College how-tos and don't-dos and what-I-wish-I-knews: I'm sure you've read at least twelve of each, so I'm going to try and give you some fresh advice while sharing my personal experiences. No matter what, your freshman year is going to be completely personalized and unique. But there are some general suggestions you might want to keep in mind, and here I'll talk about what you should physically bring along with you.

1. Yourself

As in, the most you version of yourself. It sounds completely cheesy, I know, but take a moment to consider how you behaved in high school (and also, who doesn't love cheese?!). Who did you hang out with? What did you admit to liking or disliking? If you're honest with yourself, you'll understand that you weren't always completely honest with everyone else, and that affected who you hung out with. I'm not saying you need to reveal everything about yourself to everyone you meet; however, you should be true to yourself. No matter who you are, you're going to make friends. They might as well be people you actually like!

2. Storage Bins

Storage bins are fabulous squares of color for many reasons. They're handy when it comes to transporting everything you think you're going to need to college, and for storing all the nonsense you're bound to accumulate. They fit perfectly under the beds, and look so tidy because you can't actually see what's inside them.

3. Openness

To try new things, to talk to new people. This is a relatively obvious idea that often gets pushed aside and forgotten about after the first few weeks of school. Even after you're settled in and feel comfortable talking to the people you see on a regular basis, keep in mind that there are so many people to meet. When it comes to what you occupy your free time with, remember that there's no harm in trying something completely foreign to you.

4. Water Bottle

A good one. Not a cheap green cylinder that will make your water taste like plastic after two minutes, nor a bedazzled shiny thing that's going to shatter if you so much as poke it. Invest some money into a water bottle that you're going to want to use and that can handle tumbling down a flight of stairs. Because that happens.

5. Medication

Tissues don't count, though you'll want to bring those as well. You're going to catch the college nasty — be prepared for it.

6. A Spine

Because why not throw that in there? College can be kind of terrifying. Besides the fact that you're on your own and there's nobody there to tell you that taking Delsym before class is probably going to make you stumble around like a sniffling zombie, there's, you know, other stuff. You are the one making all of the decisions. And even though everyone avoids it like the plague, you're kind of an adult now. Adulting.

7. A Lamp

College dorms are surprisingly dark. Even if you're blessed with a large window, that's only going to help a little — and only when the sun's out. To avoid feeling blah with the weather, bring a lamp with you and stick it in the middle of the room if you have to.

8. Food

Things that won't go bad within a few days. Granola bars and microwavable meals are magical things. Yogurt, too, so long as you have a fridge. Anything that satisfies your midnight cravings. Because midnight cravings turn into second dinner.

9. An Alarm Clock

Your phone is basically an extension of you, and by "extension of you," I mean it has no problem snoozing until your 50-minute class is 45 minutes over. Buy an alarm clock that can stand up to your flailing arm at six in the morning and actually get you out of bed.

10. Sweatpants

Because you think you can manage an 8 a.m.