It's August, which means it's just about time to head back to college for the year. Excitement is high, as you reconnect with friends who ventured home for the summer, yet it is nerve-wracking to start new classes and make sure you are well prepared! Here is a simple to-do list to make sure you are set for the first day of class!

1. Nail down living situations.

Whether you are living with a group of friends or alone, it is important to figure out move in/move out dates, and all the specific details of where you will be living!

2. And make sure you have everything you need for your apartment/house.

Consult with your roommates on who plans to bring what. Maybe meet for coffee to hangout before you all live together and make a checklist of who is bringing what. This can be a fun excuse to have a coffee date before the big move!

3. Buy textbooks.

This is a big one! You'll want to buy textbooks a few weeks in advance to ensure that they are not sold out and that they deliver in time. Often times, you don't actually need the textbooks until the second week of school, but it is always good to come prepared!

4. Gather school supplies.

Take a day and head out shopping for school supplies. You probably don't need all of the supplies you did as a kid, but making sure you have some notebooks, folders, and pencils is a good start.

5. Make sure you are registered for all the classes you need to be.

Double check that you are registered for the correct classes that you need to be in this semester. Keeping a journal or planner is a great way to keep everything organized for each course.

6. And look at the location and times of each class.

Look at your schedule to double check that none of your classes overlap and that you can get to each class with enough time. It can be helpful to walk to each class to ensure you know where they are!

7. Clothes shopping, duh!

Clothes shopping is always the best part of going back to school. You have to have the perfect "first day of class" outfit.

8. Decide whether you will be working or not, and apply for jobs.

If you are planning on working this school year, make sure to take a look at the schools' website. Most of the time they have student jobs that are perfect for fitting into your schedule. They understand that students are busy and are really flexible.

9. Make sure your loans, payments, etc. are all in order.

I know this is probably the last thing you want to do during summer break, but you have to pay for college somehow. Make sure your payments are in order and to take out a loan if need be.

10. Say goodbye to friends and family from back home.

Most friends are going to be heading back to school or you won't be seeing your family for awhile. Make sure to take the time to say goodbye, although this may be the hardest step yet!

If you follow through and make sure you complete everything on this checklist, you will be ready for college to start back up again after a long, fun summer!