Admit it. You were so excited to finally move away to college and be out on your own, but you still found yourself going home every other weekend for the first two months. There are a lot of things to miss: your family, your friends, your dog, but most importantly, you miss not being able to take a shower barefoot.

Here are six things college freshmen get overly excited about their first year.

1. Contact with animals.

When you see a dog on campus, you're one of two people, you either 1) run up to the dog and give it lots of love or 2) you're too stunned by the fact there's a dog on campus to process it until the moment for contact passes. Either way, you find yourself thinking, "Oh my gosh, it's a dog! Look at the dog! Hi dog!"

2. Having a bedroom that isn't a dorm room.

If you've ever visited your friend's apartment, you know how mind-boggling the experience is. You can't help but compliment everything in sight to the point it gets obnoxious. It's not your fault, it's perfectly normal to swoon over a queen size bed when you've been stuck in the dorms, so don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

3. Getting to do your laundry for free.

Remember when your parents did your laundry? For free? Every week? College doesn't only force you to take responsibility for your own dirty clothes, but they also charge money to do so. Talk about a reality check.

4. Private bathrooms

Being able to keep your items in a bathroom doesn't seem like a big deal until you're struggling to find a place for all your makeup. In public bathrooms, running into people in towels is the norm and the amount of hair you find in the shower that isn't yours is close to revolting. Let's admit it, being able to shower without shoes on and do your business in private is something we all took for granted.

5. Going to Target

Going to Target has become equivalent to going to Disney. You find yourself walking around aimlessly for hours, you spend more money than intended, and leave with enough fun memories to last you through the week. Seeing that big red Target logo makes your heart flutter in ways you never thought it could.

6. Having enough money for shampoo.

The basic necessities become luxuries and the idea of going to the mall for your semi-annual shopping spree makes you laugh. It's hard to keep a steady job that gives you more than 15 hours and pays above $8.50 an hour. The "broke college student" stereotype doesn't even begin to describe your situation.

"Nothing compares to your freshman year," they say.

I say, "nothing compares to seeing a dog on campus."