all that you might want, from your local night markets. =) you know what i mean. It is safe, but have it installed in your computer please, and don’t bring loose discs.
Game handhelds (PSP, Nintendo, Gameboy) & iPods: Bring them over. =) If you wish to purchase them in the US, please do remember to buy an older generation PSP, preferably PSP 2000 series, as it is 100% hackable. PSP 3000, no permanent hacks yet (I’m using a temporary LMAOHen). Nintendo DSi – if you want it, do check if they are hackable, so that you can purchase … local goods from our beloved Low Yat vendors.

Sidenote:

• Do not purchase any electrical appliances in Malaysia to be brought over to US. Travel light.
• Purchase international plug adapter. This is important, because US uses 2-pins for the plug head, where we use 3-pins. So far, I’ve been recommended to purchase this in Harvey Norman, Pavilion, KL. It costs about RM 40, but worth it, since it has a USB head as well.
• Buy a US power cable for your laptop when you get to the US. That way, you don’t have to carry the international plug adapter everywhere you go. Do remember to check the voltage and stuff. =)

Food & Consumable items

Instant Noodles: Maggi Mee, Milo, Nescafe, Tom Yam, Bak Kut Teh.
Spices: Bring your curry/kurma paste, pepper, etc. Whatever rocks your boat.
Others: Dried sotong, dried ikan bilis. Again, whatever rocks your boat.
Drink mixtures: Tongkat Ali, Kacip Fatimah, Milo, Nescafe, etc.

Sidenote:

• Bring only DRIED & PROCESSED food.
• Do not bring liquid or paste, or food with strong smell.
• Prohibited food: Belacan, mooncake, durian.
• Malaysian food is rare, unless you have Chinatown nearby.

Household items

Beddings: Bedsheets, etc. Buy them in the US, although it is cheaper in Malaysia. Why? It’ll guarantee to fit the beds. You can get cheap ones in the hypermarkets – IKEA, Target, Walmart, etc. Target & TJMaxx usually have pretty ones at very low cost. Get 2 sets, so you can wash from time to time.
Storage & Laundry: Collapsible organizer, laundry hamper, etc.

Sidenote:

• You might want to consider bringing over household items. Weight counts, so priority would go to the ‘rarer’ items such as food. (Why are we defined by our culinary tendencies??)
• These things can be purchased in the US, at good deals. =) Don’t worry so much.

Personal items

Medication: Panadol, minyak angin, liang teh, Muscle relaxant cream (Yoko Yoko is a good one), and other special medicine that you may need.
Cosmetics / Facial Stuff: Bring what you need for the first few weeks/ months. Unless you have sensitive skin, and have specific regiment, then do look up on your personal brand. Check online.
Glasses & Contact Lenses: Bring from home – Spectacles x2, & lots of extra lenses. In the US, you need to see the Ophthalmologist, and all your subsequent purchases have to be approved by said ophtalmologist. Malaysian prescription is not recognized, normally, but Walmart allows you to use outside prescription, so don’t worry. Contact lens solution, such as Alcon, is widely available in the US, so no worries about that.
Sanitary towels: Bring them for the flight, as sometimes your body chemical changes due to the pressure, and you may have an impromptu period. (My mum)

Sidenotes:

• If you need specific items, bring them.
• Items requiring professional consultation, i.e your eyes, would definitely be expensive in the US.
• Go to the store websites to check on items.

School supplies

Writing: Bring lots of mechanical pencil’s leads.
Paper: Bring 1 ream of foolscap paper, unless you don’t mind the US letter size. If you have extra space / weight, bring paper.
Textbooks: Expensive in the US. Bring, if you wish to.  Purchase the International versions on Amazon, for cheaper alternatives.
Miscellaneous: Hole punchers, paper clips, rings, etc. If you want to.

Sidenote:

• For textbooks, do google them first. If you need it for just a semester, consider renting them instead.
• For school supplies, check these websites, as they are akin to our Giant Hypermarkets/Jusco and such. Please look at the ‘Links’ section below.
• When checking out websites, do remember to check out if they are near your school. Use the Store Locator to help you.

Cellphones!

Edit (Jul4,2010) – I’ve done it!

Here’s the guide.

Important stuff

Immigration: Passport, I-20/DS-2019, and other relevant documents. (YE,JY)
Money: About $200 on hand, in case of emergency. (JY)
Baggage: Hand-carry baggage. I’ll write up another post about what you should pack into a simple hand-carry baggage. (MN)
Cellphone: Bring your Malaysian cellphone with you, as well as your SIM card. =) Digi is a good option to use when roaming, as the international roaming charges are lower than Celcom or Maxis. (MN)

Sidenotes:

• Buy bank draft from international bank such as HSBC or Citibank in Malaysia. It is convenient, and has short processing period.
• Do not bring more than $10,000 in any monetary form as you have to declare how much you bring.
• Once you’ve gotten a permanent US bank and home address, your parents can send bankdrafts by courier to your US address. (Will check with my other sources about this)
• You may bring a Malaysian credit card to the US, but remember, the exchange rate is very high for plastic money.
• For Sarawakian students, please bring your ICs. It is important because you would have to go through the immigration when you come back.
• Non-Sarawakian students might want to double check if they should leave their ICs behind.
• JPA will ask that you bring 16 photos. This will be confirmed during the JPA briefing on July 13th, 2010. We’ll see what this is for.
• Driver’s license not important either. Unless you want to get an international driver’s license.

Related reading:

• A Social’s Bug Guide to Purchasing a Cellphone in the US [link]
• The Worrier’s Guide to Packing Hand Luggage [link]
• The Savvy Shopper’s Guide to Online Shopping [link]
• The Procrastinator’s Guide to Visa Application [link]

Links:

• Target – one of the departmental stores in the US. Great place to start looking for back2school deals.
• Walmart – another departmental store in the US. There are good deals here, if you look through carefully. =)
• IKEA -the famous IKEA. check it out if you’re looking to furnish your house/apartment.
• Retail Me Not – alright, here’s a good tip: check out this website to find coupons that you might need, so that you can have something at a discounted price.
• KMart – this is another good departmental store in the US.
• Food2Dorm – your parents might like this site. Delivers items to your doorstep. =)
• Dollar Item – i love Dollar stores for a reason – the items there are cheap!! check it out, and be sure to check out the store locator to see if you have one near you.
• Kole Imports – this is another dollar store, and do remember to see if there’s a nearby branch. =)
• Dollar Chimp – this chimp will help you find the cheapest item. check it out!
• Dollar Tree – another dollar store. lol. you just might like being frugal, since you’re being spoilt for choice.
• Amazon - ah. the famous amazon. are there certain electronics you’d like to get your grubby hands on? here’s the place to check it out. it’s also good for other items, not just electronics. =)
• Chegg - textbooks are expensive, and sometimes your uni seniors might have just sold their last book to the highest bidder. check this out to see if it’s a viable option for you. =)
• Bookswim - another good option if you’re looking to rent your textbooks.
• Bookrenter - the name says it all. i’m giving a list of options, just in case you find a good price to rent your textbooks. =)
• Campus Book Rentals - another book rental service. perhaps you’ll feel more secure with this site, with its trustworthy services.
• Borders – you’ll be amazed at the selection of books available. don’t be afraid to browse through. they also sell used books.
• Barnes & Noble – also selling used books, if i’m not mistaken. do check them out as well. you don’t get charged for browsing you know.
• Powell’s Books – looking for a place to sell your books? here you go. if you’re also looking for obscure books, this is worth a try.
• America’s Thrift Stores - looking for secondhand clothes? try this.
• Discount Department – looking for the nearest secondhand store? you can browse here under the various categories. =)

Disclaimer: All the links under the “Links” section are not affiliated with this blog and its associates. The author does not claim responsibility nor does she condones any illegal activity that may occur during your transaction with the stores above. Thank you.