If you feel lost while trying to get into the swing of things, here's a list of advice to help you out with major events such as packing up all your precious stuff to the anxiety you may experience before your first day of class.

• Do research on what to bring to your school. Call your school's office of residence life or housing to see what the rooms are like, what kind of beds there are, what you can't bring, items they do recommend students bring, and other important details.
• If you can find out who your roommates are ahead of time, call them once you get their phone number. Not only can you to get to know them, but also find out what they are bringing. There's nothing worse than coming to college and having two of everything.
• If you are close to the college that you will be attending, or you are planning a campus visit soon after you schedule your classes, you should try to buy your books early. Everyone always waits in line the night before classes start, and if you need help finding something, that help will be hard to find. Bookstores usually have the appropriate books up to a month ahead of time, so go early and take your parents or friends along for help. Sometimes the same course will have different sections with completely different books. Bring your schedule so the bookstore employees have an easier time finding what you need. If you come early, you will get the one-on-one attention you deserve, and you are more likely to buy cheaper used books before they are all gone.
• Plastic storage bins are a great substitute for finding all those boxes to pack your stuff in. They may be more expensive than cardboard boxes, but they are worth it in the long run. Lots of people pack their things in boxes when they move to college and end up throwing them away, only to realize at the end of the year they are scrambling for boxes all over again. You can find plastic bins at any discount store and they are great because they rarely break, they can hold lots of stuff, they fit neatly in your car, and they can't get damaged (or damage your stuff) like bags and boxes can. You can also put two together, cover them with a sheet, and, voila—an instant table.
• Carpets and rugs are also a good beginning investment. If you have bare floors, carpet can hold in the heat in the room, plus it adds decoration—bare floors can make your room look empty and depressing. Some colleges have carpet sales on campus. Use these as a last resort because they tend to charge steeper prices. If there is a discount carpet outlet near you, go there, or try any carpet store to see if they will give/sell you remnants for a lower price. Another option is to buy a large room rug. Don't splurge too much on your carpet. Remember, you might have to haul that large expensive roll home at the end of the year.
• Get your school stuff ready and organized early. Chances are you will still be unpacking into the beginning of school, so if your bag is ready for class, that's one less thing you need to worry about during those first days. Save the schedules and any syllabi your professors give you—these contain all the classes' important information, such as test schedules, assigned reading, and projects.
• You don't have to bring everything! Trust me, you will not be able to fit it all in a space the size of a two-person closet. Leave behind your first teddy bear, but don't forget the essentials. You want your dorm to look like home, but not be so cluttered that you can't move around.