If you think packing for a week long vacation is tough, try out packing for a whole semester at college. There are the certain necessities that everyone knows about – clothing, school supplies and toiletries – but there are plenty of things that are just as important that most people tend to over look.

1. Books, CDs, and Movies

These aren’t things that I use a ton, but I’m thankful nonetheless that they’re there. It’s just nice to know that I can cozy up with my favorite book, pop in a Disney classic or jam out to some tunes whenever I want. Sure, you could probably access all of this stuff from your laptop, but it feels a lot homier to have the actual thing.

2. Keurig and mugs

Obviously the Keurig is a must for whatever caffeinated drink you prefer (or if you’re like me and are slightly addicted to Hot Chocolate). Whether you need something to keep you up or to keep you warm (my room is about the temperature of the North Pole), having access to these drinks will be a life saver. Of course the mugs should be a given, but I completely forgot mine, so I thought I would add them in here.

3. Robe

Showering at college is not fun. I’m just being honest. I made the mistake of trying to change inside the bathroom stall after my first shower. Never again. You don’t need a fancy one; I just got mine at Target. Just trust me, you’ll thank yourself later.

4. Flip-flops

Okay so this one is for the shower too. Obviously at home you’re going to shower barefoot because it’s your own shower, but this is not the case at college. You need to shower with flip-flops. It is a must. You’re sharing a shower with so many other people, so just do yourself a favor and wear flip-flops.

5. Lanyard

This one you can easily buy at a campus store, and it’s a super helpful investment to make. On move-in day I was given a key to my room and an ID that held the money of my meal-plan and allowed me to swipe into different buildings. I can’t go anywhere without these two things, so I hooked them onto a lanyard to make it easier to carry around and keep together. (Another useful tip is to hang them up beside the door, so you never leave the room without them. My roommate and I both left our lanyards in the room during the first week and oh boy was that an experience.)

6. Snacks

I’m not just talking about Ramen Noodles and junk food here – although they are necessary to being a real college student – but also some healthier things. My roommate and I like to keep fruit in our fridge for when we’re craving something late at night without the guilt of the “freshmen fifteen”. We also like to keep more substantial food around, like Mac n’ Cheese, Ramen and Bagel Bites, for when we are too indulged in our school work to go to the cafeteria on campus. Don’t get me wrong, though, we do have quite a healthy, or not so healthy, stash of sweets (peanut butter and Oreos being our definitive favorite).

7. Extra money

Being a freshman, I don’t go off campus a lot. However, having a roommate with a car does allow me to leave more than the average first-year student. I’ll admit that I’ve fallen into the trap of spending a bit too much money while going out to restaurants after church on Sundays. Obviously money is important for these meals, but it’s also great for if you need to grab an extra textbook or just want to get some merchandise from the campus store to represent your school.

8. Hammock

I’ll admit, this is something that isn’t completely necessary and I don’t even have one, but I am super jealous of everyone that does. It seems so relaxing to just chill up in a tree, taking a nap or reading book. I’d say that these are great investments for anyone who wants a nice chill space to de-stress from all the school stuff.

9. Sleeping Mask

This is officially the best purchase I’ve made for school. My mask just came in last week and my only regret is that I didn’t order one sooner! I’m the type of person who appreciates sleep so much, so I sometimes try to get to bed early. My roommate, although loving sleep as much as I do, has had some pretty late nights getting her art projects done. It’s nice knowing that she can still have the lights on to finish up her projects, but it’s dark enough for me to fall asleep.

10. Pictures from home

You had to know that this was coming; I have to bring up something sentimental. Honestly, I love having pictures around my room. I have a couple in frames and a bunch hanging up above my desk. I love being able to look over and be reminded of different people and memories – this has definitely helped with homesickness.