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.