A College Essentials Checklist: What to Take

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending the Bay Area Colgate send off for incoming freshmen students. It was so fun to see all of the eager (and slightly apprehensive!) students and parents, and to remember how excited and nervous I was at my own send off only a couple years ago.

In the spirit of "back to college," I decided to compile a list of my college essentials.

A few things you shouldn't leave behind when you pack up this fall, and a couple of fun extras:

1. At least one nice dress is a good thing to have on hand in case you go out to dinner with professors or are attending a social event or formal. This Cynthia Steffe ruffled dress is a great option for both dressing up and more casual looks.
2. You'll want to bring a good weekly planner to stay organized. I prefer one with a soft cover that has a lot of space for me to write notes.
3. Cheap tie-on curtains are an easy way to customize an otherwise bland dorm room.
4. If you attend school in the snow belt like I do, you'll need to invest in rain boots and snow boots that will keep your feet warm and dry. Hunter boot and L.L. Bean are both reliable options.
5. Most dorms require you to walk to a communal bathroom - this monogrammed wrap towel with velcro will keep you covered in style! And shower shoes? An absolute MUST.
6. It's important to have a sturdy book bag that can take the weight (ahem my 3000 page Shakespeare book). A nylon bag like this MICHAEL Michael Kors Back to School Tote will stand the test of time.
7. Throw pillows are another quick way to personalize a dorm. This duo will keep your room looking cheerful and bright.
8. Don't be the girl with an ID lanyard around your neck. This Vera Bradley zip ID case will keep your ID handy and save your from the inevitable freshman faux pas.
9. Have a fitted blazer on hand. You never know when you might have an improptu job interview or will want to dress up for a class presentation.
10. Since you won't have mom around to wake you up anymore, an alarm clock is absolutely necessary! Plug in your iPod to this iHome alarm clock for a more enjoyable wake up call than a blaring buzzer.
11. Finally, of course you need to show some school spirit! A comfy hoodie representing your campus pride will be a library staple.

What do you think? Are there any other necessities for a smooth transition after high school?

Toll House Cookie Pie for Colgate Day!

Where I go to college, we have a special tradition where we are obsessed with the number 13. As the tradition goes, the school was founded by "thirteen men with thirteen dollars and thirteen prayers." The first two numbers of the zip code are 13, and the rest add up to 13. The president of the school encourages us to get over our "triskaidekaphobia" (the fear of the number 13) because as a student, the number will be lucky for the rest of our lives.

And today, Friday the 13th, is the luckiest day of the year. (Unless, of course, there is more than one Friday the 13th).

There are a number of ways to celebrate Colgate Day. Alumni and students alike wear Colgate gear wherever they are, students held a dancing flash mob in the dining hall, and 13 members of the Colgate community even rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on a Colgate Day in 2010.

One tradition that is especially exciting to people with a sweet tooth (hint: me) is that the Colgate Inn serves its famous Toll House Cookie Pie at a discounted price of $13 a pie.

Although I am over 1,000 away from campus today, I decided to make my own Toll House Cookie pie to celebrate Colgate Day.

If you're a Colgate alum or student, you can use this same recipe to help celebrate your love for Colgate. But even if you have no idea about Colgate, Adam & Eve, Willow Path, or triskaidekaphobia, you can still make this gooey, chewy, chocolatey treat for your own celebration.