This list of college move-in must-haves is here to prepare you before the big day! Remember, what’s essential for someone else may not be necessary for you. Read this before you shop. Shopping for college looks a bit different from your standard K-12 Target run. Here are 25 back-to-school must-haves for college students (and parents).

1. Mattress topper

Good sleep is everything. A mattress topper ensures that the rock-hard excuse for a mattress you’re given is actually sleep-worthy.

2. Phone wallet card holder 

Keep your student ID, debit and credit cards, and license securely all in one place.

3. Blue Ikea storage bags with zippers 

Everything you bring with you to college has to be stored. Slide these under the bed for easy storage of clothes, towels, and everything else. 

4. Twin XL sheets

Most dorm beds are Twin XL. The longer, the better. 

5. Power strip 

You won’t have enough outlets to charge everything, so that’s where extension cords, a surge protector, and power strips come in. Or you could opt for a charger with multiple outlets to save the day. 

6. Laundry hamper with straps 

Whether you commute, live in an apartment, or bunk in the dorms, to haul clothes around, you’ll need a laundry bag. Straps are mandatory. 

7. Mirrors

Sharing one mirror in the bathroom under fluorescent lights can be part of the college experience, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you need to touch up your mascara or shave, having an extra mirror never hurts. 

8. Lamps and string lights

This helps give your dorm room some charm. It also solves problems when your roommate wants to go to bed and you don’t. 

9. Clothes hangers

This one is the easiest to forget and is often left at home. Don’t have a closet? Try hanging storage.

10. Reusable water bottle

You’re going to want to be hydrated after long walks across campus, trust me. 

11. Digital calendar or planner

Plan ahead now and start the school year off strong. 

12. Noise-canceling headphones

Rowdy roommates? Headphones will help you lock in. Never underestimate the need for wired earbuds for class and the library.

13. Command hooks

So you can decorate (and not get fined for damages), of course! 

14. HDMI cord

Everyone will want to be your friend when you pull this out. An HDMI cord will make it easy to screen-mirror your phone or watch a movie!

15. Shower shoes

These will save you, and not just for the shower. These sandals from Target (the link above is for men’s sizing) are easy to clean, affordable, and durable. 

16. Mini fan 

Dorm rooms can be stuffy without a lot of airflow. If it’s not a scorcher during move-in, you’ll be thanking Mom and Dad come spring. 

17. Mini vacuum cleaner

A dorm floor gets dirty fast, especially if it’s carpet like mine was. 

18. Reusable tupperware 

Good for leftovers from home, your favorite take-out place, and even the dining hall. 

19. Personal hygiene products

Deodorant, soap, and razors are the first things to dwindle; be sure to stock up before move-in. The last thing a student wants to do while adjusting to a new place is find a pharmacy off-campus. 

20. Mini fridge with mini freezer 

Talk with your roommates first about this one. See if anyone else is bringing one or willing to share. My mini fridge helped me eat healthy at college, and I was able to freeze one to two home-cooked meals! 

21. A stuffed animal or a reminder of home

Being far from home with nobody to answer to except yourself is a weird feeling. Photos of family and friends or a memento from home can cure first-semester homesickness. 

22. First aid kit and medication

For emergencies!

23. Water filter or Brita 

Going to a public university? These are essential for maintaining clean water inside your dorm room.

24. Cleaning supplies (& mini trash can) 

You don’t want to be the roommate who forgets this stuff. Clorox wipes, Kleenex, mirror disinfectant, and toilet bowl cleaner may seem excessive to someone who’s never lived on their own, but within two weeks… 

25. Rain jacket or an umbrella

Your mind is in a million places before move-in, and rain isn’t on your radar. So, when it does come down, you’ll be glad you packed it—going to school in a hotter climate? Pack a plastic rain poncho for emergencies.