College Supplies Every Student Needs

By Shivani Patel on February 7, 2016

Let’s face it: no matter how old we are, or what grade we are in, shopping for school supplies is the WORST. It’s hard to figure out what college supplies we need.

We end up buying supplies we won’t use and totally forget about supplies we need. However, no matter what year you are in college, these supplies are something you should definitely consider buying.

image via pixabay

*Post-it Notes: Post-it notes will help you out in so many ways. If you need to remind yourself of something, you can write it down on a post-it and stick somewhere. For example, do you need to remember to do laundry? Write it down on a post-it and put it near something you always approach.

For an example, place the post-it on your laptop, or on the refrigerator.

Key Tip: Post-it notes come in various sizes, so go for whichever size you feel is the easiest to use. Large post-its may be good for to-do lists, while small or medium sized post-its can be helpful when reading and annotating.

*Highlighters: Trust me when I say this — highlighters are your SAVIOR. Those long textbook chapters can be overwhelming, but once you begin to highlight the important parts, studying becomes easier! Whether you’re going over your notes, or articles you printed out, highlighting will help you focus on the important things when you go back and study!

Key-tip: Highlighters come in various colors, but yellow may be the best one to use. However, you may also use a different color to highlight different things. For example, if you understand something, highlight it in yellow. If something is confusing, highlight it in pink. This way, you know what to spend more time studying.

*Folders, Notebooks, Pens, and Looseleaf: You may laugh, but you’d be surprised how many people FORGET to buy these items! Some students stroll into class the first day, and panic when they realize they don’t have a pen to sign the attendance, or a folder to put the syllabus in.

The lines in the bookstore for basic supplies on the first week of classes is ridiculous. And let’s be real — those prices are a little too high because your school knows students will purchase it all without thinking.

Key tip: Teachers will hand out syllabuses on the first day, and most of them will teach! And these supplies may come in handy a lot in class. These are the main college supplies you will definitely need, so be sure to buy them in advance.

*Planner/Agendas: Planners are very important to carry around! You can write down important dates, as well as homework assignments. Planners will help you stay organized. Make sure to purchase an academic planner to use for the school year.

Key tip: To make it a bit easier, organize everything using different color pens. You can have a color per class, or a color per type of assignment. For example, you can use red for biology. Or, you can write test dates in blue and essay due dates in purple.

*Cell Phone: You probably already have this, but believe it or not, your cell phone can come in handy. Sometimes, professors can email you last minute about a class cancellation. You may also receive other important emails, related to college. Having a phone on you will help you stay up to date.

Key tip: Many apps can be your savior. For an example, the iTunes App Store offers a FREE Microsoft Word app. So, while you’re waiting for your next class, you can take out your phone, and start typing up that paper for your English class! Also, this grades app helps you calculate what your average in a class is, and helps you figure out what you need to score to get the overall grade you want!

*Laptop: This one may also be a given, but there may be some things people tend to forget. First off, make sure your laptop is something you can carry to school. Your old HP Laptop that weighs five pounds MAY become difficult to lug around. Try to invest in a lightweight laptop, that can easily fit into your bag. Some classes may require you to bring a laptop. Also, you may find it easier to take notes on your laptop.

Key tip: Many companies, such as Apple and Dell, give student discounts! As a college student, you can get your laptop for a discounted price!

image via pixabay

Now that you have an idea of what is needed in college, make sure you have these items ready as soon as you can.

But remember, along the way, you may find that you need other things, such as rulers or binders, depending on the classes you’re taking. The basic college supplies mentioned in this article will surely help you have a great semester!

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