Target, Walmart, and other chain stores have their aisles stocked, August is just a few days away, and anticipation fills the air. This can only mean one thing; college starts soon! For all Sophomore, Junior, and Senior college students move-in day can't come soon enough, but for the incoming freshman these next few weeks are filled with a mix of emotions. I was there a year ago, and I remember how overwhelmed I felt shopping for my Freshman year, but don't worry - I've got you covered! These were my top 20 most used items, some are common knowledge and others are often forgotten, but stick to this list and you can breathe a little easier.

1. Duvet Cover

Duvet covers are awesome! A duvet cover is basically a pillow case for your comforter, so I just bought a plain white comforter and then picked a duvet cover that went with my style! If come my Junior year I want to change the theme of my dorm then I only have to spend a little cash on a new duvet cover, rather than buying a whole new comforter. Plus if you spill your drink, it's a lot easier to just wash a thin duvet than it is to wash a thick comforter (Buy this duvet cover here).

2. First Aid Kit

Now I don't just mean any old first aid kit, I mean the king of first aid kits. I'm kind of a klutz so my mom made me this awesome first aid kit that had everything in it, and I mean everything, there was even a pair of gloves... Basically, you buy a good sized plastic tote and then fill it! My kit contained the following: gloves, ibuprofen, cold medicine, cough drops, bandaids of various sizes, allergy medicine, gauze, nose spray, vaseline, hydrocortisone cream, bug spray, itch relief cream, medical tape, and a tiny bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Surprisingly, I used 99% of the kit, even the hydrogen peroxide, although I still think my roommate is a little angry that I lied and told her hydrogen peroxide doesn't sting.

3. Planner

In college you have so many dates, deadlines, meetings, events, and tests to remember that having a planner is the definition of an essential. Personally, my favorite planners are the Erin Condren planners , but they can be a little pricey. You can find a planner just about anywhere though, the one above is from Target , and don't forget some colorful pens to stay organized!

4. Dish soap and a sponge

Despite what you may think, dishes do not clean themselves...unfortunately. So, you're going to have to do some dishes and that's kind of hard to accomplish without a sponge and soap.

5. Ottoman

An ottoman means extra seating without all the bulk of a chair. Plus this one not only comes in super cute designs, it also has storage and is collapsible. You can thank me later.

6. Can opener

For all your canned food needs.

7. Coffee maker

Believe me, if you aren't a coffee drinker now college will make you one. Regardless, not only is a coffee maker good for making coffee, it can be used to boil water for pasta, hot cocoa, and so much more. This adorable coffee maker can be found here.

8. Mini fridge

I suggest a two door fridge/freezer, but at the very least buy a mini fridge to store perishable items for those times you don't feel like making the trek to the dining hall.

9. Shower shoes

I think the number one thing I hate the most about college is communal showers. If your college has communal showers I highly suggest you buy a pair of shower shoes. I just used flip flops, which I bought here.

10. Index cards

You have to study in college and I found it easiest to use old fashioned flash cards to study key terms, but if you are more high tech then there are various flash card apps.

11. Brita pitcher

Tap water not only tastes nasty, but it's not the best for you, so I would highly suggest buying a Brita pitcher or something similar.

12. Hand sanitizer

College is a petri dish for germs, do yourself a favor and buy some hand sanitizer. I forgot this essential, but shout out to my roommate for letting me use hers.

13. Shower caddy

Like I said, communal showers are kind of awful, but a shower caddy makes it a little more tolerable.

14. Emergen-C

College is stressful and as a result your immune system takes a beating, I suggest buying some Emergen-C to boost your immune system; this stuff was my saving grace.

15. Flashlight

One night my college lost power and it was nice to have a flashlight to take to the bathroom rather than wasting my phone battery.

16. Backpack

With all the textbooks you will be carrying around it is super useful to have a sturdy backpack, I suggest a Jansport.

17. Bedside caddy

Regardless if your bed is bunked, or on the floor a bedside caddy is an useful thing to have.

18. Lap desk

Whether you're actually studying in your bed or watching Netflix, a lap desk makes either activity a bit easier.

19. Eye mask

Your schedule is not going to match up with your roommate's schedule, so at some point an eye mask comes in handy. Whether you need to go to bed early and their computer screen bothers you, or you need to get up early and they don't have class till noon, an eye mask saves you both from a lot of bickering.

20. Portable phone charger

Nothing is worse than having a dead phone battery, especially if you still have three more classes for the day. Save yourself the headache and invest in a portable charger like this one from Amazon.

So next time you're in Target, or on your laptop, try and keep this list in mind. Until then, enjoy your next few weeks of summer and remember the best years of your life are about to start.