College Backpack Essentials

Aug 23, 2014

Megan M.

So I start college in 2 days and wanted to know what I should have in my backpack. Here's a list of what I already have:
Pens
Pencils
Highlighters
Gum
Planner
Folders
Notebooks
Water bottle
Calculator (and chord to charge it)
Headphones
Emergency makeup essentials
Erasers
Whiteout
Ipad (w/ keyboard)
Index cards (w/ case)
Epi-Pen (in case of emergency)
Am I missing anything?

Aug 23, 2014

Megan M.

And bobby pins, hair ties, and lip balm too.

Aug 23, 2014

Alex W.

Plasters and painkillers

Aug 23, 2014

Megan M.

Thank you!!

Aug 23, 2014

Megan M.

Plasters?

Aug 23, 2014

Megan M.

Oh. Okay

Aug 23, 2014

Megan M.

Thank you!

Aug 23, 2014

Nicole R.

If you have a lot of classes I suggest a hair brush and a snack and a small coat if you are still dressed for summer (classrooms can sometimes be really really cold and it is a real bummer to be in a long lecture while freezing)

Aug 23, 2014

Andrea V.

Painkillers, pads, and snacks lol you'll get hungry or have some type of anxiety/stress attack I would get those walking into calculus every single time x) (grapes, strawberries and goldfish are the best snacks) sunscreen, if your campus is like the one I go to there will be a lot of walking outside from building to building

Aug 23, 2014

Andrea V.

Omg yes a hoodie or small sweater!!

Aug 23, 2014

Emily W.

After your first day you'll realize you don't need that, and you'll pare it down to a notebook and a pen, plus your personal items.

You don't need highlighters, white out, erasers, an iPad, etc. You are doing is adding extra weight. I went through three years at a rigorous university carrying a single notebook and pen. I used my phone as a calculator when needed. Every professor I have ever had won't accept assignments written in pencil. If they do scantron tests you only need a pencil for the tests. I've never had a use for index cards, since they are inefficient and inconvenient. I never used a highlighter and I never EVER wrote in textbooks (makes it near worthless to sell when you're done). Hell, after my first quarter I didn't even rent/buy textbooks anymore, I just used the copy at the library when I needed to study. I never had use for planner, as assignments and their dates are listed on the class syllabus for every course. You want to carry as little as possible, since you'll find yourself stuffed into crowded lecture halls with narrow seats and not a lot of room for a backpack. Also, don't use a backpack that you don't want to get dirty, because it will be on the filthy floor between your feet most of the time.

This is my list:
- Notebook
- Black pen
- Phone
- Gum, water, lip balm, whatever makeup you want
- Feminine hygiene products, bobby pins, hair comb, deodorant
- One folder or.5 in. binder for handouts
- Snack
- Sweater if you're the chilly type, but if you're in a full lecture it gets warm fast

Aug 23, 2014

Sara K.

Chocolate :D

Aug 23, 2014

Emily B.

I would leave the iPad and calculator at home, but everything else is good I think...I stayed on campus all day and loved having whiteout and highlighters to do work in between classes or study, and I'm on my fourth year at one of the most rigorous, highly rated schools in the US. I also agree with many girls about bobby pins/ties, painkillers, snack and tampons. I don't think anyone knows what school you're going to, so we can't really assume you won't have room for a backpack because you're in a crowded lecture hall.

Aug 23, 2014

Nicole R.

What problem do you girls have with calculators? Trust me if you don't bring your calculator to calculus, chem, or physics you will be in deep water fast lol.

Aug 23, 2014

Andrea V.

Emily gave you great advice! But like Nicole said still keep the calculator I would always forget mine for calculus and chemistry and a phone calculator isn't the same thing lol and yes make sure you buy scantrons as soon as possible If the class requires them because trust me, you will forget later on haha.