Don't Leave Home Without... without these 10 items.

1. HALF THE CLOTHES IN YOUR CLOSET
Don’t assume you will be able to cram a walk-in-closet full of clothing into your new storage accommodations.

2. FLIP FLOPS
Can you say foot fungus? Bring them to wear in the shower. Really.

3. SHOWER CADDY
Unless you’re a talented juggler or have ten arms, you’ll need a handy carrier for your shampoo, conditioner, body wash or soap, razor, and washcloth or loofah.

4. BED GEAR
You will probably need to bring your own sheets, pillowcases and a mattress pad. Also, if you have a loft bed, you may want to buy a futon for the lower level for when you have friends over. If your bed isn’t a loft, consider converting it into one. Space in the dorm rooms is a precious commodity.

5. LAPTOP
If you haven’t already, prepare to enter the digital world full-force when you get to college. With papers to write, online quizzes to complete, and endless research to be done, your laptop may just become your new best friend. You can easily take this necessity anywhere—the library, a coffee shop or class—without much hassle at all.

6. LIGHTS
Bring your own lights. Dorm lighting is never very pleasant. Flexible table lamps allow you to study late without keeping your roommate awake.

7. PHOTOS
Bring your family—in photographs, that is. You may not think you are going to miss your annoying little brother or slobbery Fido, but bring the snapshots just in case.

8. STEPSTOOL
When space is limited and you can’t spread out, you must “spread up.” Your bed might be five feet off the ground and you may need a ladder to reach the top shelf of your closet. Increase your vertical adaptability with a boost.

9. ORGANIZERS
Trust us, dorm rooms can sometimes seem even smaller than you think. In order to fit all your personal items and school supplies into your limited space, think ahead in terms of organization. Plastic crates or drawer sets are perfect to fit into the bottom of closets or in nooks around your room, and make storing stuff a breeze.

10. FIRST AID KIT
Create a first aid and medicine kit in a medium-sized Tupperware container. Take a parent to the pharmacy and purchase over-the-counter meds for all illness occasions. The middle of a migraine is no time to be standing in the drugstore wondering what kind of pain reliever mom or dad always had.