Most students purchase a new backpack for college, but there’s nothing wrong with using an older one. The ideal college backpack offers laptop protection, adequate storage space, durability, and visual appeal.
North Face backpacks are popular with college students because they have an extensive selection of features and styles for men and women. While they’re slightly more expensive than other brands, the added comfort and durability are worth the extra bucks. Every North Face backpack also comes with a lifetime warranty.
The best backpack for college students is the North Face Borealis, which includes 15-inch padded laptop sleeves, 28 liters of storage space, and compression-molded shoulder pads. It’s also extremely lightweight compared to similarly-sized backpacks (2.12 lbs), which helps reduce back fatigue from long walks to class. If you’re looking for a less expensive North Face backpack than the Borealis, the Jester is a great alternative.
A lot of college students use JanSport backpacks because they’re simplistic and affordable. The best option is the Big Student, but the SuperBreak is cheaper if you don’t need a laptop compartment.
Laptops play an integral role in daily college life, so we highly recommend buying a laptop before classes start. You also need to review your major’s department policies to find out if there are minimum computer requirements. Most students should be fine, but some science, engineering, and computer programming majors use software that isn’t compatible with Macbook’s operating system.
College bookstores encourage students to buy their laptops on-campus by offering extended service warranties, insurance plans, and anytime computer support. While it seems like a convenient way to purchase your new laptop, you should expect to pay significantly higher prices than other retailers. Considering laptops are a serious financial investment, it’s important to compare prices before making a decision.
The best place to shop for college laptops is Amazon since you can browse all of the major brands and models in one place. Students on a tight budget can also save money with Amazon Warehouse, which offers huge discounts on open-box and pre-owned laptops. If you’re someone who needs to test something out before buying it, you can try out a variety of brands at stores such as Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and Apple.
The Apple Macbook Pro is a popular option among students due to its user friendly operating system, sufficient battery life, and overall reliability. The standard 13” model comes with a 1.4Ghz Dual-Core Intel Core I5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD storage. Our entire team at Collegiate Checklist has a Macbook Pro, and we think they’re among the best multipurpose laptops on the market.
If you have a flexible budget and are considering investing in a Macbook Pro, it would be wise to purchase AppleCare, which extends the standard 1 year warranty to 3 years. Since your laptop should last throughout your undergrad years, a better safe than sorry approach for potential damages is the way to go. If you’re looking for upgraded options, other versions of the Macbook Pro offer a 15” screen, Intel I7 processor, touch bar, and up to 512 GB storage.
Microsoft’s Surface Laptop is great for students looking for an affordable alternative to the Macbook Pro. There are several versions to choose from, but we recommend the 13.5” Surface 2 with a 1.2 GHz Dual-Core Intel I5 processor, 8GB RAM, and 128GB SSD.
The Macbook Pro and Surface Laptops also use different operating systems, since Microsoft uses Windows 10, and Apple uses macOS. Deciding between the two comes down to preference, but most students with iPhones prefer using the Macbook Pro.
Students can find tons of budget-friendly laptops that cost under $1,000. You can probably get the most bang for your buck with the Acer Aspire 5 Slim laptop. It’s significantly cheaper than the other options we’ve discussed, but still has similar specs and a 15.6” screen. While the Acer Aspire should be able to handle your school and recreational needs, the user experience and reliability of the laptop is still inferior to the higher-end options.
Every college student should have Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote) installed on their laptop. Most schools provide students with a free subscription plan, so you should be able to register with your .edu email address. A lot of students also use Google Drive, which is free with a Gmail account.
Every student should have a USB flash drive for college coursework. The most common uses are extra electronic storage space, transporting presentations for speeches in class, and transferring files to desktop computers. You can find plenty of 16GB USB’s online for under $10 or save money by using one already lying around your house. If you decide later on that you need a USB, most college bookstores have them for sale at a slightly higher price.
It depends on your major and the classes you take, so you should review your department’s policies to find out if there are calculator requirements. Most business majors typically use the TI-BA II Plus, while science, math, and engineering majors use a TI-84 or higher. Since models like the TI-84 can be quite expensive, many students end up buying used or refurbished calculators. You can also use a free online version of the TI-84 graphing calculator for out of classwork.
It’s hard to find a college student who doesn’t own a pair of headphones, especially those who enjoy listening to music while doing homework or studying. Even if you don’t love music, having a pair of headphones helps block out noise distractions in the library, on-campus, and in your dorm room.
Deciding what headphones to purchase depends on your style preference and price range. We’ve noticed Apple AirPods are extremely popular with students who own a Macbook or iPhone. The wireless AirPods (2nd gen) let you connect instantly to all your Apple or Bluetooth enabled devices and have built-in microphones for phone calls and Siri assistance. They also have a long battery life of up to 5 hours of listening or 3 hours of call time, including an extra 24 hours of on-the-go charging with the wireless case.
Students looking for high-quality over-the-ear headphones should consider the Bose QuietComfort 35’s. Aside from being extremely comfortable and sounding great, the wireless 35’s come with cutting edge noise cancellation technology, built-in voice assistance, and 20 hours of battery life. You can also use Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant anywhere you go!
Apple’s wired EarPods are popular with students on a tighter budget. If you prefer over-the-ear headphones, Sony’s MDRZX100 is another low-cost option.
Most students prefer taking notes on their laptops, but some professors may have no laptop policies or require loose-leaf paper for in-class assignments and exams. A basic pack of 3-5 college-ruled notebooks should last you an entire semester.
Studies have shown that students are more likely to retain information when they take notes by hand, which translates to better success in college. While it’s more comfortable taking notes on a laptop, writing by hand helps you avoid digital distractions and maintain focus during class lectures. You should also create a note-taking and organization plan to help you stay on top of work.
Most college coursework is available online, but plenty of professors still hand out papers and other reading material in class. Some students prefer using a 3-5 inch binder with dividers for each course, while others prefer separate 1-inch binders. It’s also a good idea to have a folder in case you’re required to turn in a hardcopy of a paper.
Planners and calendars help students stay on top of their assignments and avoid being blindsided by upcoming deadlines. Procrastination is a recipe for disaster, and studies have shown that students who wait until the last minute receive lower grades. Being successful in college requires you to dedicate time throughout the week to sit down and get your assignments completed.
The decision between using a paper or digital planner comes down to personal preference. We’ve spoken to plenty of students who say the physical act of writing things down helps them remember everything. A lot of other students prefer the convenience of using the calendar app on their phone or laptop. When in doubt, just use both!
We recommend using mechanical pencils since sharpeners aren’t always in classrooms. It’s also smart to keep a few in your backpack as a backup.
Sharpies and highlighters are great for students who like annotating notes or writing sticky reminders. They can also come in handy if you have a professor who assigns a poster related project. You can survive without them, but we still recommend picking up a cheap pack online.