Bringing items and personal belongings to college is tough, whether you're a freshman or a senior. It is not only hard for you, but it has to be hard for your parents, letting their baby birds leave the nest for the first time or the last time. Though it's hard, over the course of four academically difficult years, there is one thing for sure: bringing personal belongings and other items is a must for any college student.

1. NOT too many clothes

While clothes are a necessity, certainly not too many clothes are a reason why this first listed point is such an important thing to understand. Not too many clothes is better than too many, otherwise you'll have a boatload of laundry every other weekend.

2. Toiletries

One cannot stress enough bringing toiletries to college, whether it be a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant or what have you. These are definitely a necessity for college life every time you take a shower or the hygienic side before or after your shower. Not much needs to be said here, so moving on it is.

3. Towels and washcloths

OK, so maybe this can be under the above point, but towels and washcloths are just as important as toiletries, because let's be honest here, what college student wants to be locked out of their dorm room with no towel on? OK, maybe that has happened to at least one kid over the years. This doesn't need much explanation either, so let's move on.

4. School supplies

These are super important even if we are living in the 21st century with tablets and laptops, notebooks, pens, pencils, and even a simple sticky note are of vital importance when it comes to academic success. Even seniors in college have notebooks and pens because while a tablet or a laptop is a nice upgrade from a simple 5 subject notebook, nothing can replace the basics.

5. A backpack/messenger bag

A backpack or a messenger bag should be used from grade school onwards because of its superb dependability, even if it is 5 or 10 years old. Rips and tears are common on a bag, but nothing can replace the memories that you and your bag have experienced together, especially when those memories cover a bunch of school years.

6. Electronic device

OK, so maybe this is more of an opinion, but a laptop or tablet is a definite help in a pinch. Unfortunately those devices can and usually do crash and burn at the most inconvenient of times (usually in the case of a procrastinated essay). However, you can usually find a decent priced laptop or tablet for college which can hopefully last you throughout your academic career.

7. Microwave and Fridge

These are two vital pieces of furniture, like a bed or a dresser, or anything else that comes in a standard dorm room. A microwave is especially nice for those late night snacks from the food center or campus or down the road McDonald's. A fridge is definitely worth the investment because it can be stocked with soda, beer, or even frozen food which regardless of what you stick in there, it'll be nice to have something in there late at night.

8. Coffee Maker

It could be a Keurig or even a basic, off the wall brand, generic type of coffee maker in order to make those early morning cups to wake up for your typical "I don't want to go, but I know I need to in order to do my best" 8 in the morning class. Coffee makers aren't my personal best friend, but I know several others whose coffee maker has to be their best friend, especially during finals week (insert groan of "is this year almost over")

9. Umbrella

An umbrella is of definite importance because let's be honest here, who wants a free shower on their way to class, which is halfway across campus. I know for sure I don't want a free shower on my way to class, that's why I definitely recommend an umbrella, as long as it is sturdy otherwise it might just blow itself away.

10. Specific sheets

These should be number one on this list but I wanted to save the best for last, and what I mean by specific sheets, is that most dorms have a specific sheet size, and in most campuses' cases, it is an extra-long twin sheet set, which is par for the course, and having two sets of these kind of sheets will help because if one is on your bed, when you do laundry, you can put your second set of sheets on the bed while the other is being washed.

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