Even though it may be summertime, it's the season where everyone is hitting up Bed Bath & Beyond. Whether you're an incoming college student who has no idea what to expect or a seasoned college veteran who just needs to pick up a couple of things before you head off again, here's a list of the 9 things I didn't buy when I first went dorm shopping that I seriously needed (and purchased last-minute!) later on.

1. Dish soap.

I had a couple of mugs in my room that I used for hot chocolate every now and then, and they weren't disposable, which meant that they had to go be washed in the bathroom sink. The only problem? Either the bathroom was out of soap in the dispensers, or you realized that soap was really grimy and icky anyway, so you didn't want to use it. And unfortunately, hot chocolate gunk does not wash away merely with water. So I decided to buy a small bottle of dish soap that I kept on my shelf, and it made cleaning my ceramic mugs and plates much easier.

2. A light for my closet.

I didn't think it could be as dark as Hell in my closet. I was wrong. So I had to purchase a light that stuck onto the wall so I wasn't preparing for an expedition every time I needed something in there at night.

3. Waaaay more Command Hooks/Velcros than you'd ever think you need.

Whatever amount you think is enough, quadruple that. And then add 50. I went through Command products like it was nobody's business this past year. I probably single-handedly kept them in business.

4. Paper towels.

You will make many messes, and you will spill many things. And you will be sad when all you have around to clean up are tissues.

5. Christmas lights.

I thought that this was more of an optional/decorative thing, so my roommate and I didn't put any up until around Christmas. Let me just tell you, once we did, I kind of wish that we had those lights up the entire year, because it was so much more relaxing to watch Netflix at night with the soft glow of those lights rather than with the harsh fluorescent lighting of the overhead light.

6. A portable DVD player.

If you don't have a TV in your room and some of your favorite movies aren't available on Netflix, this is a must. Invest in this if you can.

7. Something to store all of your snacks.

We ended up having to designate an entire basket to our chips and candy and Ramen packets. You never know when you're going to want something, and it's easier to put everything in one set space than to have your crap littered all over your room.

8. A picnic blanket.

This is definitely a must if your school has some sort of great lawn or green space. On nice days, you'll want something to sit on while you read, do your homework, or hang out with friends, and I've seen many students bring their bath towels out with them in sheer desperation, but it never seems to do the trick. Do yourself a favor and invest in a $20 picnic blanket from somewhere like Target while you can. You'll be glad you did when you don't have to fight to get grass stains out of your towels.

9. Tupperware.

You will be stealing a lot of food (the semi-decent food, anyway) from the dining hall to eat when you're super hungry late at night. Make sure you have the proper containers to store it and hide it in your backpack when you make your great escape.

So those are just the 9 things that I ended up needing during this past school year that I'd definitely recommend buying/obtaining before you head off to school in the fall. Happy hunting!