Packing for college as a freshman is like taking a test without studying. I remember thinking, “You want me to pack everything that I own into one car for an entire year? Challenge accepted,” while my mom was telling me to pack light but make sure I have everything I need. Impossible. I don’t know what I’m doing tomorrow let alone for an entire year.

Packing lists, like this one, are incredibly helpful, but there are some things that need clarified. I was a completely clueless freshman, so this is a list that I wish someone would have shared with me before my freshman year.

MUST Pack:

Converse/keds. You will ruin more than one pair of shoes in a frat basement. SO many freshman go to parties in flip flops so they won’t ruin their nice shoes. I was one of them. By 1:00 am no one knows what’s on the floor. Do you really want to step in that crap? Converse/Keds are perfect for fratting.

Rain boots! Welcome to lake forest, where you have to swim through the puddles on campus to get to class.

Theme party gear. Definitely pack for all of the following: 90s, America, animal, country, and Tight & Bright.

Every sundress you own. Whether you’re going to class or going to a football game, you will need a sundress. It's the easiest outfit to throw on before running out the door if you're running late.

Oversized t-shirts. Sunday is a day of rest for everyone but college students. Most Wake students wear Lily Pulitzer Monday - -through Saturday; Sunday is the one day that it’s socially acceptable to take a break and break out our Lululemon leggings.

A mattress pad is a life saver. Sleeping in a twin bed is difficult enough without destroying your back. Therapeutic mattresses are the best invention ever.

A first aid kit. You or someone you know will get hurt. Sorry to say it but freshman can’t handle their drinking. Expect the worst. Many a time a girl has twerked too hard and chipped her teeth on the floor. At least bring band-aids, Advil, and ice packs.

Cleaning wipes. Don’t let the pretty pictures online fool you. Those dorms are dirty and will need some serious cleaning when you arrive.

Shot glasses, one corkscrew, and a beer bottle opener. Not to condone underage drinking, but it’s college.

Chocolate, so you can be prepared for your first meltdown after getting the grade from your first test back.

Pictures/posters to remind you of home. Being away from home for the first time is scary. The best packing decision I made was bringing pictures of my friends, my Terrible Towel, and my Pirates cups to remind me of home. Making new friends knowing that you have your best friends at home to fall back on makes the whole process less daunting.

Keurig. If you don’t drink coffee now, you will probably drink at least one cup a day by the end of your first semester. Starbucks is a godsend, but it can get expensive. With a Keurig you don’t have to wait in line to get your caffeine fix.

Books/DVD’s for fun. College packing is 100x easier thanks to Netflix, but it doesn’t have every movie ever made. Bring your favorites with you.

Thank you cards. Impress your professors and other professional contacts by sending thank you cards. Don’t send thank you’s after office hours, but sending a thank you if your professor has your class over for dinner is a nice gesture.

Ditch:

Lanyards. Such a freshman move to wear a lanyard. Keep your ID in your phone or your wallet.

All of the heels in your closet. Opportunities to wear heels don’t happen as often as you’d imagine. Bring a few pairs because let’s be honest leaving them at home is like leaving your children in the car on a hot day. You just can’t do that. Bring a few pairs for bars and date functions.

A printer. The library has several and you can always add printing money when you run out. If you’re in a time crunch at least one person on your hall will have a printer. Find that person and befriend him immediately.

Paperclips. If you didn’t use paperclips in high school, you probably won’t need them now.

A bike. It takes a maximum of 20 minutes if you’re walking at a snail’s pace to get from one end of campus to the other.

Binders. Unless your professor says otherwise, you can save all of your notes on your laptop. Just know what type of learner you are. Some people prefer printing their notes out; one or two binders will keep you organized in that case.

Textbooks. Just kidding. You need to buy your textbooks. You’re in school to get an education.