Bring it all.

Here's a list of the things I suggest to bring.

Enough shirts for a week at a time, though t-shirts are popular American items, generally something like button downs and long-sleeves are typical here.
Blue jeans are expensive, running a hundred marks per pair or more. I don't suggest running out and buying out 501, but it is possible, if you are not already doing it, to wear the same jeans for 2 or 3 days on end. Though I now tend to go almost a week on a pair.. Saves on washing, and I haven't had any health problems yet.. :)
Pull-overs, you know sweaters, sweat-shirts that sort of thing.. Unless you like to be adventurous and find all the specials, it may be some time before you go shopping for pull-overs. Again, I suggest at some time before October or November, that you have enough pull-overs to go a week at whatever rate you like to wash. I can't wear a sweat-shirt more than twice before it has to be washed.
Plenty of underwear.. Don't forget that they do wear out. I presently have a week and a half supply, though I would like more. This means socks, boxers or tighty-whities, undershirt.
At least one warm jacket though it may be good to take something like a wind breaker or leather-coat. Both of which I have.
At least one button down for formal wear.
Overall one suit, though when a student dresses up, it is not always so dressy.
If you think you might go skiing at some point, perhaps some ski-pants and/or long johns.. Though I suggest the long-johns if you get cold just standing around in Pittsburgh.
Text books for the classes you would be taking at CMU.. Though it is best to get together with the other students going, so that perhaps you can lighten the load. It is also generally possible to get those books in the Verfahrenstechnik Library, 3. Etage, on the left... Might need to find someone with a key, but you can get to the books somehow.
A few English books that you would like to read during the beginning of the stay. They are expensive here, and it can be difficult to get straight into the German society from America. Don't push TOO hard, though it will be a lot of work. Hopefully by the end of your stay (1 year), you will be able to read German, as you can purchase German books at a lower cost than English books.
Favorite medical supplies: cough suppresent, allergy medication, sore throat, those sort of things..
Bathroom supplies: Towel(s), at least one bar soap, shampoo, toothbrush, tooth-paste, deoderant, dental-floss, cologne, etc...
Sun-screen, for those mountains and sunny days that come in summer.
An English dictionary. Perhaps a small one but I have a slightly larger one purchased for me from Great Britain.
Phone numbers to friends and relatives in America.
Addresses to friends and family in America. (Read about mailing letters from Europe later.)
C-book/Pic-book from CMU.
Checkbook incase you have to write a quick check to someone in the US.
Credit cards if you have them. One never knows what machine won't like the one card you have and spit it back out. (Of course this ONLY happens when you need money the most.)
Undergraduate catalog. (Or when they come out at CMU in the first semester, just tell the HUB to send you a copy.)
Power Converters for the those electrics that require ~110V, of which you just can't do without. If there is a 110-220V sign on the back or bottom of the device, you will just need a socket convertor. This just changes the flat plug into a round pin to plug into the wall. With the power convertor, pay attention to the maximum wattage. DO NOT use an appliance that is more OR less then the appropriate wattage for the device.
CD player if you really like your CDs.. Don't forget to bring the adaptor, and the power converter as described above.. You might look into a DC power adapter here in Germany when you get here.. But will need to get the right size plug for the CD player. If you want speakers instead of just your headphones, I suggest purchasing the speakers here. It is not difficult to find a decent new pair for under 50 Marks.. Check Media Markt.
Tape player instead of CD player if you so want. Or both..
A set of plates and silverware to get through the first few days of living here.. That would be a plate, a cup, knife, fork, spoon. I was given a some start up supplies, but finally purchased more after a while. (6 sets of silverware, and a few more plates, about 5 glasses, and 2 mugs.) My collection is pretty good now.. :)
Hobby things.. I'm a musician, so I brought my violin. However if you are a pianist I suggest bringing a keyboard if you can. There are not many places to practice here, and any instrument that is loud, will not be liked by the neighbors.. My violin is even considered too loud, so I try to practice only in the middle of the day.
Enough money to cover your monthly housing payment twice, meaning if it is 265 DM per month, bring at least 530 DM. As you will need to pay that much when you first arrive. The following housing payments are due on the first of the month, at the monthly price. (In the above example, 265 DM would be due on the first of October.)
Enough money to purchase food until your next batch of money arrives. For me I spend 40 DM a week at least just on groceries. And I eat in the Mensa once a day, at 5 DM per meal. So that totals to 65 DM per week or so.
Enough money to open a bank account here if you like. It is free of charge, however I think it requires a minimum of 1 DM, to open. Perhaps only 1 Pfennig, a hundredth of a Mark.
Paperwork for your Visa, if you have not already applied. It can take up to 3 months in the US, and I was able to get mine in only 2 days here, I suggest applying here once you arrive here. Though check out my story of my Visa in Stories section. Really you could get it in 1 day.
Travelers checks or some other safe way to store and possess money. There might come a time when you are short on money and these checks could save your hide. As well, you might find the exchange rate going up, and that would be an excellent time to cash in on the system.
An umbrella.. They are expensive here, small, and easy to carry. Besides, you will need it here, because Aachen receives the most rain fall in all of Germany.
Your German-English dictionary. I might suggest more than one. Collin's is rather popular, as well as Langensheidt.(sp) I highly suggest having a small pocket dictionary, especially during the first part of your stay. I have a small pocket Collins dictionary and a larger desk Langensheidt.
A battery or wind up clock. Your plug in clock from America WILL NOT WORK here.. At least it will not give you the correct time. But you can always bring it for the radio or tapes. But if you want to get up on time, you will need to purchase an alarm here, or use your battery/wind-up clock.
Sheets for your bed, and perhaps a pillow if you just can't live without it. Thus far every Wohnheim that I know of came with a pillow and a blanket. As well as some sort of heating in the room, so not to worry.
Any German literature that you might want to use to work on your German though there are many texts that I suggest here in Germany that you could purchase once arriving.. Check out the Once you are Here Section.
Coat hangers for the items you want to hang though you can find them somewhere here in Aachen.

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cm7a@andrew.cmu.edu