If you’re headed to college at the end of this summer, you’re probably a bit nervous and don’t know quite what to expect from living in a dorm. I know, I read countless lists sent from my school of Do’s and Don’ts to pack, listened to advice from family and friends, thought over my packing list a million times, and was still unsure. Everyone is right--you definitely will need a shower caddy and shower shoes are a must. But take it from me, to survive the crazy dorm life, you’ll need a bit more than the average list suggests. If your experience is anything like mine, you’ll leave your freshman dorm with tons of friends and a million experiences you’ll never forget...but you'll want to read this list to make sure you get to the end of the year. The dorms are an insanely fun place to live, but they can require lots of work to make the space livable!

1. A ridiculous amount of fans

A box fan to put in the window, a rotating floor fan to cool down the whole room, a desk fan for doing homework, a clip-on fan to put beside your bunk...if your dorm doesn’t have air conditioning, you’ll want them all. I think I spent the first month of college constantly coated of sweat, and coming home after class to lay on the floor right in front of the fan was the main bonding time my roommate and I participated in for awhile.

2. A familiar item to comfort you

You may think it’s lame to bring a stuffed animal to school, but it’s even more lame to be in a completely new place and not have your go-to snuggle buddy. If it’s not a stuffed animal that will make you feel better, bring your bedding from home, pictures of family, or anything that will make you feel safe and ready to take on this new challenge. There’s nothing scarier than realizing you’re in a strange environment all alone, but if you prepare yourself for that feeling, it can feel like there’s no greater adventure.

3. Full-Length Mirror

Until I actually moved into my dorm I never noticed that there were no full-length mirrors, which made getting ready a serious problem. A mirror that can hang on the back of your door only costs $10-15, and will be utilized daily. (At least in the beginning of the semester when you still sort of care what you look like.)

4. Command Strips/Hooks

Speaking of hanging the mirror on the door, you’ll need command strips to hang up literally everything you own. Command strips can hang anything even if it’s super heavy, and they won’t leave a mark on the wall at the end of the year, so you won’t get fined. My freshman roommate and I also discovered that you can buy command hooks, which are hooks that attach to the wall and are perfect for hanging your loofa on to dry after your shower so they won’t have to sit in your caddy and mold into a disgusting pile. Command strips are a gift sent from above, and you will need lots of them.

5. Baseball Hat and/or Dry Shampoo

Like I said before, at some point in the semester you will absolutely stop caring what you look like altogether. Dry shampoo is a lifesaver when you actually still need to look presentable but don’t have time to wash your hair. When you’ve totally just given up on your appearance, buy a baseball cap from your university bookstore. You’ll look like you’re supporting your school, but really you’re supporting your right to sleep in and not wash your hair for three days.

I mean, how cute does my roommate on the right look at this party she came to straight from work? Rockin the baseball cap is the way to go.

6. Board or Card Games

Although you can check out classic board games from the front desk in most dorms, they may not have the most current games. If you are shy and want to make friends, make sure to bring a game like “Cards Against Humanity,” a ouija board, or anything else you’d be able to ask others to join. You’d be surprised at the fun, random nights that can come out of board games, and they’re a great icebreaker. My freshman year, my mom brought me a care package and accidentally brought me “Twister Dance Rave,” a kids dancing game that is a variation of the classic Twister game, and my floor had way more fun with that than we expected to.

7. Poster of Something You Love

If you and your roommate can agree on something you both enjoy, get a poster of it and display it on the outside of your door. The beautiful thing about freshman dorms is that everyone else also doesn’t have any friends and needs to get to know people. Seeing a poster with characters from a favorite TV show, sports team, or anything else that can start a conversation will bring people from the hallway into your room to talk about it.

8. Macaroni and Cheese

Although you will have a meal plan, there are times when you just cannot get yourself to leave your room and actually walk to get food. In the heat of finals week, during the below freezing winter temperatures, or just after a rough night out, making it to the dining hall may not be on the day’s agenda. Easy Mac is the solution to all of your dietary needs, and yes, this probably is a factor in the freshman fifteen...but so worth it.

9. Extension Power Strip

Since most dorms are older buildings, the outlets can sometimes be in odd locations. If you look at your phone before you go to bed like 99% of the human population, you’ll want an extension cord. Since you’ll also have a laptop and multiple fans, you may want to get an extension power strip so that all of your devices will have an outlet wherever you want it.

10. Earplugs

Having a roommate can be tough to adjust to, not to mention getting used to living with the noises of hundreds of other people in your dorm. Since I’m the lightest sleeper on the planet, earplugs are what got me through living in a dorm. Whether you like to sleep in while your roommate gets up early or if they are a night owl and you aren’t, earplugs can be your best friend and ease lots of conflict before it arises.

11. Good Headphones

Another argument many roommates get into is about playing videos, movies, or music out loud. By considering your roommate’s feelings and getting a good pair of headphones you’ll be combating these issues right away. On the flip side, your roommate may be making noise you’re trying to block out. They may chew too loudly, snap their gum, or worse; do unmentionable things in the bunk below you when their significant other visits. Whatever the reason, you’ll be happy you brought these along.

12. Whiteboard Calendar

Last but not least, starting college means committing to hours of class, studying, and homework. If you plan to add a job and a social life to that list, you’ll want a whiteboard calendar to hang up (using your command strips!) and different colored dry erase markers to organize with. The first online quiz I missed for English 110 helped me learn this lesson real quick!

Now that you've checked and double checked your packing list and added these items to it, you can roll into freshman year with the confidence that you're prepared for anything!