Freshman year of college can easily be overwhelming. Going to AARO, moving into dorms and surviving Mustang Corral is a lot to take in over a short period of time. On top of that, textbooks must be ordered, classes must be finalized and your school bag has to be packed for the first day.

But what should you bring?

College is not high school – gone are the heavy binders and textbooks carried from class to class each day. Instead, a few notebooks and other miscellaneous items will be carried as you shuffle from building to building.

To help lighten your purse, bag or backpack, check out this list of five items every college student needs (excluding phones and notebooks).

1. Planner

Whether it’s the calendar on your phone or a Lily Pulitzer agenda, having a planner to write down important test dates, meetings and reminders is essential to staying organized in college.

2. Water bottle

Texas heat reaches its pinnacle in August. Temperatures often break 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and walking in that weather simply doesn’t sound pleasant. Packing a liter water bottle can help quench your thirst, prevent dehydration and refresh your body after walking across campus during the mid-afternoon. If you want to spice up your water, add flavored/non-flavored ice cubes, frozen berries or lemon and lime slices to improve taste.

3. Sunglasses

In reference to the Texas heat once again, not only will it be hot, it will also be sunny. To protect your eyes from UV damage and prevent your eyes from squinting too much while trying to read building names, invest in a pair of nice sunglasses.

4. Earphones

Earphones are vital in college. They serve many purposes: to listen to music at the gym, to talk to someone on the phone hands-free, to block out sound while trying to cram before that first test and so on. Be sure to wrap them carefully, or suffer fatal tangling in your bag and a possible broken earbud.

5. Powerbar

While SMU’s campus is relatively small, a short walk back to the dorms, Umphrey Lee or Arnold dining hall can seem miles away if you’re famished. To satisfy hunger if you’re in between classes, going to a meeting or just plain starving, don’t forget to throw in a powerbar like Quest or thinkThin.

These five recommended items have helped me survive college, and saved me on multiple occasions. Hopefully they’ll have a positive impact on you as well. Good luck!