It’s that time of year again: back to school. Whether it is your first year or final semester, you may be wondering what supplies you will need to aid your academic success. If you are finding yourself lost in the sea of Pinterest perfect office supplies or frantically searching the picked over school supplies aisles of Walmart, check out these back to school items that you actually need.
The perfect planner
If you are an organized person, you will understand the importance of this back to school essential. If you are aiming to stay sane and avoid an information overload, consider purchasing a planner that can help you keep track of every homework assignment, test and project that your professors throw your way, as well as any professional or social events that you may need to add to your calendar. Finding a planner that works for you is key, so spend some time deciding which one you like best.
Lots of writing utensils
While this may seem like a no brainer, some of us – especially the seniors – will often find ourselves sitting in class with no writing utensils. Aim to always be prepared with a few pens and pencils. Your peers will thank you.
A reliable laptop
Laptops are essential back to school items. You will need a laptop for one thing or another every single day, so it is a good idea to always bring your laptop with you, whether you live in the residence halls or commute. If you have some free time before your next shift at work or if you have a gap in your schedule, utilize your time by working on a homework assignment or completing a quick discussion board post on Blackboard.
Comfortable headphones
Speaking from personal experience, the day you forget your headphones will be the one day you need them. Whether you want to hit the gym before your morning class or you need them to watch a video before a lecture, headphones will come in handy.
Loose leaf paper and colorful notebooks
You probably already assumed that you will need loose leaf paper, but while you are stocking up on college ruled notebook paper, consider grabbing a pack of printer paper as well. Plain, unlined paper is great for writing creative class notes, and sometimes you will have creative class projects that you will need it for. Picking up a few fun notebooks will keep your notes from class all in one place and can be helpful when it comes to packing your bag every day. You can never have too many notebooks, right?
Colored binders, divider tabs and folders
Organization is key. To effectively separate your class work, try purchasing a different notebook for each class in different colors, or purchase divider tabs to separate the work from all of your classes. This simple organizational tip will make a big difference. As for folders, a good tip is to get a few folders for your desk or to keep in your bag. Label them on your desk for papers that you feel can be separated, or use them in your bag to throw papers in that would otherwise get lost in the sea of items in your backpack.
Textbooks
Not the most fun back-to-school items – and certainly not the cheapest – but essential nonetheless. When it comes to required textbooks, you will need to purchase them eventually. Consider your options for where to purchase and think about renting versus buying if you feel like you will not need to keep them after the semester is over. Books are important to your success in the class, so don’t skimp out on them.
