Fans

This is an absolute must if you are assigned to the dorms on campus that don't have air conditioning. These dorms include Lakeside (Shorts and Eagle), The Village, or Spotswood, the single Bluestone dorm that isn't air-conditioned. Fans will be especially essential during FROG week when JMU is at its hottest. Thankfully it starts to cool down around mid-September, but a fan will definitely be needed for August and after spring break.

Laptop

This is particularly important in your college career. It would be a terrible idea to rely only on the library or school computers, as oftentimes assignments must be turned in at times where you can't access one. As for what kind of laptop to get, that's up to personal preference. It seems as though Macs are the overwhelmingly popular choice, but for PC fans, there are plenty of options. I recommend a Microsoft Surface Book (although a bit pricey) as it is versatile touchscreen.

Command Hooks

Command hooks are extremely useful for putting things up in dorms. Since all freshmen are required to live on-campus their first year, there isn't much choice as to where they can live. Dorms are notoriously small and cramped, so being able to hang objects or decorations on the wall saves a lot of space and makes a dorm room look bigger and spacier. There are so many uses for command hooks: they can be used to hang up paintings or drawings, you can hang your lanyard from them, scarves, hats, etc. The possibilities are limitless with these small little gadgets.

Water Bottle

I recommend investing in a high-quality, reusable water bottle. These are very important to have for when you get thirsty and are on the go, which happens quite often in college. I recommend re-usable over plastic, as they are not only better for the environment, but plastic water bottles tend to amass in clusters and take up more space. Good water bottle brands include CamelBak or the S'well stainless steel ones that are very popular right now.

Backpack

This one is pretty much a no-brainer. A good backpack for college is important for several reasons. When in college, there is a lot more walking than high school, since students have to walk across an entire campus versus the hallways of a single large building. JMU, in particular, is a large campus, with east and main campus quite a distance. A good quality backpack is necessary for transporting important items such as your laptop, assignments, binders, etc. You don't need a super expensive brand, just a sturdy enough backpack that will last the four or more years you'll be in college. Backpacks are also very helpful for spontaneous road trips, if you want to sleep over at a friend's dorm, or traveling somewhere overnight.

Phone Pocket

While these might not look the best and might leave a sticky residue on the back of your phone, phone pocket stickers are a handy little gadget that makes carrying your essential cards, such as your JACard and credit card, much easier. Instead of having to fish your JACard out of your backpack when trying to punch for food, having a phone pocket makes it as simple as pulling it from the back of your phone. And who doesn't carry their phone with them everywhere in this day and age?