Class Supplies Checklist

How It Works

The college class supplies shopping checklist is designed to help students and parents save time and money. Our team of current and former students went shopping for you and compiled a list of quality class supply products at affordable prices. Every item covered in our guide also features a need vs. want rating score and in-depth commentary, which help students and parents decide what class related items to bring with them to college.

Backpack

Backpacks are an essential college item for transporting personal belongings and class materials. On the average college campus you’ll see hundreds of different styles and brands used by students. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to selecting an option, but backpacks with laptop pockets are preferred.

A lot of students save money by bringing their old backpack from home. If you’re planning on buying a new backpack for college you should treat it as a four-year investment. You should look for a product that offers laptop protection, adequate storage space, durability, and visual appeal. We’ve noticed North Face and JanSport are two popular brands on campus, most likely due to their extensive selection of features and styles.

Laptop + Office 365

Laptops are an intricate part of day-to-day college life, as they allow students to take notes in class, complete homework assignments, read textbooks, use the internet and social media, and stream video or music content. You should consult with your major’s department in order to check if certain laptops are restricted. Most students should be fine, but some science, engineering, and computer programming majors don’t allow the use of Macs. In terms of software, every student should have Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and OneNote) installed on their laptop. Most schools provide students with a free access code, but you can always register an account using your college email address for the $149.99 one-time purchase college student discount. Alternatively, many students use Google Drive, which is a free online service that gives students access to Google’s version of Microsoft Office 365.

College bookstores are a convenient way to purchase your new laptop, though you should be prepared to pay higher prices than other retailers offering similar products. In order to encourage students to shop on campus most colleges offer excellent warranty options and computer support. Unless your college will match the price of competitors, you should make a purchase elsewhere. We recommend shopping for laptops on Amazon, as nearly all of the major brands and types are available on the platform. If you’re someone who needs to test something out before buying it, you can test a variety of brands at stores such as Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and Apple. Since laptops are a serious financial investment you should do thorough research before making a decision. In many cases students end up purchasing refurbished or older model laptops in order to save money. Below we cover some of the most popular and frequently used brands and products.

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” version comes with a 3.1Ghz Dual-Core Intel Core I5 processor, 8GB of memory, and 256GB SSD storage. Our entire team at Collegiate Checklist uses Apple products, so we may be a little biased, but we think they’re among the best multipurpose laptops on the market. The only negative aspect of the Macbook Pro is the cost, as cheaper alternatives offer similar processing power and storage specs. 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.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop is a great alternative for students looking to save money, while also getting many of the same qualities of the Macbook Pro. The standard version features the same specs but offers a slightly bigger screen size at 13.5”. There are several versions of the laptop available but we recommend the Surface laptop with a 4 Ghz Dual-Core Intel I7 processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD, which rivals the mid-tier macbook pro. The major difference between the two laptops is the operating system, as the Surface uses Windows 10 compared to the Macbook Pro using IOS. Most students should find the Windows operating system to be sufficient, however some Apple users believe IOS provides a superior user experience.

2 in 1 laptops have become increasingly popular amongst college students due to their hybrid functionality of serving as both a laptop and a tablet. A great option is the Microsoft Surface Book 2, which has similar specs to the Macbook Pro and Surface Laptop, while also featuring a detachable keyboard and touch screen interface. Since the Surface Book 2 is in the same price range as the Macbook Pro, the extra capabilities make it an enticing option. If you’re considering investing in a 2-1 laptop like a Surface Book 2, you need to decide whether touch screen and tablet functionality are important factors for you. We’ve noticed most students are just fine with using a standard laptop but that number is slowly in decline.

Students looking to spend under $1,000 have many budget friendly options available to them. A great value alternative is the Acer Aspire E15 laptop. It’s significantly cheaper than the other options, yet still features 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 often seen as inferior to other options.

Headphones

It’s hard to find a college student who doesn’t own a pair of headphones, especially those who like to listen to music while doing homework or studying. Even if you don’t love music, having a pair of headphones can make you work more efficiently by blocking out noise distractions in the library, on-campus, or in your dorm room.

Deciding what headphones to purchase depends on your style preference and price range. We’ve noticed that Apple AirPods are becoming extremely popular amongst college students. The wireless AirPods connect instantly to your phone with bluetooth and have great battery life. Beats are another popular and reliable option, but you are paying more for the brand name than superior sound quality. If you’re looking for premium quality and comfortability, than the Bose QuietComfort 35’s are your best bet. They offer complete noise cancelling technology which help students stay focused by avoiding distractions. If you are on a budget you can always get a cheap pair of sony over the ear headphones (Sony’s MDRZX110) or use the standard wired Apple EarPods.

USB + Calculator

Nearly every student will use a USB flash drive at some point in their college career. The most common uses are extra electronic storage space and transporting powerpoint presentations for speeches in class. We’ve noticed most students bring a USB that was already lying around their house. You don’t need anything flashy or expensive, just make sure to have a minimum of 16GB. An easy way to purchase one is to order online, as they can be more expensive at retailers and campus bookstores.

Universities usually have calculator requirements and restrictions for students within certain majors. Some courses will only allow specific types of calculators to be used on exams in order to ensure no one has a competitive advantage. Before making a purchase, check with your school to see which calculator they recommend to students within your major. In our experience, business majors usually use the TI-BA II plus while science, math, and engineering majors tend to 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. If you don’t need a graphing calculator, the TI 36X Pro Scientific Calculator is a great budget friendly option. If you’re looking to avoid spending money entirely and only need a calculator for out of class work, you can use a free version of the TI-84 online.

Binders, Folders, Notebooks

Binders

Folders

Notebooks

Studies have shown that students who take notes by hand are more likely to retain information which translates to better success in college. While it’s more comfortable taking notes on a laptop, writing by hand forces you to avoid distractions and helps you maintain focus during class lectures. You should create a note taking and organization plan as soon as classes begin in order to stay on top of work and avoid falling behind.

You’ll also need notebooks for professors who don’t allow laptop use in class (uncommon, but we’ve had them) and for in-class assignments and quizzes. A basic pack of 3-5 college-ruled notebooks should last you a semester. While coursework is mainly online now, plenty of professors still handout notes and other packets in class. An easy way to keep everything organized is to use a 3” binder with dividers for each course or if you prefer more separation, an individual 1” binder for each course. Lastly, you should also consider getting a folder in case you’re required to turn in a hardcopy of a paper you wrote for class.

Pens, Pencils, Highlighters, Sharpies

Pens

Pencils

Sharpies

Highlighters

College is all about writing, writing, and more writing. Most of your papers and class work can be turned in digitally, but you can’t survive without bringing pencils and pens. Pencils are typically required for scantron tests and assignments, but some professors might require handwritten work to be done in pen. You should always keep an extra reserve supply in your backpack to avoid not having one in class. There is nothing worse then showing up for a test without one and having to awkwardly tap the person next to you on the shoulder.

If you’re someone who likes annotating notes or writing sticky reminders, a small pack of sharpies or highlighters may also be worth bringing. They can also come in handy if you have a professor who assigns a poster related project.

Class Supplies Checklist

How It Works

Backpack

Laptop + Office 365

Headphones

USB + Calculator

Binders, Folders, Notebooks

Pens, Pencils, Highlighters, Sharpies

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