Before moving to college, make a site map for your college life. You know, like website site maps that break down where everything is. College life basically breaks down like this: reading, researching, eating, drinking, washing (yourself and your clothes), entertaining (yourself and your friends), and sleeping.

Think about each topic and the stuff you'll need to make your college life productive and enjoyable.

Reading: You'll be doing that a lot with books that cost a lot of money, but that's a topic for another time. You'll need reading lamps and someplace to read, besides in bed.

Research: There's always the library, but if you want to research from your apartment, you'll need a computer and an Internet connection. That means you're going to need a desk or at least a table.

Eating: Having pizza every day for dinner and breakfast won't do for very long. You'll need a few cooking utensils, like pots, pans, knifes, forks, plates, cups you get the idea. Also, never underestimate the utility of a microwave and a toaster oven. I'm assuming here that your apartment comes with an oven and a fridge. And don't forget the all important can opener.

Drinking: Coffee will be your friend. If not coffee, then something with caffeine. So you'll need either a coffee maker or a supply of energy drinks. (Remember, no beer until after college, right? Right.).

Washing: When we're living at home, soap and toothpaste just seem to be there when we need them. The same goes for clean clothes and clean towels. We put the dirty clothes in the hamper and the clean clothes appear in our closets and drawers. Don't count on that happening when you move to college. Don't forget the laundry hamper, detergent and quarters for washing. 

Entertaining: Don't assume you can skip on entertaining. It's a basic human right of college students. I'm not saying you're going to a party school. I'm just saying that you'll want entertainment, for yourself at the very least. A television, an MP3 player, and a stereo are essential to your sanity, not to mention your social life.

Sleeping: Amazing as it may seem right now; this is the one thing you will be doing the least of. But like toiletries and clean clothes, you probably haven't ever given much thought to the fact the bed you sleep in each night has sheets on it. And they're always fresh and clean. You'll need pillows, sheets, blankets, and, most important, an alarm clock.

So, now you're all set for the time of your life. College life is a trip like no other.