The countdown to school has officially begun, and now you're looking up all the advice you can before you start the year. Every article is telling you, "What you should do...", "How you should pack," "What you should and shouldn't bring" and "What you should know."

Here's another article to either ease your pain or cause you more stress by adding to the chaos of your life at the moment. This is a list of the problems you'll want to be able to solve without calling your parents in college.

1. How to cook your favorite dish

No one says you have to be Top Chef to go to college, but you're going to find yourself repeatedly eating fast food and whatever meal you can muster together from leftovers in the kitchen.

After going through this pattern for months, you're going to start craving a taste of home. Nothing will make you feel more independent yet still connected to home like learning how to make your favorite dish.

Possibly try to cook something special from a restaurant you like. Eating out all the time for that one craving can get pretty expensive. You should consider maybe figuring out an excellent dupe for that Chipotle burrito or how to make your fries in the oven rather than getting Wendy's.

2. What you or anyone should take for specific illnesses

Now you've made it to college, so you obviously have some sense, but everyone is guilty of just telling their parent what's wrong and getting directed on what to take. There's nothing wrong with calling for advice but to a knowing what you need without calling your mom first makes things seem a little less difficult.

3. What to buy to clean different shoes

Once you get on campus different events are going to come up whether it's an interview or going out with friends. New events mean new outfits and shoes and it helps to know how to take care of those things if they get dirty. Ladies invest in suede cleaner because those booties or thigh highs will get ruined at some party and guys, definitely find a nice shoe polish for the business loafers.

4. Whether something needs to go to the dry cleaners or should be hand washed.

I know so many people who come to college and just throw everything in the machine. So many people have the "Whatever, it should get cleaned attitude, " and that is just not okay especially with the price of clothes these days. If you want to get the most out of your pieces and see them last for a while learn to read the tags on your clothes and just get a general idea of when something needs to be hand-washed, dry cleaned, or just thrown in the machine.

5. How to set up a television

Be honest, if your parents or an older adult weren't there when setting up a TV, would you know exactly what it takes to set it up? The answer is most likely no and that's sort of an issue.

Say you didn't originally come with a TV and decide to buy one with roommates or you or a friend move the next semester, you're either going to wish you knew how to do or wish you knew more people that did.

6. What can and cannot be microwaved

There's a pretty long list of things that can go into the microwave and a pretty specific list of things you cannot. If you call home every time you want to use a microwave it's going to become annoying to you and your parents.

Also, make sure to learn how long to put something in the microwave. I've heard plenty of horror stories and smelt a lot of burnt food since I've been in college. Just start with a quick time and go back for more heating if you're not right. It's better to be under the time than over it.