Five Must-Haves for the College Freshman in Your Life

Now that summer is coming to an end, some fall mainstays are coming back. Sweaters, apple pie, pumpkin bread and football are some of our favorites.   Although it's during the fall months when leaves slowly say goodbye for another year, fall also marks new beginnings for many, especially those attending college for the very first time.

College is an exciting time, but it can also be intimidating. Many of the students who make their way to the dorm for the first time have never been away from home for an extended period of time. Add to that classes, social activities and trying to figure out laundry, and it can all be overwhelming. With that in mind, here are a few things you might want to consider including on the checklist for the college freshman in your life.

An iPad: Now it doesn't have to be an iPad – any tablet will do – but iPads are more intuitive than other tablets out there, so there's very little learning curve. One of the biggest expenditures out there for students is college textbooks. If a book is offered in PDF format, they can access the book on their iPad. The iPad also functions as a multimedia and communications tool, which is certainly needed for the dorm. However, do remember to look into iPad 2 cases as college students are notoriously clumsy.  

Shower Caddy: One of the more interesting parts of moving to the dorm is sharing showers with an entire floor. On top of sandals, a shower caddy is a must and can keep toiletries dry and organized.

A Case of Ramen: Trust us. When they're pulling an all-nighter, and they need cheap carbs to get them through the night, these 50 cent packages of salt and artificial preservatives will be a miracle. Remember to tell them to use the gym often, though, to offset fat and salt intake.

Under-bed Storage Bins:  The biggest complaint people living in the dorm will have is the size of their dorm room. Compared to the size of their rooms at home, these rooms feel more like closets. It's important for these people to make the most out of their space, and under-bed storage bins can help them stay organized and allow them to see their carpet.

Egg Crate Mattress Pad: We revise our previous statement. Their mattress will be their number one complaint. Save their back with an egg crate mattress pad.

These items should hopefully help your college freshman survive the first year. Now all they have to do is pass Organic Chemistry. 

Four Ways You Can Break Your Phone and Ways to Avoid Them

If you're a fan of Upright Citizens Brigade Theater or comedy in general, you might want to take a look at this video posted last month, which pokes fun at the extent we'll go to protect our phones and tablets. We do not, for example, recommend that you get a case for your case as suggested by the mobile accessories employee – nor is there a case that's specifically designed to deflect bullets. Your case, although aesthetically pleasing, has one purpose in mind: to protect your mobile communications device. While the video satirizes the extent to what people will do to protect their phone or tablet, there are some real external threats that could put them at risk. Here are four situations you'll want to avoid:

The Classic Morning Step Blunder: A lot of us leave our phones or tablets on the ground when we go to bed just in case someone calls, which is a terrible idea. Imagine yourself in the morning. Are you the type of person who jumps out of bed ready to conquer the world, or are you the type of person who needs a moment to collect your thoughts? If you're the latter, you might not be aware of your mobile device that's right beneath your foot as you step down. Keep your phone on a night stand.

The Cruel Fate of a Meeting with the Washer: One of the worst feelings is being unable to find your phone, and as you are about to give up, you hear the sound of the washer. Then you piece it all together. Leaving your phone in your dirty clothes and throwing it into the washer is a death sentence. Therefore, it's important to always check your clothes before you throw them in. A few seconds of prudence can prevent the annoyances of having to get a new phone or tablet.

Butterfingers: Everyone drops things every now and then. Unfortunately, sometimes that common human error can happen at the worst possible time, such as when you're walking on concrete or pavement with your phone in your hand. iPads and iPhones were not built to withstand long falls down onto a semi-hard surface. That's why it's important to outfit your iPad with a quality iPad 3 case and your iPhone with an iPhone 5 case respectively.

The Toilet Seat Blunder: And probably the worst one of them all: dropping your phone or tablet in the toilet. Whether you're lifting the seat and it falls out of your front pocket, or you're brushing your teeth and your elbow knocks it over, the bathroom is no place for a tablet or phone, so avoid at all costs.