August is here! That means that summer is coming to an end, which is exciting and awful at the same time. We all need to go back to school, which means there will be sales on school supplies, dorm essentials and more. Here is a list of things I found helpful for myself during my first year of college survival, and I hope you find it helpful!

1. Mattress Pad

Your bed is everything when you’re in college! You can do all types of things in your bed like eating, watching TV, doing homework and, most importantly, sleeping. Sleep is your best friend in college. I don’t care if you have an inseparable “squad” that does everything together, or if you really get along with a few guys on your hockey team. No. Your bed is your best friend, which means you need to treat yourself with a nice, thick mattress pad. I got a 1.5 inch pad this year, and it was wonderful, however, they make pads up to 3 inches in thickness, so go to town if you want to. This pad will make sleeping bliss, because we all know that no college has comfortable mattresses.

2. Shoe Hanger

This year, I shared a room with three amazing roommates, however, what was not so amazing was the fact that we had to share one closet. Yup, you heard right: one closet, and four girls. I knew I would have very minimal space for my clothes and shoes, so I bought a shoe hanger. This saved my life, and it saved space! Now, shoe hangers aren’t super important unless you are in a room with two or more roommates, however, if you still like the way they look, I would get one!

Target Pocket Canvas Shoe Organize

3. A Comforter That Will Last You Four Years

Getting a good comforter that will last you a while is a great strategy when college shopping, especially if you want to save money! I didn’t follow this particular advice when I shopped last summer because I want to replace my comforter for this year. However, if I were you, I would try to buy a comforter that is neutral enough that you can change up your room when you want to, and your comforter won’t get in the way of that. If you choose to have your comforter for 3+ years, I would invest in a good quality, warm comforter. It will last, and will make your room look great.

Another piece of advice is to get a duvet cover! This will be super helpful when you want to do laundry, but you don’t want to shove your entire bed into the washing machine. A duvet cover is removable and it makes laundry more efficient.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/chic...

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4. Lysol Wipes and Tissues

These are two very essential items we tend to forget about. I don’t know about you, but I spill. Like, a lot. In fact, I probably went through at least 15 tissue boxes and Lysol wipe containers this year (not including the ones in my room) due to all the spills and colds I experienced. These are two safe and important items everyone needs!

5. A Reminders Board

We all forget things because we’re human, and sometimes we can’t solely remember things from our planners. When I got a reminders board, it made my life so easy and organized. The one I purchased came with a cork board, magnets and a white board with markers. I organized my week and would write down all sorts of things I needed to remember. Sometimes, I would write down similar things from my planner onto my board, but it never hurts to remind yourself to do things more than once! These are great for grocery shopping if your college is near a store or if you simply need to remember to do certain things in a day.

http://www.target.com/c/boards-easels-school-offic...

http://www.target.com/s?category=0|All|matchal...

6. Snacks!

This seems like a no-brainer. Snacks are college essentials, hands-down. We need them to get through the day, and through the long, long nights. Once we have the snacks, it’s great, but the one issue we all face when stocking up on snacks is being consistent with it. Make sure to keep re-stocking! A few of my favorite and affordable snacks are Ramen, kind bars, instant oatmeal, dried fruit and popcorn. You will love yourself on those nights where you want to die because you’re so tired but still have more work, then you walk in your room and have a bunch of snacks waiting patiently for you.

7. Water Heater

This essential goes along with the snacks point, because how will you make Ramen or oatmeal without a water heater? One of my roommates had one this year, and we all drank a lot of coffee and tea, so having a water heater made life so easy. Water heaters don’t take eight minutes to boil like your typical stove-top pot. It’s instant, and it’s great. They aren’t too expensive, and you’ll be using them a lot, so seriously consider getting one of these.

http://www.target.com/p/aroma-7-cup-electric-water...

8. Hand Vacuum or Broom

Hand vacuums and brooms are so important when tidying up one’s room. After months of getting settled into one’s room, lots and lots of dust can accumulate everywhere. This is when using a hand vacuum or broom comes in handy. The broom can help with big pieces of dirt and trash, while a hand vacuum can get into those small nooks and crannies hidden behind boxes, shelves and desks. You don’t want to have a dirty room, trust me. Make sure to clean up your room every few weeks in order to stay sane, and these two items will help with that.

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9. “Your Own Personal Emergency Kit”

I find that having a personal emergency kit is wonderful for every college student. Basically, this is a bag or pouch filled with whatever you need to survive the day. I didn’t have one last year, but a friend of mine did, and she found it to be super helpful. It can be filled with basics like band-aids, pads, tampons, nail clippers, sunscreen, lip balm, the key to your room, your ID, sunglasses, snacks, or whatever. This essential is optional, but if you are forgetful like me and tend to forget things in your room all the time, this emergency kit can help.

10. Air Freshener

Having a room that smells good will not only attract people to your room, it will also make you feel great! Some schools, including mine, don’t allow candles, so air fresheners are the way to go. Glade and Air Wick make great products, but they can sometimes be very sweet-smelling and processed. If you want something more earthy, you can buy something from Candle Co. or another company you like.

http://www.target.com/p/p-f-candle-co-amber-moss-r...

http://www.target.com/p/air-wick-scented-oil-air-f...

11. Skype Account

My last essential is an important one. No matter how far away we are from family and friends, we can lose touch. Skyping is a wonderful way to communicate with loved ones back home. If you don’t have a Skype account, make one! You never know when you’ll start missing someone; the homesickness is real in college. Make sure to always keep in touch and remember where you come from.